Microcontroller Guide: Compare ESP32 and Wearable Boards

Every board here is one I've used in a build or a video. Pick from the quick list below, or compare them all in the table. All of them program with Arduino IDE or PlatformIO (my favourite), and most also run MicroPython or CircuitPython.

Quick picks

  • Your very first board: the ESP32 30-pin (USB-C). It's the board most tutorials use, it fits a breadboard with room to spare, and it has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
  • Touch sensing with conductive fabric: choose a classic ESP32, an ESP32-S3, an S2 or a SAMD21 board. ESP32-C3 boards have no touch pins, so they need an add-on such as the MPR121 touch sensor for fabric buttons.
  • Sewing it straight into clothes: Gemma M0 for small circuits, Flora when you need more pads, or the Beetle ESP32 if it needs Wi-Fi.
  • As small as possible: ESP32-C3 SuperMini, ESP32-S3 SuperMini or XIAO RP2040.
  • Running on a battery: the Beetle ESP32-C3 charges a Li-ion cell on the board. Gemma, Flora and Circuit Playground have a JST battery plug.
  • Plug-in sensors with no soldering: the Adafruit QT Py boards have a STEMMA QT port that also takes Qwiic sensors.
  • Teaching a class: Circuit Playground Express. Sensors, sound and 10 LEDs are built in, and it works with MakeCode blocks.
  • Screens, camera or audio: an ESP32-S3 N16R8 with 16 MB of flash and 8 MB of PSRAM.

Compare every board

On a phone, swipe sideways to see every column.

Board Chip Wireless Touch pins for fabric USB Size and shape Sewable Battery Best for Price
ESP32 30-pin (USB-C)ESP32 30-pin (USB-C) ESP32, dual-core 240 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Yes, up to 10 USB-C 30-pin, breadboard friendly No No Your first board; follows most tutorials $14.95
ESP32 30-pinESP32 30-pin ESP32, dual-core 240 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Yes, up to 10 Older USB (not C) 30-pin, breadboard friendly No No Lowest-cost classic ESP32 $11.95
ESP32 38-pin (USB-C)ESP32 38-pin (USB-C) ESP32, dual-core 240 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Yes, up to 10 USB-C 38-pin, every pin broken out No No Projects that need every pin $15.95
Pink ESP32-WROOM-32EPink ESP32-WROOM-32E ESP32 (32E revision), dual-core 240 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Yes, up to 10 USB-C 30-pin, pink board No No Classic ESP32 that looks good on show $17.95
White ESP32-WROOM-32EWhite ESP32-WROOM-32E ESP32 (32E revision), dual-core 240 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Yes, up to 10 USB-C 30-pin, white board No No Classic ESP32 that looks good on show $17.95
ESP32-S3 SuperMiniESP32-S3 SuperMini ESP32-S3, dual-core 240 MHz, 2 MB PSRAM Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 LE Yes USB-C, native Smaller than a postage stamp Solder wires No Powerful wearables in a tiny space $11.95
ESP32-S3 N16R8, pre-solderedESP32-S3 N16R8, pre-soldered ESP32-S3, dual-core 240 MHz, 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 LE Yes Two USB-C Breadboard, headers fitted No No Displays, camera and audio projects $19.95
ESP32-S3 N16R8, unsolderedESP32-S3 N16R8, unsoldered ESP32-S3, dual-core 240 MHz, 16 MB flash, 8 MB PSRAM Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 LE Yes Two USB-C Headers loose, for low-profile builds Solder wires No Big-memory projects built into garments $19.95
ESP32-C3 SuperMini, blackESP32-C3 SuperMini, black ESP32-C3, RISC-V 160 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 LE No USB-C Thumb-sized Solder wires No Cheapest tiny Wi-Fi board $9.75
ESP32-C3 SuperMini, pinkESP32-C3 SuperMini, pink ESP32-C3, RISC-V 160 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 LE No USB-C Thumb-sized, pink Solder wires No Cheapest tiny Wi-Fi board $9.75
ESP32-C3 with 0.42 screenESP32-C3 with 0.42" screen ESP32-C3, RISC-V 160 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 LE No USB-C 23.5 × 18 mm, screen built in Solder wires No Tiny wearables that show text or numbers $19.75
ESP32-C3 with 25 LEDsESP32-C3 with 25 LEDs ESP32-C3, RISC-V 160 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 LE No USB-C 21 × 18 mm, 5×5 LED matrix Solder wires No Badges and wearables that light up $24.75
Beetle ESP32 [Sewable]Beetle ESP32 [Sewable] ESP32, dual-core Wi-Fi + Bluetooth Some pins Micro-USB 35 × 34 mm, gold sew pads Yes No Wireless projects sewn into clothes $13.99
Beetle ESP32-C3Beetle ESP32-C3 ESP32-C3, RISC-V 160 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 LE No USB-C Coin-sized Solder wires Yes, Li-ion Battery projects without a charger board $12.65
Adafruit QT Py SAMD21Adafruit QT Py SAMD21 SAMD21, 48 MHz None Yes, 6 USB-C, native XIAO size, STEMMA QT port Solder wires No Fabric touch and plug-in sensors, no wireless $14.95
Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S2Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S2 ESP32-S2, single-core 240 MHz Wi-Fi only Yes USB-C, native XIAO size, STEMMA QT port Solder wires No Wi-Fi plus plug-in sensors $22.75
Adafruit QT Py ESP32-C3Adafruit QT Py ESP32-C3 ESP32-C3, RISC-V 160 MHz Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5 LE No USB-C XIAO size, STEMMA QT port Solder wires No Bluetooth plus plug-in sensors $17.75
Seeed XIAO RP2040Seeed XIAO RP2040 RP2040, dual-core 133 MHz None No USB-C, native 20 × 17.5 mm Solder wires No Tiny, cheap LED and sensor projects $8.95
Adafruit Gemma M0Adafruit Gemma M0 SAMD21, 48 MHz None Yes, on the sew pads Micro-USB, native 28 mm round, 3 sew pads Yes JST battery plug Small sewn circuits and first wearables $15.75
Adafruit Flora V3Adafruit Flora V3 ATmega32u4 None Not built in Micro-USB, native 45 mm round, 14 sew pads Yes JST battery plug Bigger sewn circuits with many parts $26.75
Circuit Playground ExpressCircuit Playground Express SAMD21, 48 MHz None Yes, 7 pads Micro-USB, native 50 mm round, sensors and 10 LEDs built in Yes (pads) JST battery plug Classrooms and first projects, MakeCode blocks $39.99

ESP32, S3, C3 or S2: what's the difference?

  • ESP32 (classic): two cores, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, up to 10 touch pins. The safe all-rounder with the most tutorials.
  • ESP32-S3: the newer, faster two-core chip, with native USB, more memory options and plenty of touch pins. Best for bigger wearables, displays and LED effects.
  • ESP32-C3: one RISC-V core, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 LE, very cheap and very small, but no touch pins.
  • ESP32-S2: one core, native USB, touch pins, Wi-Fi but no Bluetooth.

Boards without wireless (SAMD21, RP2040, ATmega32u4) are simpler and great for LEDs, sensors and sewn circuits that don't need to talk to a phone.

Questions people ask

Which microcontroller is best for wearables?

For sewing straight into fabric, Gemma M0 or Flora. For wireless wearables, the Beetle ESP32 (sewable) or an ESP32-S3 SuperMini with wires soldered on.

Which boards work with conductive fabric touch sensors?

Any board with capacitive touch pins: classic ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-S2, QT Py SAMD21, Gemma M0 and Circuit Playground Express. Sew or snap the fabric to a touch pin and read it in code. See the Conductive Fabric Guide to pick the fabric.

30-pin or 38-pin ESP32?

The 30-pin fits on one breadboard with a free row on each side. The 38-pin breaks out every pin but covers the whole width of a standard breadboard.

Do I need to solder?

Not for the sewable boards, the boards with pre-soldered headers or the QT Py STEMMA QT port. The SuperMini boards need headers or wires soldered on.

Where can I buy ESP32 boards in Canada?

Right here: every order is packed by hand in Nova Scotia and ships across Canada, with small parcels from $3.50. See shipping rates.