Waveshare ESP32-S3-Zero is a tiny (23.5×18 mm) module based on Espressif ESP32-S3 WiFi 4 and BLE microcontroller with two rows of nine through holes plus 16 pads for GPIOs, a USB-C port for power and programming, Boot and Reset buttons, and a ceramic antenna.
It reminds me of the Seeed Studio’s XIAO ESP32S3 module with an even smaller 21 x 17.5mm design, but the ESP32-S3-Zero offers more GPIOs, an RGB LED, and a built-in ceramic antenna instead of a u.FL connector for an external antenna.
Waveshare ESP32-S3-Zero specifications:
- Wireless MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-FH4R2
- CPU – dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller @ 240 MHz
- Memory – 512KB SRAM, 2MB PSRAM
- Storage – 4MB flash
- Wireless – Wi-Fi 4 & Bluetooth 5.0 dual-mode (classic + BLE) connectivity
- Antenna – 2.4 GHz ceramic antenna
- USB – USB Type-C port for power and programming
- Expansion I/Os
- 2x 9-pin 2.54mm pitch headers and castellated holes with 16x GPIO configurable as UART, PWM, ADC, I2C, I2S, or SPI, 1x dedicated UART, 5V, 3.3V out, and GND
- 2x 8-pin 2.00mm pitch pads with 16x GPIO configurable as UART, PWM, I2C, I2S, or SPI, 2x ADC
- 2x 9-pin 2.54mm pitch headers and castellated holes with 16x GPIO configurable as UART, PWM, ADC, I2C, I2S, or SPI, 1x dedicated UART, 5V, 3.3V out, and GND
- Misc – Reset button, Boot button, WS2812 RGB LED (GPIO21)
- Power Supply
- 5V via USB Type-C port
- 3.7V to 6V DC input via “5V” pin
- Dimensions – 23.5 x 18mm
- Temperature Range – –40 to +85°C
The Waveshare ESP32-S3 IoT module does come with less flash and PSRAM (4MB/2MB) than the XIAO ESP32S3 (8MB/8MB) and lacks a battery charging circuit. The company provides basic instructions for Arduino and MicroPython and additional hardware information on the relevant wiki. There’s also a zip file with Arduino sketches to control the RGB LED, but nothing much else. so you’d be on your own when it comes to writing software for the module. However, since we’re told to select “Espressif-S3-DevKitM-1” in PlatformIO and the Arduino IDE, any code for the official devkit should work.
Waveshare is selling the ESP32-S3-Zero for $6.27 shipped on Aliexpress, and the version with headers for $7.30 on the same page. Alternatively, you’ll find both on Amazon US for $11.49 and $12.49 respectively.
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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