When choosing the right microcontroller for your project, the RP2040 and ESP32 are two popular contenders. The RP2040, developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, is designed to deliver high performance, affordability, and ease of use, reflecting the core values of the organization. On the other hand, the ESP32, produced by Espressif Systems, offers robust wireless connectivity and advanced features suitable for a wide range of applications. This article provides an in-depth comparison of these two microcontrollers, outlining their specifications, features, and applications to help you make an informed decision.

RP2040 and ESP32

RP2040 Overview

The RP2040 is the first microcontroller developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, introduced on January 21, 2021. It embodies the core values of high performance, affordability, and ease of use that Raspberry Pi is known for. Featuring a dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ processor, the RP2040 offers substantial on-chip memory with 264KB of SRAM and a rich set of peripherals, including 30 programmable I/O pins and a versatile Programmable I/O (PIO) subsystem. This unique PIO subsystem allows for customizable hardware interfaces and peripheral emulation, providing users with significant flexibility.

RP2040

The RP2040 is designed for both professional and hobbyist use, with comprehensive documentation, a refined MicroPython implementation, and a UF2 bootloader embedded in ROM to simplify the development process. It operates as a stateless device, utilizing external QSPI memory for cached execution, which enables users to select the appropriate density of non-volatile storage for their applications while benefiting from the cost-effectiveness of commodity flash memory.

Manufactured using a 40nm process node, the RP2040 delivers high performance with low dynamic power consumption and minimal leakage. It includes various low-power modes to support extended battery-powered operations, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, including robotics, automation, and real-time processing tasks.

ESP32 Overview

The ESP32, developed by Espressif Systems, is a versatile system on a chip (SoC) that integrates Wi-Fi and dual-mode Bluetooth capabilities. It is designed for cost-sensitive and power-efficient applications, including mobile devices, wearable electronics, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The ESP32 series includes variants such as ESP32-D0WD Q6, ESP32-D0WD, ESP32-D2WD, ESP32-S0WD, and the ESP32-PICO-D4 SiP.

esp32

At the core of the ESP32 is the Tensilica Xtensa LX6 microprocessor, available in both dual-core and single-core configurations, with clock speeds reaching up to 240 MHz. The chip features integrated antenna switches, RF baluns, power amplifiers, low-noise receive amplifiers, filters, and power management modules. This integration supports a broad array of wireless connectivity options and ensures efficient power consumption.

The ESP32 supports a variety of programming languages, including C, C++, MicroPython, Lua, and Arduino, and can be developed using the official ESP-IDF SDK or third-party tools. Its wide range of peripherals and interfaces, such as UART, SPI, I2C, and Ethernet, along with its advanced power-saving technologies, make it ideal for IoT, home automation, and robotics applications.

RP2040 vs ESP32: Specifications

RP2040 Specifications

Dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ processor, up to 133 MHz
264kB on-chip SRAM, distributed across six independent banks
Supports up to 16MB of off-chip Flash memory via dedicated QSPI bus
30 GPIO pins, including 4 analog inputs
Fully-connected AHB crossbar
8 x Programmable I/O (PIO) blocks
2 x UART, 2 x SPI controllers, 2 x I2C controllers
DMA controller
USB 1.1 Host/Device controller with dedicated DMA channel
12-bit, 500 ksps ADC, supporting up to 4 input channels
16 x PWM channels
On-chip programmable LDO for core voltage generation
2 on-chip PLLs for USB and core clock generation
Real-Time Counter (RTC)
Low-power sleep and dormant modes
On-chip crystal oscillator with external clock input
Operating voltage range: 1.8V to 5.5V

ESP32 Specifications

Tensilica Xtensa dual-core 32-bit LX6 microprocessor, up to 240 MHz
520 KB SRAM, 448 KB ROM, 4 MB flash memory
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, WPA/WPA2/WPA3 authentication
Bluetooth v4.2 BR/EDR and BLE
34 programmable GPIO pins
3 UART interfaces, 3 SPI interfaces, 2 I2C interfaces
18 ADC channels, 2 DAC channels
2 I2S interfaces, 2 LED PWM interfaces
10 capacitive touch sensors
Ethernet MAC interface with dedicated DMA and IEEE 1588 support
5 µA deep sleep current
Built-in RTC
CAN 2.0 support
SD/SDIO/MMC host controller
Secure boot

RP2040 vs ESP32: Pinout

RP2040 Pinout

Pin configuration

The RP2040 microcontroller features various pins with specific functions for general-purpose I/O, analog-to-digital conversion, SPI interfacing, USB communication, crystal oscillation, and debugging. The pins support diverse functions including interfacing with external peripherals, handling USB connections, and providing debug capabilities.

Name	Description
GPIOx	General-purpose digital input and output. Can be connected to internal peripherals or controlled directly from software.
GPIOx/ADCy	General-purpose digital input and output with analog-to-digital converter function. The ADC can sample voltage from these pins.
QSPIx	Interface for SPI, Dual-SPI, or Quad-SPI flash devices with execute-in-place support. Can also be used as software-controlled GPIOs.
USB_DM & USB_DP	USB controller pins supporting Full Speed device and Full/Low Speed host. Requires 27Ω series termination resistors; internal bus pull-ups and pull-downs are provided.
XIN & XOUT	Connect to a crystal oscillator for clock input. XIN can also be used as a single-ended CMOS clock input with XOUT disconnected. Requires a 12MHz crystal or clock input for the USB bootloader.
RUN	Global asynchronous reset pin. Drives low to reset and high to run. Can be tied directly to IOVDD if no external reset is required.
SWCLK & SWDIO	Access points for the Serial Wire Debug multi-drop bus, providing debug access and code download capabilities.
TESTEN	Factory test mode pin. Should be tied to GND.
GND	Single external ground connection bonded to internal ground pads on the RP2040 die.
IOVDD	Power supply for digital GPIOs, nominal voltage 1.8V to 3.3V.

ESP32 Pinout

Pin Configuration

The ESP32 microcontroller features a comprehensive set of pins with various functions, including power supplies, analog inputs, GPIOs, and more. Below is a detailed pin configuration table outlining the function and type of each pin.

Name	No.	Type	Function
Power
VDDA	1, 46	P	Analog power (2.3 V ∼ 3.6 V)
VDD3P3	3, 4	P	Analog power (2.3 V ∼ 3.6 V)
VDD3P3_RTC	19	P	RTC power (2.3 V ∼ 3.6 V)
VDD_SDIO	26	P	Power supply (1.8 V or same as VDD3P3_RTC)
VDD3P3_CPU	37	P	CPU power (1.8 V ∼ 3.6 V)
GND	49	P	Ground
Analog
XTAL_P	45	I	Crystal input
XTAL_N	44	O	Crystal output
CAP1	48	I	Capacitor to ground
CAP2	47	I	Capacitor and resistor connection
GPIOs
GPIO0, GPIO1, GPIO2, GPIO3, GPIO4, GPIO5, GPIO6, GPIO7, GPIO8, GPIO9, GPIO10, GPIO11, GPIO16, GPIO17, GPIO18, GPIO19, GPIO22, GPIO23, GPIO25, GPIO26, GPIO27, GPIO32, GPIO33, GPIO34, GPIO35, GPIO36, GPIO37, GPIO38, GPIO39	Various	I/O	General-purpose I/O
Control
CHIP_PU	9	I	Chip power control (High: On, Low: Off)
VDET_1	10	I	Voltage detection input
VDET_2	11	I	Voltage detection input
32K_XP	12	I/O	32.768 kHz crystal input
32K_XN	13	I/O	32.768 kHz crystal output
MTMS	17	I/O	Test mode select
MTDI	18	I/O	Test data input
MTCK	20	I/O	Test clock
MTDO	21	I/O	Test data output

RP2040 vs ESP32: Features and Advantages

RP2040 Features and Advantages

Manufacturing Process: Built on a 40nm process node, ensuring high performance with low dynamic power consumption and leakage, making it ideal for battery-powered applications.
Core and Performance: Dual ARM Cortex-M0+ processors clocked at 133MHz, suitable for real-time applications.
Memory: 264kB on-chip SRAM distributed across six independent banks, offering efficient memory management.
External Flash Support: Supports up to 16MB off-chip Flash via a dedicated QSPI bus, enabling ample storage for large applications.
Peripheral Integration:
30 GPIO pins, with 4 capable of analog input (ADC).
2 UARTs, 2 SPI, and 2 I2C controllers for versatile communication options.
16 PWM channels for precise control of motors or LEDs.
USB 1.1 controller with host and device support, ideal for connecting peripherals.
8 Programmable I/O (PIO) state machines enabling custom digital interfaces without CPU intervention.
Power Management: Includes multiple low-power modes and an on-chip LDO for efficient power usage, ensuring extended battery life.
On-chip PLLs: Two PLLs for generating USB and core clocks, providing flexible clocking options.

ESP32 Features and Advantages

Technology: Developed with TSMC’s 40nm low-power technology, the ESP32 is optimized for robust Wi-Fi and Bluetooth performance.
Core and Performance: Powered by Xtensa® dual-core or single-core 32-bit LX6 microprocessors, capable of running at 240MHz, making it suitable for compute-intensive tasks.
Memory: Includes 448KB ROM and 520KB SRAM, with additional 16KB SRAM for RTC, supporting complex applications and real-time operations.
Advanced Communication Interfaces:
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth v4.2: Dual-mode Bluetooth with LE, offering high-speed wireless communication.
Three UART, Two I2C, and Four SPI interfaces: Provides extensive options for external device connectivity.
Ethernet MAC interface: Includes DMA and IEEE 1588 support, making it suitable for networked applications.
GPIO and ADC:
34 programmable GPIOs, with 12-bit SAR ADC supporting up to 18 channels, catering to diverse sensor inputs.
10 touch sensors and two 8-bit DACs: Adds flexibility for capacitive touch interfaces and analog output.
Clocks and Timers: Incorporates internal and external oscillators, with two timer groups and an RTC, providing reliable timekeeping and synchronization.
Security Features: Secure boot, flash encryption, and cryptographic hardware acceleration (AES, SHA-2, RSA, ECC) ensure data integrity and security.
Power Efficiency: Offers five power modes, including ultra-low-power options, with deep-sleep consumption as low as 10µA, ideal for IoT applications.
These features and advantages highlight the RP2040’s suitability for cost-sensitive, real-time applications, while the ESP32 excels in wireless communication and security, making it versatile for complex IoT devices.

Differences between RP2040 vs ESP32