Introduction

Microcontrollers are widely used in embedded electronic systems due to their small size, low power consumption, and cost-effectiveness. Among various microcontroller boards, ESP32 and STM32F3 are two popular choices for makers and engineers. In this blog post, we will compare these two microcontroller boards, focusing on the number of GPIO pins.

Overview of ESP32 and STM32F3

• ESP32: ESP32 is a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled microcontroller board that features a dual-core processor and a rich set of peripherals. ESP32 has 34 GPIO pins, out of which 10 are capacitive touch-enabled. ESP32 supports various wired and wireless communication protocols such as SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi.
• STM32F3: STM32F3 is a powerful microcontroller board built around a Cortex-M4F core. STM32F3 has 64 GPIO pins, out of which some are multiplexed with other peripherals. STM32F3 supports various communication protocols such as SPI, I2C, UART, and CAN.

Comparison

• Number of GPIO Pins: As mentioned earlier, ESP32 has 34 GPIO pins, whereas STM32F3 has 64 GPIO pins. STM32F3 has almost twice as many GPIO pins as the ESP32, making it the ideal choice for projects that require more peripherals to be connected.

• Processor: ESP32 has a dual-core processor, whereas STM32F3 has a single-core processor with a higher clock speed. Although ESP32 has two cores, the second core is primarily meant for low-level system tasks such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth protocol stack. So, in terms of raw computing power, STM32F3 is slightly superior to ESP32.

• Wireless Connectivity: ESP32 has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in, making it a very attractive choice for IoT projects. While STM32F3 does not have built-in wireless connectivity, it does have CAN, which is commonly used in automotive and industrial applications.

• Peripherals and Interfaces: Both ESP32 and STM32F3 have a wide range of peripheral interfaces such as SPI, I2C, and UART. However, STM32F3 has some additional interfaces such as USB, CAN, and Ethernet, which are absent in ESP32. Additionally, STM32F3 has more ADC and DAC channels, making it more suitable for projects that require analog signals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both ESP32 and STM32F3 are powerful microcontroller boards, but they differ in terms of their GPIO pins, processor, wireless connectivity, and peripherals. STM32F3 is the ideal choice for projects that require more peripherals, while ESP32 is the ideal choice for IoT projects that require wireless connectivity. However, if we consider the price point, ESP32 is relatively cheaper than STM32F3.

References

1. "ESP32 Technical Reference Manual". Espressif Systems.
2. "STM32F3 Reference Manual". STMicroelectronics.
3. "ESP32 vs STM32F3 Comparison Table". Electromaker.io.