ESP32-S31 vs. ESP32-S3: Should the XIAO Get an Upgrade?
ESP32-S31 deep dive: Comparing with ESP32-S3. Should the next XIAO use this chip? Join the Seeed Studio Open Road Map discussion.
The world of Edge AI and IoT is moving faster than ever and the ESP32-S31 just dropped. With the buzz surrounding the new ESP32-S31 from Espressif, developers are asking: Is this the next big leap for IoT development boards? At Seeed Studio, we are already diving deep into the specs to see how this new silicon fits into the XIAO ecosystem. But before you start planning your next project around it, there are a few things you need to know.
What is ESP32-S31? The New Contender
The ESP32-S31 is a high-performance dual-core 32-bit RISC-V microcontroller running at up to 320 MHz, built for advanced AIoT applications. Here’s what Espressif officially lists as its headline capabilities:
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + IEEE 802.15.4 (Thread/Zigbee) — better efficiency, lower power, wider device support
- Bluetooth 5.4 LE Audio + Bluetooth Classic (BR/EDR) — dual-mode, the only ESP32 with both; ideal for audio projects
- Gigabit Ethernet MAC — finally, wired networking without the 100 Mbps bottleneck
- Dual-core RISC-V + SIMD + FPU — up to 6.86 CoreMark/MHz; a meaningful IPC boost over previous cores
- JPEG codec, 2D PPA, 2D-DMA, DVP camera (8–16 bit), 14-channel touch — full HMI package for smart displays, video doorbells, multimedia panels
- Hardware security: secure boot, flash/PSRAM encryption, TEE with APM, RAM-based PUF, AES/RSA/ECC accelerators
The chip is supported via ESP-IDF, with ESP-Matter, ESP-BLE-AUDIO, and ESP-GMF on the roadmap.
What the Community Is Actually Worried About
That all sounds impressive on paper. But here’s what developers are actually asking:
⚠️ It’s RISC-V, not Xtensa. The ESP32-S series has always used Tensilica cores. Switching architectures raises real questions about toolchain maturity, existing library compatibility, and migration effort.
⚠️ Arduino support is not ready. There’s an open GitHub issue requesting ESP32-S31 support in the Arduino core — it’s not merged yet.
⚠️ You can’t buy it yet. Espressif confirms only “select customers” have received samples. No public pricing. No release date. If you need to build something today, this is a blocker.
ESP32-S31 vs ESP32-S3 — How Do They Compare?
| Chipset | ESP32-S31 | ESP32-S3 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | RISC-V dual-core @ 320 MHz | Xtensa dual-core @ 240 MHz |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 LE Audio + Classic BT | 5.0 LE only |
| Ethernet | Gigabit | None |
| GPIO | 60 | 45 |
| AI acceleration | SIMD + FPU | SIMD + FPU |
| Camera / Display | DVP + multi-format LCD | Parallel LCD (RGB/I8080) + DVP Camera |
| Security | TEE/APM/PUF/full encryption | AES-XTS/RSA/HMAC/DS & World Controller (Hardware Isolation) |
| Available now? | ❌ Samples only | ✅ Yes, in stock |
| Arduino support? | ⏳ Pending | ✅ Mature |
The ESP32-S31 wins on connectivity bandwidth, audio versatility, and raw processing. But the ESP32-S3 wins on availability, ecosystem maturity, and time-to-market.
Discussion: Does the World Need a XIAO ESP32-S31?
This is where we need YOU.
A new XIAO is a major commitment, and we want to ensure we’re building what you actually need. Does the ESP32-S31’s power efficiency excite you, or do you think the current S3 series is already at the sweet spot?
We are opening our Open Road Map to decide the fate of a potential “XIAO ESP32-S31.”
Join the XIAO Open Road Map today to:
🗳️ Vote: Should the S31 be our next hardware release?
🤝 Suggest: What specific features would make an S31 upgrade “must-have” for your workflow?
🧪 Test: Be the first to know about beta-testing opportunities for new prototypes.
Want to Build with ESP32-S3 Today? Seeed Studio XIAO Has You Covered.
If your project timeline can’t wait for a chip with no confirmed release date, Seeed Studio’s XIAO ESP32-S3 (Sense) is the pragmatic choice — and it’s available right now.
XIAO ESP32-S3: The foundational thumb-sized board.
XIAO ESP32-S3 Plus: More GPIOs and storage for heavy-duty logic.
XIAO ESP32-S3 Sense: onboard camera + microphone + SD card slot → The community favorite for Vision AI and voice-activated projects.
Whether you’re building AI vision projects, voice-controlled devices, or portable edge sensors — XIAO ESP32-S3 is a proven platform with a full ecosystem behind it.
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