Wall Mounted Pixel Art and Social Integrations With the Divoom Pixoo 16

Divoom’s original Pixoo has been upgraded. A new Kickstarter campaign for the Divoom Pixoo 16 has already surpassed its goal, but you still have time to back it. The big question is, do you need a wireless pixel art decoration?

What Is a Pixel Art Decoration Display?

Pixel art is simply art based on pixels. It’s a sort of modern, digitally-inspired take on classical mosaics, but without the Romans. Based heavily on 8-bit and 16-big computer graphics, pixel art has seen a renaissance in the past decade. You can get pixel art apps, retro-style games rely on the blocky pixel aesthetic; you’ve probably seen it.

Unsurprisingly, a pixel art decoration display is a unit that shows off some pixel art, static or animated. And that’s what you get with the Divoom Pixoo 16. It’s a display that can you can hang on a wall or prop up on a desktop or sideboard. Capable of displaying art that you select on a mobile app, the Divoom Pixoo 16 also has social network and financial ticker integrations.

As this is a Kickstarter campaign, it comes with various risks and challenges that you should be aware of with crowdfunders. However, Divoom has a good track record of launching successful Kickstarters and delivering the end product, so we’re confident this one will be, too.

What You Get With the Divoom Pixoo 16

In the box is a 16×16 programmable RGB LED display. The Pixoo 16 ships with a 1.5-meter USB Type-C power cable (no AC adapter though), a short setup guide, and two sheets of pixel art stickers.

The Divoom Pixoo 16 has two mounting hooks, only one of which seems suitable for standard screws or hooks. Stored in a recess on the back of the display is a kickstand. This slots into a hole on the back of the Pixoo 16, near the center, propping the display nicely.

Finally, you also get an app. That’s not in the box, however—you’ll need to download and install that to your phone in the usual way. Divoom’s Pixoo 16 works with the Divoom pixel art editor app for Android and iOS. For this review, we tested it with the Android app.

The Divoom Pixoo 16 also has two hardware buttons. The first is a power/screen-off-on button, while the second switches between pixel art images sent to the device. This includes any integration you might have set up.

Comparisons To Other Divoom Models

The Divoom Pixoo 16 is essentially a 16×16 pixel LED version of the Divoom Pixel 64.

Similarities between the two are considerable. The frame, the removable kickstand, and even the way the USB cable connects are all identical. While the Divoom Pixoo 16 doesn’t have a micro USB slot, it relies on the same Divoom app for art management.

And like the 64×64 version, the Divoom has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for smart display items. So, it can be used to display social media status, financial tracking information, and that sort of thing.

Setting Up the Divoom Pixoo 16

The Pixoo 16 has no internal battery, so while it doesn’t need charging before use, it does need to be placed in the range of a power supply. Note this needs to be with a 5V 2A adapter rather than 5V 1A. Unfortunately, as none was included in the box, I had to source my own (I used an Amazon Fire tablet adapter).

Plugging in for the first time, the device polls for a Wi-Fi connection. This is achieved once the app is running and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled. Setting up the connection is somewhat confusing, as it isn’t clear whether the device requires Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or both.

Something that will slow you down is the requirement for an account. To save time, I relied on my Twitter account, but Facebook is also supported.

Via the app, it’s a case of selecting the Wi-Fi option (although Bluetooth must be enabled for the remainder of the process) and selecting the Pixoo 16 device in the menu. With location settings enabled, and the Wi-Fi network connected, it didn’t take long for the device to join the network.

Managing the Divoom Pixoo 16 With the App

I’ll preface this with the following: I really like this app.

The problem is, it’s tricky to get to grips with. Requiring an understanding of pixel art already is a prerequisite, but because this is the main purpose of the app, you might expect it to be easier to create than it is. (More on this below.)

Unfortunately, the app icons aren’t clear, and its tutorial mode lacks depth. Consequently, you can find yourself using the app with little clue as to what everything is. Few of the app’s icons are labeled and don’t quite indicate what they do; overall things are just a bit unclear.

Happily, setting up a sync connection between your phone and the Divoom Pixoo 16 is relatively straightforward and painless. Even at this stage, it isn’t immediately clear why Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are required to be active, but you will need both enabled on your phone or tablet before attempting to connect.

You’ll also need to create an account, which you can do with either your email account, Facebook account, or Twitter. The last two are admittedly odd choices, but for the purposes of this review, I used my Twitter account @thegadgetmonkey and so far have found no downsides to giving account authorization. I’d recommend you use a standard email account for setup, however.

The app requires you to set a birthday. The user interface for this poses some difficulty for anyone not born in this century, requiring quite a bit of month-by-month tapping. As I would have had to tap over 550 times to set the correct DOB, I opted for a fake birthday. Definitely room for improvement there.

Elsewhere, the app lists the integrations, various app settings, and manages system updates, too.

Creating Some Pixel Art for the Divoom Pixoo 16

If, for some reason, you don’t like any of the vast library of art that’s on offer from within the app, you can add your own. The app offers everything you need to start creating art, although it may prove to be a challenge.

You see, creating art in the app is initially difficult. No obvious guidance is offered, leaving you with the challenge of getting to grips with the controls. I was unprepared for the difference between a layer and an animation frame, too, and how to use both together.

With some practice, I managed to replicate the MakeUseOf logo and create a Christmas tree. In truth, I haven’t used any pixel art software at length in several decades, and it shows.

However, I managed to master the basics within an hour, so more impressive art is definitely achievable within a day or so.

When you’re confident with your creations, you can upload them to the app for other users to try out. There’s a whole community around the Divoom pixel art displays that you can join via the app. In-app awards can also be unlocked to mark key achievements. This gamification of the app and device isn’t overwhelming and is a subtle encouragement to persist. Occasional competitions allow you submit your creation with a chance to win… yet more Divoom hardware.

What Can You Do With the Divoom Pixoo 16?

Aside from creating awesome (or less so) pixel art, the Divoom Pixoo 16 is geared up to sync with social networks and financial tickers. This is where it goes beyond a fun art display and takes on a more serious role.

You’ll find support for Twitch, Twitter, and TikTok, standard currency tickers, crypto tickers, and even integration with games. Overwatch, League of Legends, and Fortnite are all supported. There is also Fitbit clock integration, and some interesting clock faces.

Each of these integrations offers various settings unique to what is being displayed. For example, clocks can display temperature; games show kills; social networks show follower totals; tickers display whatever currency you activate.

With this information displayed on the Divoom Pixoo 16 and placed in an optimum location, the benefit is obvious. And when you’re done observing your numbers, it’s ready for more pixel art.

Who Is the Divoom Pixoo 16 For?

Despite being a big fan of pixel art, I don’t think the Divoom Pixoo 16 is aimed at me. While the display is perfectly suited to pixel art, animations (which are saved as GIFs), and the various social integrations, the app—which the display can’t exist without—is heavily weighted in favor of creating pixel art.

As such, anyone interested in buying or gifting this device should be certain that they or the eventual owner will have time to use it to its full potential. It could otherwise end up as a slightly chunky bit of wall art in a few years’ time.

In terms of longevity, it’s not clear how long a device like this might last. With no option to open the Divoom Pixoo 16, should it stop working, it probably can’t be repaired. Divoom does have an FAQ page for troubleshooting, however, which should cover most issues.

The Divoom Pixoo 16 Is Nice, but Niche

Looking at this device objectively, it’s basically a set of 16×16 programmable multicolored LEDs. Consequently, its uses are limited beyond pixel art and social/game integrations.

This makes it ideal for anyone who wants to display pixel art or their YouTube subscriber count, but less useful to anyone else. It’s very much a niche gift, ideal for millennials (and probably those embarrassing aunts and uncles with YouTube channels).

The Divoom app is easy enough to use, although some of the settings on the integrations may frustrate. For example, the currency ticker takes a bit of configuring, and you may need to restart the app (or the display) to get it to work as intended. Meanwhile, creating art is initially difficult, thanks to a lack of instructions.

Overall, though, the Divoom Pixoo 16 is a fun LED pixel display that makes an ideal gift that isn’t too expensive.