Board selection
In the fast-evolving IoT market, Espressif offers a diverse portfolio of ESP chips, covering a wide range of use cases from ultra-minimal connectivity to edge AI and multimedia processing, fully addressing continuously changing customer requirements. Selecting the right ESP chip is particularly important, as it directly impacts product cost and performance. The following provides a structured comparison across core architecture, performance, wireless connectivity, peripherals, power consumption, cost, and typical application scenarios to help you quickly identify the most suitable solution.
Chip Series |
CPU |
RAM (Expandable PSRAM) |
Wireless |
Key Peripherals |
Typical Use Cases |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RISC-V 32-bit dual-core HP Core @ 500 MHz |
1 MB |
2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz tri-band Wi-Fi 6E + BLE 6.0 + Classic BT |
PCIe, SDIO, USB 2.0 |
PC wireless adapters, AI computing & robotics, XR wearables, consumer electronics, industrial gateways |
||
RISC-V 32-bit dual-core HP Core @ 400 MHz & single-core LP Core @ 40 MHz |
768 KB (Expandable PSRAM) |
N/A |
SDIO 3.0 Host, USB 2.0 High Speed, MIPI, ISP, PPA, JPEG codec, H.264 encoder |
Multimedia players, camera video streaming, high-speed USB host & device, smart voice interaction terminals, edge vision AI processors, HMI control panels |
Since 2025-01-01 |
|
RISC-V 32-bit dual-core HP Core @ 96 MHz |
384 KB (Expandable PSRAM) |
BLE 6.0 + Thread 1.4 + Zigbee 3.0 |
USB OTG, CAN FD, I2S, DC-DC |
LE Audio devices, display-equipped remote controllers, smart home hubs, indoor positioning, low-power BLE peripherals |
||
RISC-V 32-bit single-core @ 96 MHz |
320 KB |
BLE 5 + Thread 1.4 + Zigbee 3.0 |
SPI, parallel PARLIO |
Mesh nodes, Matter gateways, Zigbee bridges |
Since 2021-01-01 |
|
RISC-V 32-bit single-core @ 160 MHz |
320 KB (Expandable PSRAM) |
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + BLE 5 |
SDIO 2.0 Slave, USB-JTAG |
Ultra-low-power IoT devices, Wi-Fi & BLE adapters, smart home devices, POS terminals |
Since 2025-01-01 |
|
RISC-V 32-bit single-core HP Core @ 160 MHz & single-core LP Core @ 20 MHz |
512 KB |
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + BLE 5 + Thread 1.3 + Zigbee 3.0 |
SDIO 2.0 Slave, USB-JTAG, parallel PARLIO |
Long-battery-life ultra-low-power IoT devices, Matter gateways, Zigbee bridges |
Since 2023-01-01 |
|
RISC-V 32-bit single-core HP Core @ 240 MHz & single-core LP Core @ 40 MHz |
384 KB (Expandable PSRAM) |
2.4 & 5 GHz dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + BLE 5 + Thread 1.4 + Zigbee 3.0 |
SDIO 2.0 Slave, USB-JTAG, 2 × CAN FD, parallel PARLIO |
Wi-Fi & Bluetooth adapters, gateway devices, low-power IoT sensor hubs, data loggers, POS terminals, smart home, smart agriculture |
Since 2025-01-01 |
|
RISC-V 32-bit single-core @ 160 MHz |
400 KB |
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n) + BLE 5 |
SPI, USB-JTAG, LED PWM |
Electrical lighting, switches & sockets, smart home, industrial control |
Since 2020-01-01 |
|
RISC-V 32-bit single-core @ 120 MHz |
272 KB |
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n) + BLE 5 |
SPI, LED PWM, ADC |
Wi-Fi adapters, smart plugs, smart lighting, industrial wireless control |
Since 2022-01-01 |
|
Xtensa 32-bit LX7 dual-core HP Core @ 240 MHz & single-core ULP Core @ 17.5 MHz |
512 KB (Expandable PSRAM) |
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n) + BLE 5 |
SDIO 3.0 Host, USB 2.0 Full Speed, 8–16-bit parallel RGB/I8080/6800, (single-precision) FPU |
Audio devices, camera video streaming, USB devices, voice recognition, image recognition, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth adapters |
Since 2020-01-01 |
|
Xtensa 32-bit LX7 single-core @ 240 MHz |
320 KB (Expandable PSRAM) |
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n) |
USB 2.0 Full Speed, 8-bit serial RGB/8080/6800, 8/16/24-bit parallel, SPI |
Audio devices, camera video streaming, USB devices, voice recognition, image recognition, Wi-Fi adapters |
Since 2020-01-01 |
|
Xtensa 32-bit LX6 dual-core HP Core @ 240 MHz & single-core ULP Core @ 8 MHz |
520 KB (Expandable PSRAM) |
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n) + BLE 4.2 + Classic BT |
SDIO Host & Slave, SPI, EMAC |
Bluetooth speakers, Ethernet devices, SDIO Wi-Fi & Bluetooth adapters, voice recognition |
Since 2016-01-01 |
|
Tensilica L106 RISC 32-bit single-core @ 160 MHz |
160 KB |
2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n, HT20) |
SPI, UART |
Wi-Fi adapters, smart plugs, smart lighting |
Since 2016-01-01 |
Note
The above content provides only a brief overview of the ESP chip families. To explore detailed specifications and features of each chip or module, please use the ESP Chip & Module Product Selector. Based on project requirements and technical specifications, this tool helps identify the ESP chip best suited for your application.
Chips, Modules, Development Boards
Espressif officially provides chips, modules, and development boards, which have different uses and features in the development and deployment process of IoT applications.
Chip:
A chip is a basic integrated circuit (IC) manufactured by Espressif and serves as the core of the entire ESP series. These chips typically include a processor (CPU), memory, communication interfaces, GPIOs (general-purpose input/output), and other hardware functions. They can be directly embedded into custom circuit boards to create highly customized IoT devices, suitable for projects that require compact size and specific functionalities.
Chips cannot be powered on and used directly; they must be connected to essential external circuits required for startup, such as crystal oscillator circuits, Flash memory circuits, and antenna circuits. Moreover, designing products with chips requires obtaining certifications for wireless communication protocols independently, which increases development cost and time.
A module is a packaged form of an Espressif chip, integrating the chip, crystal oscillator circuits, antenna circuits, Flash, and PSRAM memory. Espressif modules typically come with certifications such as FCC and CE, allowing developers to focus more on application development without worrying about antenna hardware matching or RF certification details, thereby accelerating the product’s time-to-market.
A development board is a complete PCB that packages the core chip or module along with power circuits and programming circuits, allowing users to directly test and develop with it. It provides various interfaces and resources for debugging, development, and testing, and can be used during the development phase for software debugging and firmware flashing. Typically, development boards are used for rapid testing and validation in the early stages of a project, while modules are used for integration during mass production.
At the same time, development boards serve as a quick-start tool for developers who are new to Espressif chips. They enable rapid verification of ideas and designs, helping concepts quickly take shape.
Selection Guide
Choosing the right chip, module, or development board depends on your project’s requirements, timeline, technical capability, and budget. Here are some factors to consider:
Rapid development and prototype verification:
Development boards are highly beneficial for rapid function development and verification in the early stages of the project
Custom hardware design:
If a highly customized circuit board and hardware design are required, chips are a more suitable choice
Note
Custom designs require certification through wireless communication protocols, which may increase development time and cost.
Speed to market:
Modules usually can speed up the product’s time-to-market, with comprehensive radio frequency certification reports. Developers can focus more on the development of applications, without having to deal with the details of antenna hardware matching design and radio frequency certification.
Cost budget:
Using chips typically costs less, but custom design may increase time and development difficulty. Modules have a relatively higher cost, but can speed up the development process
Team technical capabilities:
If your team is new to Espressif chips or has limited technical resources, using modules is easier to get started, accelerates the project process and reduces technical risks. Using chips requires higher technical capabilities and more development experience
Pin and Storage Configuration:
GPIO Quantity: Calculate the required number of pins based on the actual number of peripherals controlled. Common GPIO requirements include:
UART, I2C, SPI (each interface requires 2-4 GPIO pins)
Control signals, such as LED, button, relay (each requires 1 GPIO pin)
RAM & PSRAM Size: Used for storing data generated at runtime, such as cache, variables, task stack.
Simple applications, such as sensor collection: The internal RAM of the ESP32-C series is sufficient.
For large-scale applications, such as those involving cameras, LVGL graphical interfaces, etc.: prioritize chips that support PSRAM.
Flash Size: Used for storing firmware, web pages, configurations, etc.
Only for storing firmware and Over-the-Air (OTA) updates: Often 4 MB is sufficient
Includes web pages or multilingual resources: Recommended 8 MB and above
Espressif Full-Series Application Solution Development Board Overview
Espressif provides official development boards for different application solutions, ranging from entry-level prototyping to mass-production references. These boards cover core scenarios such as Camera, AIoT, industrial gateway devices, low-power connectivity, and audio/multimedia. The following is organized by solution type, including key specifications, advantages, and applicable scenarios, making it easy for rapid selection and testing.
AI Large-Model Human-Machine Interaction Development Boards
Development Board Model |
Product Positioning |
Onboard Hardware Resources |
Large-Model / Intelligent Platform |
Typical Application Scenarios |
Software Reference |
User Guide |
Promo Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Desktop Voice Interaction Terminal / Companion AI Device |
1.85-inch round touchscreen (QSPI, 360 × 360), dual-microphone array, speaker, LED, buttons, lithium battery |
Doubao Large Model |
Desktop robots, smart speakers, smart central control, interactive AI toys |
||||
Edge AI Voice Interaction and Control Platform |
2.4-inch touchscreen (SPI, 320 × 240, ILI9342), dual-microphone array, speaker, temperature & humidity sensor, IR emitter/receiver, radar sensor |
ChatGPT, Baidu Wenxin Yiyan |
AI voice assistant, smart speaker, sensor gateway, Matter gateway, smart home central control |
||||
Motion Sensing / Intelligent Interaction |
1.93-inch touchscreen (4-line SPI, 240 × 284, ST7789P3), sensor daughterboard (BME690, BMI270, BMM350), RGB LED strip, lithium battery |
XiaoZhi |
Motion-sensing AI toys, smart home interaction & control, sports & health monitoring, smart office assistant |
Espressif & Bosch Sensortec Joint AI Smart Interaction Solution |
Visual Application Development Boards (for Face Recognition & Detection)
Development Board Model |
Product Positioning |
Onboard Hardware Resources |
Vision & Multimedia Capabilities |
Typical Application Scenarios |
Software Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High-Performance Vision, UI & Edge Computing Platform |
MIPI-CSI Camera (2 MP), 1.54-inch display (SPI, 240 × 240, ST7789), microphone, fill light, MicroSD slot, lithium battery |
Photo & scheduled photo capture, audio & video acquisition and playback, album preview, audio-visual fusion, face detection, pedestrian detection |
Smart security cameras, edge AI terminals, UI demonstration platforms |
||
Entry-Level Vision Recognition Solution |
DVP Camera (2 MP), 1.3-inch display (SPI, 240 × 240, ST7789), microphone, MicroSD slot, lithium battery |
Face recognition, QR code recognition |
Smart doorbell, surveillance system, face-recognition attendance terminal |
Audio Application Development Boards (for Voice Recognition & Wake-Up)
Development Board Model |
Product Positioning |
Onboard Hardware Resources |
Voice Interaction Capabilities |
Typical Application Scenarios |
Software Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Smart AI Voice Interaction Applications |
3-microphone array, speaker, headphone, addressable LED, multiple buttons, MicroSD slot |
Far-field voice capture (3–4 m), beamforming, noise reduction, local voice recognition & wake-up |
Smart speakers, desktop voice assistants, smart home control (lights, curtains, AC, etc.) |
||
Cost-Effective Audio + LED Strip Applications |
ECM microphone, speaker, IR transceiver module, addressable RGB LED strip, MicroSD slot |
Near-field voice capture, audio playback, button/IR triggers, audio rhythm LED effects, local event handling |
Interactive speakers, LED light show, educational/creative prototypes |
||
Lightweight Mono Audio Applications |
Onboard microphone, 3 W speaker output, headphone jack, MicroSD slot |
Near-field capture, remote voice control, voice wake-up |
Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth smart speakers, storytelling devices, voice remote controllers |
Smart Display Development Boards (Touchscreen + Voice Interaction)
Development Board Model |
Product Positioning |
Onboard Hardware Resources |
HMI Interaction Capabilities |
Typical Application Scenarios |
Software Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Smart Display HMI + Voice Interaction Applications |
3.95-inch touchscreen (RGB, 480 × 480, GC9503CV), multi-interface display daughterboard (I2C, SPI, 8080, RGB), dual-microphone array, speaker, LED, buttons |
Smooth UI, fast image decoding, far-field voice capture, multi-touch support |
Smart central control screens, 86-type switch panels, home appliance control panels, electric vehicle dashboards, video doorbells |
||
Knob Screen HMI + Audio Interaction Applications |
1.28-inch round screen (SPI, 240 × 240, GC9A011), EC11 rotary encoder, speaker, IR transceiver |
Menu scrolling, value adjustment, mode switching, audio feedback, voice prompts via knob operation |
Knob panels (washing machines, lighting, temperature control) |
Multimedia & HMI Development Boards (Touchscreen + Camera + Microphone)
Development Board Model |
Product Positioning |
Onboard Hardware Resources |
Multimedia Interaction Capabilities |
Typical Application Scenarios |
Software Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Multimodal Multimedia & HMI Applications |
7-inch capacitive touchscreen (MIPI DSI, 1920 × 1080), MIPI CSI camera (2 MP), microphone, speaker, Ethernet interface, MicroSD slot |
LVGL GUI + voice + video + touch + network connectivity for multimodal interaction |
Smart central control screens, two-wheeler dashboards, video doorbells, network cameras |
||
Low-cost, low-power networked audio & video applications |
Touch display (SPI, ILI9341), camera interface (DVP), dual-microphone array, speaker, USB OTG, MicroSD slot |
Far-field voice capture, beamforming, acoustic echo cancellation (AEC), multimodal interaction via voice + touch + camera |
Video intercom doorbells, voice-controlled panels, display-enabled smart speakers |
Multi-Protocol Smart Gateway Development Boards (Ethernet + Thread + Zigbee)
Development Board Model |
Product Positioning |
Onboard Hardware Resources |
Gateway Interaction Capabilities |
Typical Application Scenarios |
Software Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thread border router & Zigbee gateway product |
SPI Ethernet daughter board, Wi-Fi module, Thread/Zigbee module, LED, buttons |
Matter control, cross Thread / Wi-Fi / Ethernet IPv6 multicast, web configuration interface, bidirectional IPv6 connection (Thread ↔ Wi‑Fi / Ethernet) |
Multi-protocol smart home gateway / central controller (Matter-Zigbee), Thread border router |
||
Ethernet + Wi-Fi interconnection scenarios |
Ethernet interface (IP101GRI, 10/100 MHz), Wi-Fi + Bluetooth module |
Ethernet ↔ Wi-Fi gateway, IPv4 / IPv6 support |
Smart home gateways, Ethernet sensor nodes |
esp-idf/examples/ethernet & (Ethernet ↔ Wi-Fi gateway) esp-iot-bridge/examples/wifi_router |