Electronics

XIAO ESP32-S3 vs ESP32-C3: Which Compact IoT Board Fits Your Project?

Evidence-led comparison of Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3 and XIAO ESP32-C3 for compact IoT, sensing and control projects.

Published 2026-10-10Updated 2026-10-10
  • esp32
  • comparison
  • iot
  • seeed-studio

Facts and editorial interpretation are intentionally separated.

Verified comparison criteria
CriterionSeeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-C3 (Pre-Soldered)Editorial interpretation
ProcessorDual-core Xtensa LX7 up to 240 MHzSingle-core RISC-V up to 160 MHzESP32-S3 provides more compute headroom for heavier firmware and multitasking.
Memory8 MB PSRAM + 8 MB Flash400 KB SRAM + 4 MB FlashESP32-S3 is the stronger choice when memory footprint is a concern.
Wireless2.4 GHz Wi-Fi + BLE 5.02.4 GHz Wi-Fi + BLE 5.0Both cover mainstream Wi-Fi/BLE IoT connectivity.
ADC channels9 ADC4 ADCESP32-S3 provides more analog-input flexibility for multi-sensor builds.
Dimensions21 x 17.8 mm21 x 17.8 mmBoard footprint is effectively the same for enclosure planning.
Verified price (2026-10-10)USD 7.49USD 5.99ESP32-C3 is cheaper; ESP32-S3 adds substantial capability for a small price difference.
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