Creavi Macropad
Built a wireless macropad with a display
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Hey HN,We built a wireless, low-profile macropad with a display called the Creavi Macropad. It lasts at least 1 month on a single charge. We also put together a browser-based tool that lets you update macros in real time and even push OTA updates over BLE. Since we're software engineers by day, we had to figure out the hardware, mechanics, and industrial design as we went (and somehow make it all work together). This post covers the build process, and the final result.Hope you enjoy!
HN · launched Nov 11, 2025 · 32 upvotes (top 24%) · 0 views
Niche: open-source hardware and maker electronics · 180 launches, 3 in the last 7 days ▼ -73% · Explore this niche →
Category and tags
- Horizontal
- Hardware & robotics
- Prosumer
- Not AI
- Hobby / open-source project
Visit website ↗ Source listing ↗
More like this: all 180 launches in open-source hardware and maker electronics →
Could you build this?
No It is a physical hardware product involving custom PCB layout, component selection, low-power embedded firmware, and physical casing manufacturing.
What it would actually take: Requires electrical engineering to design the schematic and PCB in KiCad (featuring an MCU like nRF52840, display controller, and battery charging circuit), mechanical CAD for the case, and embedded C/Rust firmware implementing BLE HID, deep sleep power management, and Web Bluetooth OTA update capabilities.
Discussion
7 comments analyzed.
Competitors mentioned: ESP (microcontroller alternative)
Concerns raised: Limited PCB space for components, Height constraints between PCB and backplate, ESP consumes too much power, RF circuit design complexity outside expertise
Feature requests: Add buttons in corner spaces, Move components to bottom layer to reduce thickness, Integrate MCU directly instead of BLE module, Use smaller passive components
Competitors
Other products that read as similar to this one : 24 launches clear the similarity bar, closest 8 shown.
Attention rank: #10 of 25 (itself plus its competitors, highest first, normalized so YC and Product Hunt are compared fairly).
Looks like the first mover among its competitors.
- AgentPad13 · ph · 2026-09-18 · 1 upvotes · similarity 0.50
- eink-dashboard · github · 2026-09-12 · 7 upvotes · similarity 0.39
- Making an 1800mah e-ink device last up to 6 months · hn · 2026-02-24 · 9 upvotes · similarity 0.38
- RyperDeck · ph · 2026-10-03 · 1 upvotes · similarity 0.36
- Perfect Bluetooth MIDI for Windows · hn · 2026-05-01 · 105 upvotes · similarity 0.35
- WristRevive · ph · 2026-10-13 · 2 upvotes · similarity 0.34
- Wacchi · ph · 2026-10-18 · 1 upvotes · similarity 0.34
- All in one laptop sleeve · ph · 2026-11-06 · 1 upvotes · similarity 0.34
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