ESP32-WROOM-32E vs ESP8684-WROOM-01C

ESP32-WROOM-32E

WROOM · ESP32 · Active

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ESP8684-WROOM-01C

WROOM · ESP32-C2 · Active

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Figures here are compiled from Espressif's official datasheets, with the source linked on each page. Mistakes are possible, so if something looks off, please report it.

Which should you choose?

These run different SoCs (ESP32 vs ESP32-C2), so they differ in CPU, wireless and peripherals, not just packaging.

Choose ESP32-WROOM-32E if you need

Bluetooth Classic (BR/EDR) for legacy SPP / A2DP audio
2 CPU cores vs 1: more headroom for RTOS / parallel work
faster CPU (240 MHz, Xtensa LX6)
PSRAM for camera frames, audio buffers and LVGL/large displays
larger flash option (up to 16 MB) for bigger firmware and OTA

Choose ESP8684-WROOM-01C if you need

smaller footprint (16×24 mm)

Size, to scale

ESP32-WROOM-32E: 18×25.5 mm
ESP8684-WROOM-01C: 16×24 mm

Spec differences at a glance

CPU: ESP32-WROOM-32E Xtensa LX6, 2-core · ESP8684-WROOM-01C RISC-V, 1-core
Max clock: ESP32-WROOM-32E 240 MHz · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 120 MHz
SRAM: ESP32-WROOM-32E 520 KB · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 272 KB
ROM: ESP32-WROOM-32E 448 KB · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 576 KB
Flash options: ESP32-WROOM-32E 4 / 8 / 16 MB · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 2 / 4 MB
PSRAM: ESP32-WROOM-32E 2 MB (quad) · ESP8684-WROOM-01C None
Co-processor: ESP32-WROOM-32E ULP-FSM · ESP8684-WROOM-01C none
Bluetooth: ESP32-WROOM-32E BT Classic + BLE · ESP8684-WROOM-01C BLE 5.x
Usable GPIO: ESP32-WROOM-32E 26 · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 14
ADC: ESP32-WROOM-32E 18× 12-bit · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 5× 12-bit
UART / SPI / I²C / I²S: ESP32-WROOM-32E 3 / 2 / 2 / 2 · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 2 / 1 / 1 / 0
TWAI (CAN): ESP32-WROOM-32E Yes · ESP8684-WROOM-01C No
SD/MMC: ESP32-WROOM-32E Yes · ESP8684-WROOM-01C No
Ethernet MAC: ESP32-WROOM-32E Yes · ESP8684-WROOM-01C No
Touch: ESP32-WROOM-32E 10 · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 0
Deep sleep: ESP32-WROOM-32E 10 µA · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 5 µA
Dimensions: ESP32-WROOM-32E 18 × 25.5 × 3.1 mm · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 16 × 24 × 3.1 mm
Pin count: ESP32-WROOM-32E 38 · ESP8684-WROOM-01C 23
Temp range: ESP32-WROOM-32E -40 to 85 °C · ESP8684-WROOM-01C -40 to 105 °C
Crypto: ESP32-WROOM-32E AES, SHA, RSA, RNG · ESP8684-WROOM-01C ECC, SHA, RNG

Compute & memory

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	ESP32-WROOM-32E	ESP8684-WROOM-01C
CPU≠	Xtensa LX6, 2-core	RISC-V, 1-core
Max clock≠	240 MHz	120 MHz
SRAM≠	520 KB	272 KB
ROM≠	448 KB	576 KB
Flash options≠	4 / 8 / 16 MB	2 / 4 MB
PSRAM≠	2 MB (quad)	None
Co-processor≠	ULP-FSM	none

Wireless

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	ESP32-WROOM-32E	ESP8684-WROOM-01C
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 4	Wi-Fi 4
Wi-Fi bands	2.4GHz	2.4GHz
Bluetooth≠	BT Classic + BLE	BLE 5.x
802.15.4 (Thread/Zigbee)	No	No
Antenna	PCB	PCB

Peripherals & I/O

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	ESP32-WROOM-32E	ESP8684-WROOM-01C
Usable GPIO≠	26	14
ADC≠	18× 12-bit	5× 12-bit
USB	USB-Serial(external)	USB-Serial(external)
UART / SPI / I²C / I²S≠	3 / 2 / 2 / 2	2 / 1 / 1 / 0
TWAI (CAN)≠	Yes	No
SD/MMC≠	Yes	No
Ethernet MAC≠	Yes	No
Touch≠	10	0

Power

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	ESP32-WROOM-32E	ESP8684-WROOM-01C
Operating voltage	3.0-3.6 V	3.0-3.6 V
Deep sleep≠	10 µA	5 µA

Physical

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	ESP32-WROOM-32E	ESP8684-WROOM-01C
Dimensions≠	18 × 25.5 × 3.1 mm	16 × 24 × 3.1 mm
Pin count≠	38	23
Temp range≠	-40 to 85 °C	-40 to 105 °C
Mounting	SMD castellated	SMD castellated
Lifecycle	Active	Active

Security

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	ESP32-WROOM-32E	ESP8684-WROOM-01C
Secure boot	Yes	Yes
Flash encryption	Yes	Yes
Crypto≠	AES, SHA, RSA, RNG	ECC, SHA, RNG
Digital signature	No	No
TRNG	Yes	Yes