ESP Series: ESP8266/ ESP32 Related
ESP series are very popular in makers' projects, ESP8266 and ESP32 are the most commonly used, We will talk about those 2 ESP series from Espressif, and some ESP8266 and ESP32 related products designed by Makerfabs.
1. ESP8266
In 2014, Espressif released a module called ESP8266, it was just intended as a WiFi module. Before ESP8266, the WiFi modules are expensive than $5, such as the widely used RN171. As the ESP8266 turns out, it made a great shake to the WiFi market, its price lower than $2, which makes it possible that more items can be connected to the internet directly at a much lower cost. Besides, when someone finds that the ESP8266 itself has strong processing ability, that it can be not only a WiFi module, but also the core controller of a system, and also when Ivan Grokhotkov made it Arduino compatible, the ESP8266 got HOT.
Based on the ESP8266 core IC, there are many companies made modules, of these companies, the AIthink is the most well-known/popular used, it integrates the antenna and SRAM, friendly to users especially for small batch production.
The drawback of ESP8266 is that the ESP8266 does not provide any means to secure the code or the data it stores, which lead to risky, besides, as we Makerfabs testing, the power consumption is somewhat huge. These 2 drawbacks lead to this ESP8266 getting popular in small batch products, such as open hardware, or educational markets, but when it comes to mass production, it is not so popular used.
In 2019, the ESP32-S2 was released. Compares to ESP32, it selects a different way: it is based on LX7 but single-core, it supports BLE5 and the USB OTG(which is essential for the CircuitPython), but as the main controller, seems it not so strong as the ESP32. Actually, it should be a transitional product from ESP32 to ESP32-S3. Which is about to release, by current files, it is based on dual-core 32-bit LX7, and also BLE integrated. It could be the most strong processor of ESP series products by now. But there are not enough files available yet.
And In 2020, the ESP32-C3 was released, compares to other ESP modules, the most difference is that it is based on the RISC-V, we think that it aims at the updated version of the ESP8266, target to consumer electronics& products.
In the past years, Makerfabs have more than 100 products& projects with ESP series, either by our designed IoT products, or customers ODM projects, have rich experience in the R&D, components vendors, production, and testing:
● MakePython ESP8266
● ESPwatch
● ESP32 3.5" TFT Touch
● DIY ESP32 SmartClock Kit with Weather Forecasting
● NodeMCU ESP32-S2-SAOLA-1R
If any projects designing& production requests about the ESP series, welcome to contact Makerfabs service@makerfabs.com for assistance.
Based on the ESP8266 core IC, there are many companies made modules, of these companies, the AIthink is the most well-known/popular used, it integrates the antenna and SRAM, friendly to users especially for small batch production.
The drawback of ESP8266 is that the ESP8266 does not provide any means to secure the code or the data it stores, which lead to risky, besides, as we Makerfabs testing, the power consumption is somewhat huge. These 2 drawbacks lead to this ESP8266 getting popular in small batch products, such as open hardware, or educational markets, but when it comes to mass production, it is not so popular used.
2. ESP32
In 2016, the ESP32 was released. It has more GPIOs, ADCs and DAC. It is dual-core Lx6, integrated with Bluetooth 4.2, and important, it has hardware encryption and code signature, which is important for safety. In the first of its release, as Espressif’s production ability, it is in serious shortage on the market... Now it is stable and has been widely used in Makerfabs products.
In 2019, the ESP32-S2 was released. Compares to ESP32, it selects a different way: it is based on LX7 but single-core, it supports BLE5 and the USB OTG(which is essential for the CircuitPython), but as the main controller, seems it not so strong as the ESP32. Actually, it should be a transitional product from ESP32 to ESP32-S3. Which is about to release, by current files, it is based on dual-core 32-bit LX7, and also BLE integrated. It could be the most strong processor of ESP series products by now. But there are not enough files available yet.
And In 2020, the ESP32-C3 was released, compares to other ESP modules, the most difference is that it is based on the RISC-V, we think that it aims at the updated version of the ESP8266, target to consumer electronics& products.
3. ESP8266 and ESP32 Detailed Comparison:
| ESP8266 | ESP32 | ESP32-S2 | ESP32-C3 | |
| Release Year | 2014 | 2016 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Microcontroller | Xtensa single-core 32-bit L106 | Xtensa single/dual-core 32-bit LX6 | Xtensa single-core 32-bit LX7 | 32bit RISCV singlecore processor |
| Clock Frequency | 80 MHz | 160/240 MHz | 240 MHz | 160Mhz |
| Co-processor | No | ULP | ULP (RISC-V) | No |
| SRAM | 160 KB | 520 KB | 320 KB | 400KB |
| ROM | No | 448 KB | 128 KB | 384KB |
| RTC Memory | No | 16 KB | 16 KB | 8 KB |
| External SPIRAM | Up to 16MB | Up to 16MB | Up to 128MB | No |
| External Flash | No | No | Up to 1G | Up to 16MB |
| Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) | HT20 | HT20 | HT20 | HT40 |
| ESP-MESH | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | BT 4.2 BR/EDR & BLE | No | Bluetooth® 5 (LE) |
| Ethernet | No | 10/100 Mbps | No | No |
| CAN | No | 2 | No | 1 |
| Time of Flight | No | No | Yes | No |
| GPIO (total) | 16 | 34 | 43 | 22 |
| Touch | No | 10 | 14 | No |
| SPI | 2 | 4 | 4 (OSPI) | 3 |
| I2C | 1 (soft) | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| I2S | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| UART | 2 (1 ½ actually) | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| ADC | 1 (10-bit) | 18 (12-bit) | 20 (12-bit) | 6(2 × 12-bit) |
| DAC | No | 2 (8-bit) | 2 (8-bit) | No |
| PWM (soft) | 8 | 16 | 8 | 6 |
| SDMMC | No | Yes | No | No |
| RMT | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USB OTG | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| LCD Interface | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Camera Interface | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature sensor | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hall sensor | No | Yes | No | No |
| Security | No | Secure boot Flash encryption 1024-bit OTP | Secure boot Flash encryption 4096-bit OTP | Secure boot |
| Crypto | No | AES, SHA-2, RSA, ECC, RNG | AES-128/192/256, SHA-2, RSA, RNG, HMAC, Digital Signature | AES-128/256 (FIPS PUB 197) |
| Low Power Consumption | 20uA | 10uA deep sleep | Automatic RF power management 5uA in idle mode 24uA at 1% duty cycle | 5uA deep sleep |
In the past years, Makerfabs have more than 100 products& projects with ESP series, either by our designed IoT products, or customers ODM projects, have rich experience in the R&D, components vendors, production, and testing:
3.1 ESP8266 Projects:
● ESP8288 WiFi Shield for Arduino● MakePython ESP8266
● ESPwatch
3.2 ESP32 Projects:
● Game Boys● ESP32 3.5" TFT Touch
● DIY ESP32 SmartClock Kit with Weather Forecasting
3.3 ESP32-S2 Projects:
● ESP32-S2 Parallel TFT with Touch 3.5''● NodeMCU ESP32-S2-SAOLA-1R
If any projects designing& production requests about the ESP series, welcome to contact Makerfabs service@makerfabs.com for assistance.
