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I'm building a project that will connect to users' phones (Android at first, but iPhone too, if there's enough interest) via USB. Of course, this means that I need a USB host in the project. The total size of the device has to be about the size of the phone, so answers that seriously suggest shields aren't going to be helpful - they'd put me over my size budget by at least a factor of 3.

I'd also rather not require an adapter to go from the USB Mini B connector type to the Micro B connector type.

Gravitech has a USB Host board for the Nano 3 that has a USB Type A connector, and the combination of a Nano and Gravitech Host is about the right size (maybe a little thick, once the whole thing is soldered to my own board), but the USB host is $25. I can get the Nano for about $4 each and would like to keep the USB host in the neighborhood of $8 each. Are the solder fumes getting to me, or is there such a specimen out there and I'm just not finding it?

Sniggerfardimungus
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The Arduino Due and Arduino Mega ADK can both serve as a USB Host. You can also use the chip that the Mega uses yourself

BrettFolkins
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Michael Brown
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Some people did it with ESP32:

https://github.com/touchgadget/esp32-usb-host-demos

https://github.com/tobozo/ESP32-USB-Soft-Host (cheapest)

Or with this USB-Host chip:

https://forum.arduino.cc/t/is-the-max3421e-still-a-viable-part-for-new-usb-designs/668612/2

rundekugel
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Cypress makes very small usb chips capable of host mode. Does this board meet your size requirements? http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Cypress-Semiconductor/CY8CKIT-049-41XX/?qs=FSHIiqjonm0YmFbmBQfo1A%3D%3D&kpid=1159933375&gclid=CPjl6KOm4cQCFYGUfgodJh4A_g

You may also consider ditching the arduino and running everything on the cypress

benathon
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