This Real-Life Pokédex Can Actually Identify Pokémon in the Wild

Anyone who grew up immersed in the world of Pokémon — and those who never quite left it — will immediately recognize the Pokédex. These little handheld devices act as comprehensive digital encyclopedias, offering instant access to virtually any piece of information about Pokémon. Of course, for years, the Pokédex existed purely in fiction.

That’s starting to change. The fans who once dreamed about owning one have since gained the skills to build one for real. YouTubers Mr. Volt and BigRig Creates have recently teamed up to do exactly that. It may not be the first DIY Pokédex, but it may be one of the best. Not only does it look authentic, but it also works just as you would expect it to.

Under the hood, there is a fairly sophisticated multi-processor system. A Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 serves as the primary brain, handling the main user interface, camera input, and the heavy computational work required for identifying Pokémon. Supporting it are two additional microcontrollers: an ESP32 development board and a Raspberry Pi Pico. Together, they divide responsibilities across the device, from managing button inputs to driving the displays.

And there are plenty of displays. The Pokédex features a 2.8-inch VGA screen as its main interface, preserving the classic 4:3 aspect ratio seen in the original anime design. Beneath it sits a secondary LCD dedicated to system information like Wi-Fi connectivity and battery life. On the opposite side, three compact OLED screens display text-heavy data such as Pokédex entries and Pokémon types, giving the device a layered, information-dense feel.

Beyond visuals, the creators paid close attention to audio and interactivity. A built-in speaker delivers voice output reminiscent of the Pokédex’s iconic “Dexter” personality, while a glowing blue lens — styled as the device’s “eye” — reacts dynamically to sound levels.

The chassis was designed in Fusion 360 and produced using SLA resin 3D printing, allowing for fine details like speaker grilles and precisely fitted buttons. After printing, each part underwent careful cleaning and UV curing. To manage heat from the internal electronics, the backplate was machined from aluminum using a desktop CNC machine. Custom PCBs were also developed to organize the dense internal wiring, which includes more than 20 buttons.

One particularly clever engineering solution lies in the hinge. Instead of routing a complex bundle of wires between the two halves, the designers limited it to just four lines for power and data, allowing the device to open and close smoothly without wear.

The Pokédex is much more than just a static prop. Using its built-in camera, it can capture an image and identify a Pokémon in real time. Users can also browse entries across different classic game versions, bringing a layer of nostalgia to the experience.

If you want to see more of this Pokédex that was brought to life, you won’t want to miss the video below.