13 KiB
13 KiB
Board Comparison
This page is meant to help you choose a board, not just list every technical detail.
If you only want a quick answer:
- for a roof-mounted or set-and-forget MQTT repeater, start with
heltec_v4,heltec_v4_tft,Station_G2, orT_Beam_S3_Supreme_SX1262 - for an app-first Wi-Fi companion, headless boards are fine and often simpler
- if you want an onboard screen people will actually use, prefer TFT boards
- if you want a low-power status screen, prefer e-paper boards
The tables below are built from the repo's PlatformIO board metadata and variant build flags.
Targetis the short board name used in this comparison page. Release filenames and local build commands still use the full env names such asheltec_v4_repeater_mqtt.MCUshows the chip family only. Actual runtime clock can vary by env and board configuration.RAMis the MCU's built-in RAM.PSRAMis extra memory on some boards. More PSRAM usually means more headroom for UI, MQTT, and future features.
If a board enables PSRAM but the repo does not declare the exact size, it is shown as Yes (size not declared).
Start Here
- Pick an
ESP32-S3board with16MBflash and PSRAM if you want the most headroom for MQTT plus UI:heltec_v4_tft,heltec_v4,Station_G2,T_Beam_S3_Supreme_SX1262. - Pick a TFT board if this will be used as a human-facing companion or field node:
heltec_v4_tft,heltec_tracker_v2,LilyGo_TDeck,Heltec_T190. - Pick e-paper if you want a status screen with lower idle draw and less frequent refresh:
Heltec_E213,Heltec_E290,Heltec_Wireless_Paper,ThinkNode_M5. - Pick a headless board if this is mainly a fixed MQTT gateway and screen space is not useful:
Xiao_C3,RAK_3112,Tenstar_C3,Heltec_ct62,Generic_E22. - Pick a headless Wi-Fi companion if the phone app will be the primary UI anyway:
Xiao_C3_companion_radio_wifi,RAK_3112_companion_radio_wifi,Xiao_S3_WIO_companion_radio_wifi,Station_G2_companion_radio_wifi. - Pick a GPS-capable board if location-aware/mobile use matters: the T-Beam family,
heltec_tracker_v2,Heltec_v3,heltec_v4,Station_G2,ThinkNode_M5. - If you want the most conservative, older radio family choices, the
SX1276boards areLilyGo_TLora_V2_1_1_6,Tbeam_SX1276, andHeltec_v2.
repeater_mqtt Boards
This table includes all repeater MQTT targets currently defined in variants/eastmesh_mqtt/platformio.ini.
| Target | MCU | RAM | PSRAM | Flash | LoRa | Display | GPS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ebyte_EoRa-S3 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | Yes (size not declared) | 4MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | No | more memory headroom |
| Generic_E22_sx1262 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | None | No | headless |
| Generic_E22_sx1268 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1268 | None | No | headless |
| Heltec_ct62 | ESP32C3 | 400 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | None | No | headless |
| Heltec_E213 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | 8 MB | 16MB | SX1262 | E-paper (2.13") | No | low-power display, more memory headroom |
| Heltec_E290 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | 8 MB | 16MB | SX1262 | E-paper (2.9") | No | low-power display, more memory headroom |
| Heltec_T190 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | 8 MB | 16MB | SX1262 | TFT (ST7789) | No | richer UI, more memory headroom |
| heltec_tracker_v2 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8MB | SX1262 | TFT (ST7735) | Yes | richer UI, GPS |
| Heltec_v2 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1276 | OLED (SSD1306) | No | |
| Heltec_v3 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS |
| heltec_v4 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | 2 MB | 16MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS, more memory headroom |
| heltec_v4_tft | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | 2 MB | 16MB | SX1262 | TFT (ST7789) | Yes | richer UI, GPS, more memory headroom |
| Heltec_Wireless_Paper | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | E-paper (2.13") | No | low-power display |
| Heltec_Wireless_Tracker | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | TFT (ST7735) | Yes | richer UI, GPS |
| Heltec_WSL3 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | None | Yes | headless, GPS |
| LilyGo_T3S3_sx1262 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | Yes (size not declared) | 4MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | No | more memory headroom |
| LilyGo_T3S3_sx1276 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | Yes (size not declared) | 4MB | SX1276 | OLED (SSD1306) | No | more memory headroom |
| LilyGo_TBeam_1W | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | Yes (size not declared) | 16MB | SX1262 | OLED (SH1106) | Yes | GPS, more memory headroom |
| LilyGo_TDeck | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 16MB | SX1262 | TFT (ST7789) | Yes | richer UI, GPS |
| LilyGo_Tlora_C6 | ESP32C6 | 512 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | None | No | headless |
| LilyGo_TLora_V2_1_1_6 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1276 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS |
| M5Stack_Unit_C6L | ESP32C6 | 512 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | None | Yes | headless, GPS |
| Meshadventurer_sx1262 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS |
| Meshadventurer_sx1268 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1268 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS |
| Meshimi | ESP32C6 | 512 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | None | No | headless |
| nibble_screen_connect | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 4MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | No | |
| RAK_3112 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | None | Yes | headless, GPS |
| Station_G2 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | Yes (size not declared) | 16MB | SX1262 | OLED (SH1106) | Yes | GPS, more memory headroom |
| Station_G2_logging | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | Yes (size not declared) | 16MB | SX1262 | OLED (SH1106) | Yes | GPS, more memory headroom |
| T_Beam_S3_Supreme_SX1262 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | 8 MB | 8MB | SX1262 | OLED (SH1106) | Yes | GPS, more memory headroom |
| Tbeam_SX1262 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS |
| Tbeam_SX1276 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1276 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS |
| Tenstar_C3_sx1262 | ESP32C3 | 400 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | None | No | headless |
| Tenstar_C3_sx1268 | ESP32C3 | 400 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1268 | None | No | headless |
| ThinkNode_M2 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 4MB | SX1262 | OLED (SH1106) | No | |
| ThinkNode_M5 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 4MB | SX1262 | E-paper (GxEPD) | Yes | low-power display, GPS |
| WHY2025_badge | ESP32C6 | 512 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | None | No | headless |
| Xiao_C3 | ESP32C3 | 400 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | None | Yes | headless, GPS, web panel off |
| Xiao_C6 | ESP32C6 | 512 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | None | No | headless |
| Xiao_S3_WIO | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | None | Yes | headless, GPS |
Note: all current repeater_mqtt boards support the local web panel except Xiao_C3, where it is disabled to preserve limited board resources.
companion_radio_wifi Boards With A Display
These are the Wi-Fi companion targets that have a display configured for local status, setup help, or occasional direct interaction.
| Target | MCU | RAM | PSRAM | Flash | LoRa | Display | GPS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heltec_v2 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1276 | OLED (SSD1306) | No | |
| Heltec_v3 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS |
| heltec_tracker_v2 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8MB | SX1262 | TFT (ST7735) | Yes | richer UI, GPS |
| heltec_v4 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | 2 MB | 16MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS, more memory headroom |
| heltec_v4_tft | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | 2 MB | 16MB | SX1262 | TFT (ST7789) | Yes | richer UI, GPS, more memory headroom |
| LilyGo_TBeam_1W | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | Yes (size not declared) | 16MB | SX1262 | OLED (SH1106) | Yes | GPS, more memory headroom |
| LilyGo_TLora_V2_1_1_6 | ESP32 | 520 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1276 | OLED (SSD1306) | Yes | GPS |
| nibble_screen_connect | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 4MB | SX1262 | OLED (SSD1306) | No | |
| Station_G2 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | Yes (size not declared) | 16MB | SX1262 | OLED (SH1106) | Yes | GPS, more memory headroom |
| T_Beam_S3_Supreme_SX1262 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | 8 MB | 8MB | SX1262 | OLED (SH1106) | Yes | GPS, more memory headroom |
| ThinkNode_M2 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 4MB | SX1262 | OLED (SH1106) | No | |
| ThinkNode_M5 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 4MB | SX1262 | E-paper (GxEPD) | Yes | low-power display, GPS |
companion_radio_wifi Headless Boards
These are the Wi-Fi companion targets that rely on the companion app as the primary interface. For many users, this is the best everyday option.
| Target | MCU | RAM | PSRAM | Flash | LoRa | GPS | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heltec_WSL3 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | Yes | headless, GPS |
| RAK_3112 | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | Yes | headless, GPS |
| Xiao_C3 | ESP32C3 | 400 KB | No | 4 MB | SX1262 | Yes | smallest headless option, web panel off |
| Xiao_S3_WIO | ESP32S3 | 512 KB | No | 8 MB | SX1262 | Yes | headless, GPS |
Practical Picks
- Best all-round MQTT repeater with screen and memory headroom:
heltec_v4_repeater_mqtt,heltec_v4_tft_repeater_mqtt,T_Beam_S3_Supreme_SX1262_repeater_mqtt,Station_G2_repeater_mqtt. - Best MQTT repeater if you want a simple headless install:
RAK_3112_repeater_mqtt,Tenstar_C3_sx1262_repeater_mqtt,Heltec_ct62_repeater_mqtt,Generic_E22_sx1262_repeater_mqtt. - Best low-power display MQTT builds:
Heltec_E213_repeater_mqtt,Heltec_E290_repeater_mqtt,Heltec_Wireless_Paper_repeater_mqtt,ThinkNode_M5_Repeater_mqtt. - Best companion choices if you want the richest local UI:
heltec_v4_tft_companion_radio_wifiandheltec_tracker_v2_companion_radio_wifi. - Best companion choices if you want maximum memory headroom:
T_Beam_S3_Supreme_SX1262_companion_radio_wifi,heltec_v4_companion_radio_wifi,heltec_v4_tft_companion_radio_wifi,Station_G2_companion_radio_wifi. - Best companion choices if you are happy with an app-first, mostly headless setup:
Xiao_C3_companion_radio_wifi,RAK_3112_companion_radio_wifi,Xiao_S3_WIO_companion_radio_wifi,Station_G2_companion_radio_wifi. - Best companion choices if you prefer OLED over TFT:
T_Beam_S3_Supreme_SX1262_companion_radio_wifi,heltec_v4_companion_radio_wifi,LilyGo_TBeam_1W_companion_radio_wifi.