ESP32 vs ESP8266 – Which One To Choose?

Hello readers welcome to the new post. In this post, we will learn ESP32 vs ESP8266 – Which One To Choose? Both ESP32 and ESP8266 are low-cost modules, wifi-based SOC best for DIY projects in IoT. These come with 32-bit processors, ESP32 is dual core 80Mhz to 240MHz CPU and ESP8266 is an 80MHz single-core processor. In this post, we will compare ESP32 and ESP8266 which will help you to choose the right one for your projects. Let’s get started with ESP32 vs ESP8266

Introduction to ESP8266 

• The ESP module on the development board comes with an ESP8266 chip, ensilica Xtensa 32-bit LX106 RISC microprocessors that is compatible with RTOS and operates at 0 to 160 MHz adjustable clock frequency.
• It is low-cost for connecting IoT projects with the internet.
• nodemcu ESP8266 comes with an 802.11b/g/n HT40 Wi-Fi transceiver used to connect the WiFi network and interact with the internet, and it can work for both access points and stations. It gets data and shares on intent making easy use of IoT.
• It comes with on-board processing and storage features that help to integrate with sensors and other applications-based devices with the use of GPIOs with less development up front and loading at runtime
• 128KB RAM and 4MB of Flash memory is enough to handle high strings that create web pages.
• ESP8266 NodeMCU Module comes in two types one is made with CP2102 USB to UART bridge and the other with  CH340 USB to UART bridge..

What is ESP32

ESP32 is a high clock speed controller board that is the successor of ESP8266. It comes with a dual cor CPU with clock speed frequency of 160MHz to 240MHz with inbuilt  WiFi and Bluetooth module.

It also has low-power co-processors that in deep sleep mode can work for many years on a single battery.

it comes with integrated power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, latest security system

it also has a 2.5 GHz dual-mode wifi and Bluetooth module. It is a small printed board where all featured are configured

ESP32 vs ESP8266

NodeMCU ESP8266 and Arduino UNO

Features	NodeMCU ESP8266	Arduino UNO
Microcontroller	Tensilica 32-bit Xtensa LX106	ATmega328P
Flash Memory	4 MB	32 KB (0.5 KB is used for Bootloader)
Current Use	15 µA to 400 mA	45 mA to 80 mA
DC Current per I/O Pin	12 mA	40 mA
Digital IO Pins	17	14
Analog Input Pins	1	6
UARTs	2	1
SPI	2	1
I2C	1	1
PWM	4	6
WiFi	Yes	–
Bluetooth	No	–
SRAM	128 KB	2 KB
EEPROM	Not Available512 bytes (Software)	1 KB
CLOCK Speed	80 MHz or 160 MHz	16 MHz
Operating Voltage	3.3V DC	5V DC
Input Voltage	7-12 DC	6V-20V DC

 

ESP12E VS ESP12F

ESP12E Features

• its frequency range is 2.412 – 2.484 GHz
• Serial Transmission rates are 110 – 921600 bps, TCP Client 5
• SDIO 2.0, SPI, and UART Interface exist on this module
• PWM also it has
• Encryption : WEP64 / WEP128 / TKIP / AES
• Network Protocol: IPv4, TCP / UDP / FTP / HTTP
• One ADC channel configured
• Programmable GPIO
• Wireless Network Type are: STA / AP / STA + AP
• Security Features: WEP / WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK
• Operating Voltage: 3.3V

ESP12F Features

• 802.11 b/g/n
• •Integrated low-power 32-bit MCU
• 10-bit ADC
•  TCP/IP protocol stack
• TR switch, balun, LNA, power amplifier, and matching network
•  PLL, regulators, and power management units
• Smart Link Function for both Android and iOS devices
• SDIO 2.0, (H) SPI, UART, I2C, I2S, IRDA, PWM, GPIO
• Supported antenna diversity
•  Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, supported WPA/WPA2
• STA/AP/STA+AP operation modes
• STBC, 1×1 MIMO, 2×1 MIMO
• A-MPDU & A-MSDU aggregation and 0.4s guard interval

 Pros and Cons- ESP8266 vs ESP32

ESP8266: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• The ESP8266 is low-cost and easy to afford. So can used for different projects and applications.
• It is small size helps to configure it in confined spaces. So best to use in IoT and embedded projects.
• it uses low power that helps to increase the working life of devices where it is configured.
• It supports many communication modules and is used in different projects.
• This module also comes with an active and strong community.
• It does not need any external Wi-Fi adapter.
• it also comes with GPIo pins help to make easy projects

Cons:

• It has a limited processing capacity than other controllers. it affect its operation for projects that needed larger processing power.
• It uses only 2.4GHz band which can cause busy network problems. The single band limitation can casues interference and low signal quality, especially for places that come with many WIFi networks
• it also has inbuilt RAM with limited features.
• The security feature of this module is not enough than another controller. For apps that handle sensitive data, high-level security is needed
• its wifi range is not enough for high buildings or other hurdles conditions.
• It has limited voltage on GPISo. that can affect support for components that need high or low voltage values.
• its boost time is not as good then other controllers

ESP32: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Good power managing features in ESP32 help to reduce power use which is important for battery-supported devices, and applications where energy efficiency is important. It makes sure longer working life without  frequent recharging or power interruptions

Cons:

• ESP32 uses more power which is its drawback for battery-operated IoT projects. It is important to consider effect of peripheral components like voltage regulators, on power consumption.

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Which is better, the ESP32 vs ESP8266?

The ESP is better as compared to ESP8266. It offers fast processors and high memory, which is best for larger projects that are made on a single SOC.

ESP32 offers reliable and high-tech security featues that make it unique then other modules

ESP32 also has a reliable structure, firmware, and peripherals. The processing power also makes secure socket layer connections.

ESP32 devices come with more GPIP to operate with complicated projects. it is best for projects where a microcontroller is needed.

Some ESP32 boards also come with cameras.

ESP32 Pinout

Label	GPIO	Uses
D0	0	It is HIGH for boot and LOW for programming
TX0	1	Tx pin for flashing and debugging
D2	2	LOW during boot and  connected to the on-board LED
RX0	3	Rx pind for flashing and debugging
D4	4
D5	5	HIGH during boot
D6	6.	Flash memory connection
D7	7	Flash memory connection
D8	8	Flash memory connection
D9	9	Flash memory connection
D10	10	Connected to Flash memory
D11	11	Connected to Flash memory
D12	12	must be LOW during boot
D13	13
D14	14
D15	15	it is HIGH during boot, stops startup log if pulled LOW
RX2	16
TX2	17
D18	18
D19	19
D21	21
D22	22
D23	23
D25	25
D26	26
D27	27
D32	32
D33	33
D34	34	Input only GPIO, not for output
D35	35	Input only GPIO, not for output
VP	36	Input only GPIO, not for output
VN	39	Input-only GPIO, not for output

ESP8266 Pinout

Label	GPIO	Input	Output	Features
D0	GPIO16	no interrupt	no PWM or I2C support	HIGH for boot used to wake up from deep sleep
D1	GPIO5	OK	OK	used as SCL (I2C)
D2	GPIO4	OK	OK	often used as SDA (I2C)
D3	GPIO0	pulled up	OK	connected to the FLASH button, the boot fails if  LOW
D4	GPIO2	pulled up	OK	HIGH at boot connection to on-board LED, boot fails if pulled LOW
D5	GPIO14	OK	OK	SPI (SCLK)
D6	GPIO12	OK	OK	SPI (MISO)
D7	GPIO13	OK	OK	SPI (MOSI)
D8	GPIO15	pulled to GND	OK	SPI (CS) Boot fails if  HIGH
RX	GPIO3	OK	RX pin	HIGH for boot
TX	GPIO1	TX pin	OK	HIGH for boot debug output at boot, boot fails if pulled LOW
A0	ADC0	Analog Input	X

ESP32 VS ESP8266- Specifications

ESP8266

• Microcontroller: Tensilica 32-bit RISC CPU Xtensa LX106
• Operating Voltage: 3.3V
• Input Voltage: 7-12V
• Digital I/O Pins (DIO): 16
• USB-TTL based on CP2102 is included onboard, Enabling Plug n Play
• PCB Antenna
• Analog Input Pins (ADC): 1
• UARTs: 1
• SPIs: 1
• I2Cs: 1
• Flash Memory: 4 MB
• SRAM: 64 KB
• Clock Speed: 80 MHz
• Small Sized module to fit smartly inside your IoT projects

ESP32

• Processors:
  • CPU: Xtensa dual-core (or single-core) 32-bit LX6 microprocessor, operating at 160 or 240 MHz
  • Ultra low power (ULP) co-processor
• Memory: 520 KiB RAM, 448 KiB ROM
• Wireless connectivity:
  • Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
  • Bluetooth: v4.2 BR/EDR and BLE (shares the radio with Wi-Fi)
• Peripheral interfaces:
  • 34 × programmable GPIOs
  • 12-bit SAR ADC up to 18 channels
  • 2 × 8-bit DACs
  • 10 × touch sensors (capacitive sensing GPIOs)
  • 4 × SPI
  • 2 × I²S interfaces
  • 2 × I²C interfaces
  • 3 × UART
  • SD/SDIO/CE-ATA/MMC/eMMC host controller
  • SDIO/SPI slave controller
• Security:
• IEEE 802.11 standard security features all supported, like WPA, WPA2, WPA3 ^] and WLAN Authentication and Privacy Infrastructure (WAPI)
• 1024-bit OTP, up to 768-bit for customers

ESP32 VS ESP8266: Which is easier to program?

It is considered that ESP32 is more difficult to handle than ESP8266 since it is complicated but  ESP32 programming is as easy as ESP8266, such as for Arduino language or MicroPython. Arduino IDE

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• Teensy 4.1 Pinout, Schematic Symbol, Specifications & Board Layout

FAQs

Does ESP32 have better Wi-Fi than ESP8266?

ESP32 comes with 10 capacitive sensing GPIOs, that can detect touch and be used for triggering events or waking up ESP32 for deep sleep. ESP32 is high powerful component than ESP8266, comes with  GPIOs with different functions, faster Wi-Fi, and also supports Bluetooth.

Which ESP board is best?

ESP8266  is best but ESP32 is better in different features. As ESP32-C3 (or ESP8685) can be used as a replacement of ESP8266. It is single core and less power module

Is ESP32 the same as ESP8266?

ESP32 is the successor of ESP8266 module. ESP chips provide more CPU cores, high-speed wifi transmission technology and larger number of GPIOs and supportd4.2 protocol and Bluetooth Low Energy

What is the disadvantage of ESP32?

ESP32 is high power-use device, which is a drawback for  battery-operated IoT applications

What are the advantages of ESP8266 over Arduino?

The main advantage is embedded wireless technology that is web-friendly with no use of any peripherals since it is used for Arduino. The cost and size are USP of the module with features of speed processing power.

What are the disadvantages of ESP8266?

• Single-core processor
• Less RAM
• Fewer GPIO pins
• No support for Bluetooth
• Worse Wi-Fi performance

What products use ESP8266?

90 percent of all Internet of Things operates on ESP8266, as well as smart bulbs, switches, and plugs.

Why is ESP32 called NodeMCU?

“NodeMCU” combination “node” and “MCU” (micro-controller unit). “NodeMCU” refers to the firmware rather than the associated development kits.

What is the maximum Wi-Fi range of ESP8266?

The range is around 400m.

What is esp8266 vs esp32 power consumption?

ESP8266 uses about 120mA, and ESP32 uses about180mA when transmitting data over WiFI

What is esp8266 vs esp32 pinout?

ESP32 supported measurements on 18 channels and ESP8266 comes with only one 10-bit ADC pin, and ESP32 also supported 2 8-bit DAC channels

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