Espressif Systems has finally launched the ESP32-C6 WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, and 802.15.4 IoT microcontroller by making the ESP32-C6-WROOM-1 module available on Aliexpress for $14.25 for a pack of 5 modules as well as the ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 development board that’s out of stock on the official store at the time of writing. but somehow listed in another store for $16.22 plus shipping.
Besides the availability announcement, another surprise is the 802.15.4 radio for Zigbee and Thread that was not part of the original ESP32-C6 announcement in April 2021. The ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 development board comes with a module with 8MB flash, exposes most of the I/O’s from the ESP32-C3, and comes with two USB-C ports, two buttons, and an RGB LED.
ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 development board specifications:
- Wireless module – ESP32-C6-WROOM-1 with
- ESP32-C6 single-core 32-bit RISC-V clocked up to 160 MHz 320KB ROM, 512KB SRAM, low-power RISC-V core @ up to 20 MHz
- Wireless – 2.4 GHz WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, 802.15.4 radio for Zigbee 3.0 and Thread. Matter compatible. PCB antenna
- 8MB SPI flash
- USB – 1x USB Type-C host port, 1x USB Type-C port via UART console
- I/Os – 2x 16-pin headers with GPIO, UART, SPI, ADC, SDIO, USB, I2S, etc…
- Misc – Reset and BOOT buttons, RGB LED, J5 header/jumper for current measurement
- Power Supply (mutually exclusive options)
- 5V via USB-UART port (recommended)
- 5V and GND pin headers
- 3V3 and GND pin headers
- Dimensions – 51.8 x 25.5 mm
The new ESP32-C6 module and development board work with the ESP-IDF v5.1, currently under development (see progress report), and some basic documentation can be found on read the docs.
If you can’t purchase an ESP32-C6 module or board just yet due to limited supplies, don’t despair as more are coming very soon as Espressif tells us to expect more products on Adafruit, Akizuki, Digikey, and Mouser.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Woohoo! And only a couple of weeks after commenting on the Bouffalo post.
I will say that $14 is a bit of a departure from $2
The AliExpress site says the $14 price is “per lot”, so I suspect you’re getting more than one controller (my guess is 4-5pcs, there’s no clarity about the size of the lot sadly).
It definitely says 5 pcs when I just looked
It’s a limited early run:
The early ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 board samples went out of stock but were selling 2/lot for 9$
The remaining in-stock ESP32-C6-WROOM-1 modules are selling 5/lot for $14.25
The caveats are:
Shipping not included.Limited per customer.Uncalibrated ADC.
5 modules,still a good deal.
Akizuki? Link?
Never heard about this shop either, and I got it from the linked press release.
I think they refer to https://akizukidenshi.com/ since they sell some ESP32 modules there.
I mean, it’s exciting progress.
But how exactly, are we in the situation that the WiFi radio is now WiFi 6 compatible, but still stuck at 2.4GHz? Isn’t it about time that 5GHz became standard in these little microcontrollers?
Is there a technical reason? (Eg Bluetooth, Thread, ZigBee, WiFi can all use a 2.4GHz antenna? But, surely the experts can find a way to get a 5GHz antenna on the board)
It seems like a product strategy. Espressif offers ESP32-C5 to provide 5GHz Wi-Fi6.
IoT devices don’t need a lot of bandwidth. On the other hand 2.4 GHz has much better range.
I agree, there is no need for 5Ghz in most IOT applications. Only need I see for 5Ghz in IOT is video.
Sometimes 2.4 GHz is crowded with other wifi networks. 5 GHz has a lot less interference.
If you don’t plan to stream 4K also a crowded 2.4GHz band still pushes a few kbit/s reliably
What, exactly, is 2.4GHz WiFi6? I thought all the good changes were at 5GHz (160 MHz channels, etc.)?
WiFi6 has some features that reduces power consumption.
Does WiFi 6 at 2.4GHz also have the network tagging – which allows these microcontrollers (and anything else WiFi 6) to talk over the top of competing nearby networks when necessary?
Great news, very few zigbee capable socs exist in this price range
Is the ESP32-C6 basically a refreshed C3 with a few new features? Or is it a significantly more powerful processor or what?
From a quick glance, I’d say the main difference is the number of GPIOs available.