Content:

• Introduction
• Overview of the ESP32 Family
• ESP32 (Original) – The Classic Workhorse
• ESP32-S2 – Wi-Fi Focused, Single-Core
• ESP32-S3 – Dual-Core Powerhouse with AI Extensions
• ESP32-C3 – RISC-V & Cost-Effective Alternative
• ESP32-C6 – Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.3
• ESP32-H2 – Sub-1GHz + Bluetooth LE 5.2
• ESP32-H6 – Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.3 + Thread/Zigbee
• ESP32-P4 – The New High-Performance Flagship
• ESP32 Comparison Table
• Which ESP32 Should You Choose?
• Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Introduction:

The ESP32 series, developed by Espressif Systems, has become a cornerstone in the world of IoT and embedded systems. With multiple variants available, choosing the right one for your project can be challenging.

Since the original ESP32 release, plenty of different versions of ESP32 were released. Starting with the already available SoCs, such as ESP32-S2, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3, ESP32-C5 and ESP32-C6 and finishing with the latest announcements, such as ESP32-H2 and ESP32-P4.

In this blog post, we’ll break down the key ESP32 models, highlighting their differences, similarities, and ideal use cases to help you make an informed decision.

Overview of the ESP32 Family

What Makes ESP32 Special?

The ESP32 is a low-cost, low-power microcontroller with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Over time, Espressif has introduced several variants, each catering to different needs—ranging from basic IoT applications to AI-powered edge computing.

Popular ESP32 Versions

Here are the most popular ESP32 versions:

• ESP32 (Original)

• ESP32-S2

• ESP32-S3

• ESP32-C3

• ESP32-C6

• ESP32-H2 (New!)

• ESP32-H6 (New!)

• ESP32-P4 (New High-Performance Model!)

Let’s dive into their specifications.

ESP32 (Original) – The Classic Workhorse

Key Features:

• Dual-core Xtensa LX6 processor (240 MHz)

• Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) & Bluetooth 4.2 (BLE + Classic)

• 512KB SRAM, 4MB Flash (varies by module)

• 34+ GPIO pins, ADC, DAC, PWM, I2C, SPI, UART

• Ultra-low power modes

Best For:

• General-purpose IoT projects

• Home automation

• Wearables & sensor networks

Limitations:

• No Bluetooth 5.0

• No native USB OTG

ESP32-S2 – Wi-Fi Focused, Single-Core

Key Features:

• Single-core Xtensa LX7 (240 MHz)

• Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) but NO Bluetooth

• 320KB SRAM, 128KB ROM, Optional PSRAM

• USB OTG support (great for HID devices)

• 43 GPIOs, improved ADC

Best For:

• USB-powered devices (keyboards, MIDI controllers)

• Secure Wi-Fi applications (with built-in RSA & AES acceleration)

Limitations:

• No Bluetooth

• Single-core (less multitasking)

ESP32-S3 – Dual-Core Powerhouse with AI Extensions

Key Features:

• Dual-core Xtensa LX7 (240 MHz)

• Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) & Bluetooth 5 (LE)

• 512KB SRAM, 384KB ROM, Optional 16MB PSRAM

• USB OTG, Camera Interface (DVP)

• AI Acceleration (Vector Instructions for ML)

• 45 GPIOs, improved ADC

Best For:

• AI & Machine Learning at the edge

• Advanced IoT with USB/Camera support

• Bluetooth mesh networks

Limitations:

• Slightly higher cost than the original ESP32

ESP32-C3 – RISC-V & Cost-Effective Alternative

Key Features:

• Single-core RISC-V (160 MHz)

• Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) & Bluetooth 5 (LE)

• 400KB SRAM, 384KB ROM

• 22 GPIOs, smaller footprint

• Lower power consumption

Best For:

• Budget-friendly IoT devices

• Battery-powered sensors

• Simple BLE applications

Limitations:

• Fewer GPIOs

• No USB OTG

ESP32-C6 – Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.3

Key Features:

• Dual-core RISC-V (160 MHz + 20 MHz LP core)

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) & Bluetooth 5.3 (LE + Mesh)

• 400KB SRAM, 384KB ROM

• 30 GPIOs, Zigbee & Thread support

Best For:

• Next-gen smart home devices

• High-efficiency Wi-Fi 6 networks

• Multi-protocol IoT gateways

Limitations:

• Newer, less community support yet

ESP32-H2 – Sub-1GHz + Bluetooth LE 5.2

Key Features:

• Single-core RISC-V (96 MHz)

• Sub-1GHz (802.15.4) & Bluetooth 5.2 (LE)

• 256KB SRAM, 128KB ROM

• 30 GPIOs

• Ultra-low power (ideal for battery devices)

Best For:

• Long-range, low-power sensor networks

• Zigbee & Thread applications

• Wearables with extended battery life

Limitations:

• No Wi-Fi

• Lower processing power

ESP32-H6 – Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.3 + Thread/Zigbee

Key Features:

• Dual-core RISC-V (320 MHz + 32 MHz LP core)

• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) & Bluetooth 5.3 (LE + Mesh)

• 512KB SRAM, 384KB ROM

• 30 GPIOs, USB OTG

• Supports Thread & Zigbee

Best For:

• High-performance smart home hubs

• Industrial IoT with multi-protocol support

• AI-powered edge computing

Limitations:

• Higher power consumption

• More expensive than other variants

ESP32-P4 – The New High-Performance Flagship

Key Features:

• Dual-core RISC-V (400 MHz + 40 MHz LP core)

• Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) & Bluetooth 5.4 (LE + Mesh)

• 1MB SRAM, 8MB Flash, Optional 32MB PSRAM

• 50+ GPIOs, Dual USB OTG, Ethernet MAC

• AI Accelerator (NPU for ML tasks)

• Supports Thread, Zigbee, and Matter

Best For:

• High-end AI/ML applications

• Professional IoT gateways

• 4K video processing

• Next-gen smart home controllers

Limitations:

• Higher cost

• Increased power requirements

ESP32 Comparison Table

Which ESP32 Should You Choose?

Decision Guide

• Basic Projects: ESP32 (Original)

• USB Devices: ESP32-S2

• AI/Edge ML: ESP32-S3

• Budget IoT: ESP32-C3

• Wi-Fi 6: ESP32-C6

• Sub-1GHz: ESP32-H2

• High-Performance: ESP32-H6

• Cutting-Edge AI: ESP32-P4

Final Thoughts & Recommendations

Summary of Key Takeaways

The ESP32 family now offers solutions for every IoT tier, from simple sensors to AI-powered professional applications.

• For most users: ESP32-S3 offers the best balance

• For future-proofing: ESP32-C6 or ESP32-H6

• For professional AI: ESP32-P4 is the new king

Engage With Us!

Which ESP32 are you using? Let us know in the comments!

Stay tuned for more deep dives into embedded systems & IoT! 🚀

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