Should you use ESP32 or ESP8266 in your project? What is the difference between ESP32 and ESP8266? In this article, we will answer these questions by comparing ESP32 and ESP8266, and cover the advantages and disadvantages of each board.
ESP32 and ESP8266 are very high cost-effective Wi-Fi modules, which is very suitable for DIY projects in the IoT.
Two chips belong to a 32-bit processor. ESP32 is a dual-core 160MHz to 240 MHz CPU, and ESP8266 is a single core processor with an operational frequency of 80MHz.
These WiFi modules have GPIO, supporting various protocols such as SPI, I2C, and UART. The best part is that they have wireless networks, which makes them distinguish from other microcontrollers such as Arduino. This means you can easily remotely control and monitor your device with a very low price via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (ESP32).
Specifications: ESP32 VS ESP8266
The ESP32 is an ESP8266 successor. It adds additional CPU kernel, faster Wi-Fi, more GPIO, and supports Bluetooth 4.2 and Bluetooth low power consumption. In addition, the ESP32 is equipped with a touch sensitive pin foot, which can be used to wake up ESP32 depth sleep, built-in Hall effect sensors, and built-in temperature sensors.
Both boards are very cheap, but the cost of ESP32 is slightly higher. Although the ESP32 price is between $ 6 and $ 12, the price of ESP8266 is between $ 4 to $ 6 (but depending on your location).
More gpio on ESP32
The ESP32 has more GPIO than ESP8266, you can decide which pin UART, I2C, SPI - you only need to set the code. This is possible because the multiplexing features of the ESP32 chip allow you to assign multiple functions to the same pin.
If you don't set them on your code, they will be on the default pin, as shown below (this is the example of the ESP32 Devkit V1 DOIT board "may vary depending on the manufacturer).
PWM, ADC, etc.
You can set a PWM signal in any GPIO and set up a configurable frequency and duty cycle on the code.
For analog pins, these are static, but ESP32 supports measurements on 18 channels (analog enable pins), and ESP8266 has only one 10-bit ADC pin. ESP32 also supports two 8-bit DAC channels.
In addition, ESP32 contains 10 capacitive GPIOs to detect touch and can be used to trigger events, or wake up ESP32 depth sleep.
Arduino IDE - ESP32 VS ESP8266
There are many programming methods for ESP32 and ESP8266 boards. Currently, two boards can be programmed using the Arduino IDE programming environment.
This is a good thing, especially suitable for those who are used to Arduino programming and familiar with Arduino programming languages.
Start using ESP32 or ESP8266 with Arduino IDE and make your first project run very easy. There are very many guidelines on the Internet: such as installing an ESP32 board (Windows description) in Arduino ID; installs the ESP32 board (Mac and Linux manual) in Arduino IDE; how to install an ESP8266 board in Arduino IDE.
Although you can use Arduino IDE to program two panels, they may not be compatible with the same library and commands. Some libraries are only compatible with one of them. This means that most of your ESP8266 code is not compatible with ESP32. But usually you only need to make some modifications.
Micropython firwmare - ESP32 VS ESP8266
Another popular approach to ESP32 and ESP8266 boards is to use micropython firmware.
Micropython is a rectification of Python 3 for microcontrollers and embedded systems. Micropython is very similar to regular Python. So if you already know how to use Python programming, then you know how to program in Micropython.
In Micropython, most Python scripts are compatible with two boards (different from the use of Arduino IDE). This means that most of you can use the same script for ESP32 and ESP8266.
So, you should ask: I should buy ESP8266 or ESP32?
This really depends on what you want to do. Both boards have the value of use, both are favorable.
ESP8266 is cheap than ESP32. Although it doesn't have so much function, it is good for most simple DIY IoT projects. In addition, because it is "older", more support is received in software, you may easily find help. However, it has some restrictions in GPIO mapping, and it may not have enough pins for your intended operations. If this is the case, you should use ESP32.
The ESP32 is more powerful than the ESP8266 function, including more GPIO with multiple functions, faster Wi-Fi, and also supports Bluetooth. Many people think that ESP32 is more difficult than ESP8266 because it is more complicated. In our view, ESP32 programming is as easy as ESP8266, especially if you plan to use Arduino language or Micropython programming it.
On the other hand, ESP32 has some shortcomings. First, it is more expensive than ESP8266. Therefore, if you are making a simple Internet of Things project, the ESP8266 may succeed at a lower price. In addition, because it is updated than ESP8266, not all software is developed to make full use of the ESP32 function, so support less and more. But in the long run, these issues will be resolved, and both development boards will have their own applications.
My personal experience: In 2019, I almost fully use the ESP32 for the Internet of Things. It features more and has more features such as Bluetooth, different wake-up sources, many peripherals, and more. In addition, in my opinion, the difference is not a big problem. I think, once you transplanted to ESP32, you won't want to return to ESP8266.
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