A Family of low-cost microcontrollers by Expressif Systems The ESP32 is a series of low-power, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled microcontrollers developed by Espressif Systems. The ESP32 family has become increasingly popular among makers, hobbyists, and professionals due to its versatility, ease of use, and affordability. With its roots in IoT (Internet of Things) development, the ESP32 has expanded to encompass a wide range of applications, from wearable devices to industrial automation.

Original ESP32

The original ESP32, released in 2016, was a major breakthrough in the microcontroller industry. It featured a dual-core processor with speeds up to 240 MHz, 520 KB of SRAM, and 4 MB of PSRAM. The ESP32 was designed for low-power consumption, with typical currents ranging from 5-10 mA. Its integration of Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth (v4.0) capabilities made it an attractive option for IoT projects that required wireless connectivity.

ESP32-S2

The ESP32-S2, released in 2020, is a more power-efficient variant of the original ESP32. With speeds up to 240 MHz, the S2 boasts a lower active current of around 4-8 mA, making it suitable for battery-powered devices. The S2 also features improved security with hardware-based AES encryption and SHA hashing. This chip has become popular in applications where power consumption is critical, such as wearables and IoT sensors.

ESP32-S3 The ESP32-S3 was introduced in 2021, offering further enhancements to the ESP32 family. It boasts speeds up to 240 MHz and features a more efficient processor design that reduces active current to around 2-4 mA. The S3 also includes improved security features, such as hardware-based AES encryption, SHA hashing, and TRNG (True Random Number Generator). This chip is designed for applications requiring high-performance and low power consumption.

ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6 In addition to the S series, Espressif has introduced two more variants in the C family: the ESP32-C3 and ESP32-C6. The ESP32-C3 is a microcontroller focused on low-power operation, with speeds up to 160 MHz, single-core cpu with an active current of around 2-5 mA. It features a reduced pin count compared to other ESP32 variants but still retains Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. The ESP32-C6, released in 2022, boasts higher performance with speeds up to 240 MHz and a reduced active current of around 1.8-3.4 mA. The C6 is the only ESP32 chip, as of 2026, to be compatable with 5GHz WiFi. Both the C3 and C6 (along with the S3-Supermini) are the first of the ESP32 family to move from XTENSA-based CPUs to ARM-based CPUs.

ALL ESP32 Family Microcontrollers are capable of using a local wireless communication protocol for esp-to-esp communication using their WiFi radios called ESPnow

Specifications Across the Family

Note: Specifications CAN AND WILL vary by board manufacturer, especially with mini boards! Check the details!