# Control an Android device from a standalone Tab5

Mirror an Android screen, use touch controls, transfer files and inspect logs from a handheld console instead of a PC.

## Hardware
M5Stack Tab5 IoT Development Kit (ESP32-P4); Android device

Custom Tab5 firmware implements an ADB host, decodes a live video stream with the ESP32-P4's JPEG hardware and sends touchscreen gestures to a connected Android device over USB or TCP/IP.

## Shopping list

USB and wireless ADB are alternative connection routes. Current user guide supports Android wireless-debugging pairing; disable debugging after use.

Quantities are for one build. Unless marked source-specified, they are planning quantities; confirm kit contents and the chosen configuration before ordering.

### 1 × M5Stack Tab5 IoT Development Kit
- Requirement: Required
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: ADB console.
- Destination: https://shop.m5stack.com/products/m5stack-tab5-iot-development-kit-esp32-p4
- Match: Product page
- Link review: Page checked; stock not assessed
- Evidence: Creator source
- Source: http://www.hackster.io/hiroki_kawakami/m5stack-tab5-android-console-cc265b
- Source: https://github.com/Hiroki-Kawakami/Tab5-ADB/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md

### 1 × Android phone or tablet
- Requirement: Required
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Device being controlled.
- Notes: Audio forwarding requires Android 12+. USB debugging authorization is required for USB control.
- Sourcing: No exact purchase link verified; confirm the model and requirements above before ordering.
- Evidence: Creator source
- Source: http://www.hackster.io/hiroki_kawakami/m5stack-tab5-android-console-cc265b
- Source: https://github.com/Hiroki-Kawakami/Tab5-ADB/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md

### 1 × USB (Tab5 host to Android) data cable
- Requirement: Required
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Connect to the computer for programming or data.
- Notes: Match the Android connector; connect through the Tab5 USB host arrangement.
- Sourcing: Use existing equipment or match the specification above. No exact purchase link verified.
- Evidence: Setup requirement — check against your configuration
- Source: http://www.hackster.io/hiroki_kawakami/m5stack-tab5-android-console-cc265b
- Source: https://github.com/Hiroki-Kawakami/Tab5-ADB/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md

### 1 × USB-C data cable
- Requirement: Tool
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Connect to the computer for programming or data.
- Notes: Separate setup cable to flash the Tab5 from a computer. Example requires a USB-A host port. If your computer has only USB-C, use an appropriate USB-C data cable instead. Reuse the device’s included cable where possible; this is not a standalone power-supply recommendation.
- Destination: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4474
- Match: Accessory example: USB-A to USB-C, 1 m, data capable
- Link review: Page checked; stock not assessed
- Evidence: Setup requirement — check against your configuration
- Source: http://www.hackster.io/hiroki_kawakami/m5stack-tab5-android-console-cc265b
- Source: https://github.com/Hiroki-Kawakami/Tab5-ADB/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md
- Source: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4474

### 1 × Computer for setup
- Requirement: Tool
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Build, configure or flash the software.
- Sourcing: Use existing equipment or match the specification above. No exact purchase link verified.
- Evidence: Setup requirement — check against your configuration
- Source: http://www.hackster.io/hiroki_kawakami/m5stack-tab5-android-console-cc265b
- Source: https://github.com/Hiroki-Kawakami/Tab5-ADB/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md

### 1 × microSD card
- Requirement: Conditional
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Firmware, operating system or project storage.
- Notes: Needed for local screenshots, saved logs, files and APK storage.
- Sourcing: No exact purchase link verified; confirm the model and requirements above before ordering.
- Evidence: Creator source
- Source: http://www.hackster.io/hiroki_kawakami/m5stack-tab5-android-console-cc265b
- Source: https://github.com/Hiroki-Kawakami/Tab5-ADB/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md

### 1 × Device power supply
- Requirement: Required
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Power the device.
- Notes: Tab5 Kit and standard Tab5 have different battery contents; check the ordered bundle.
- Sourcing: Use existing equipment or match the specification above. No exact purchase link verified.
- Evidence: Setup requirement — check against your configuration
- Source: http://www.hackster.io/hiroki_kawakami/m5stack-tab5-android-console-cc265b
- Source: https://github.com/Hiroki-Kawakami/Tab5-ADB/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md

### Existing × Trusted Wi-Fi network
- Requirement: Optional
- Quantity basis: Planning quantity for one build; check the selected configuration
- Purpose: Wireless ADB route.
- Sourcing: Use existing equipment or match the specification above. No exact purchase link verified.
- Evidence: Setup requirement — check against your configuration
- Source: http://www.hackster.io/hiroki_kawakami/m5stack-tab5-android-console-cc265b
- Source: https://github.com/Hiroki-Kawakami/Tab5-ADB/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md

Source reviewed, not assembled or hands-on tested. A working product page does not confirm stock, firmware compatibility or a complete build.

## Setup
Device firmware

## Coding tool
Claude Code

## How the agent helped
Hiroki Kawakami says he delegated much of the implementation, refactoring, testing and automated UI checking to Claude Code, then performed final validation and performance tuning on the real Tab5. His article describes the host simulator, ADB transport and display pipeline.

## Before you build
Flash with M5Burner and authorize USB debugging only on your own Android device. The current user guide supports wireless-debugging pairing as well as classic TCP/IP; use trusted networks and disable debugging afterwards. Audio forwarding requires Android 12+. Screenshot, log and file storage uses a microSD card. These permissions permit shell commands, app changes and file access.

## Sources
- Original build: http://www.hackster.io/hiroki_kawakami/m5stack-tab5-android-console-cc265b
- Supporting source: https://github.com/Hiroki-Kawakami/Tab5-ADB/blob/main/docs/user-guide.md

Source reviewed 2026-11-04. Not hands-on tested.