On the back of the Catsights One, there's a little round display you might not have noticed at first. It's not just for show — it's a mini status panel that knows the time, reads your power flow in real time, and (once the app is ready) can show your avatar. Here's everything it does and how to make it yours.
The clock that never stops
By default, the side display shows the time. What's nice is that it runs on its own tiny clock chip with a dedicated button battery, so it keeps ticking even when the whole display is off — no signal, no laptop, no problem.
Setting it is simple: pull down from the top of the round screen to open its menu, tap the clock icon, and set the time. You only need to do it once; the battery keeps it going from then on.
Live power info — swipe left
Swipe left on the clock and you get a live power readout: current, voltage, and wattage going in and out. It's a genuinely useful screen. Plugged into your laptop in one-cable mode? You'll see the display drawing power and can confirm it's being fed properly. On an adapter? You can watch reverse charging kick in when a phone or other device is plugged in. If you're the type who likes to see the numbers, this is your favorite feature.
Your avatar — swipe right
Swipe right and you'll find the avatar screen. Right now the avatar is in preview territory: you'll upload a picture through the Catsights iOS app over Bluetooth, and the mobile app plus the avatar feature are still in development. So don't panic if it's not fully working yet — it's coming. Once it's live, your little side screen becomes a tiny name badge for your setup.
Bluetooth pairing
Need to connect the app to the display? Pull down the menu, tap the Bluetooth icon, and a QR code appears on the side screen. Scan it with the app and the two pair up. Simple.
A few practical notes
- The side clock is independent from the main panel's standby clock. Turning the side display's clock off or adjusting it has nothing to do with the big screen's standby clock.
- Want a dark main panel instead of the big standby clock? That's a separate setting, found in the OSD menu (swipe up with two fingers from the bottom edge).
- The side display is a Catsights One feature — the One S doesn't have it.
Quick FAQ
- Is the clock accurate? It runs on its own chip with a dedicated battery, so it keeps time even when the display is off. Set it once and it holds.
- Does it drain the battery? No — it has its own button battery.
- Can I use the avatar today? Not quite yet. It needs the Catsights iOS app, which is still under development.
That little round display is one of those details that makes the One feel a bit special. Set the clock, swipe through the stats, and check back when the avatar ships.