Compare the features, capabilities, and use cases of ESP32 and Raspberry Pi for your custom hardware projects with detailed technical benchmarks.
When starting a custom hardware project, choosing between ESP32 and Raspberry Pi can be a crucial decision. Both platforms offer unique advantages depending on your specific needs. Below is a comprehensive comparison with technical benchmarks.
The ESP32 is a low-cost, low-power system on a chip (SoC) with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. It's ideal for projects that require wireless connectivity and efficient power consumption.
| Parameter | ESP32 (WROOM-32) |
|---|---|
| CPU | Dual-core Xtensa 32-bit LX6 |
| Clock Speed | Up to 240 MHz |
| RAM | 520 KB SRAM |
| Storage | External flash up to 16 MB |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2 |
| I/O Pins | 34 GPIO pins |
| ADC | 18 channels (12-bit resolution) |
| DAC | 2 channels (8-bit resolution) |
| Power Consumption | 10-200 mA (depending on usage) |
| Price | ~USD 5.00-USD 15.00 |
The Raspberry Pi is a small, single-board computer that runs a full operating system. It's perfect for projects that require more processing power and a desktop-like environment.
| Parameter | Raspberry Pi 4B |
|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 |
| Clock Speed | Up to 1.8 GHz |
| RAM | 2GB/4GB/8GB LPDDR4-3200 |
| Storage | MicroSD card slot |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0 |
| I/O Pins | 40 GPIO pins |
| USB | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0 |
| Video Output | 2x Micro HDMI (4K60p) |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Power Consumption | 600-1500 mA (depending on usage) |
| Price | ~USD 35.00-USD 75.00 |
| Test | ESP32 | Raspberry Pi 4B |
|---|---|---|
| Dhrystone MIPS | ~360 | ~7,000 |
| Whetstone MFLOPS | ~40 | ~1,500 |
| Pi Calculation (1M digits) | ~120 seconds | ~2 seconds |
| AES Encryption | ~22 Mbps | ~1 Gbps |
| SHA-256 Hashing | ~18 Mbps | ~800 Mbps |
| 64-bit Integer Calculations | ~200 MFLOPS | ~3,500 MFLOPS |
| Test | ESP32 | Raspberry Pi 4B |
|---|---|---|
| RAM Read Speed | ~180 MB/s | ~3,200 MB/s |
| RAM Write Speed | ~120 MB/s | ~2,800 MB/s |
| RAM Latency | ~80 ns | ~35 ns |
| Memory Bandwidth | ~240 MB/s | ~12,800 MB/s |
| Test | ESP32 (16MB Flash) | Raspberry Pi 4B (UHS-I MicroSD) |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential Read | ~20 MB/s | ~100 MB/s |
| Sequential Write | ~10 MB/s | ~80 MB/s |
| Random Read (4KB) | ~2 MB/s | ~50 MB/s |
| Random Write (4KB) | ~1 MB/s | ~30 MB/s |
| Test | ESP32 | Raspberry Pi 4B |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Standard | 802.11 b/g/n | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Max Wi-Fi Speed | 150 Mbps | 867 Mbps |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
| Wi-Fi Range | ~30 meters | ~50 meters |
| Wi-Fi Power Consumption | ~40 mA | ~100 mA |
| Test | ESP32 | Raspberry Pi 4B |
|---|---|---|
| GPIO Pin Count | 34 | 40 |
| UART Ports | 3 | 2 |
| SPI Ports | 4 | 1 (with 2 CS) |
| I2C Ports | 2 | 1 |
| USB Ports | 0 (requires USB-to-serial) | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0 |
| Ethernet | No (requires adapter) | Gigabit |
| Video Output | No | 2x Micro HDMI (4K60p) |
| Scenario | ESP32 | Raspberry Pi 4B |
|---|---|---|
| Idle | ~10 mA | ~250 mA |
| Active (Wi-Fi) | ~80 mA | ~500 mA |
| Heavy Load | ~200 mA | ~1,500 mA |
| Battery Life (2000 mAh) | ~10 hours | ~1.3 hours |
| Power Per Performance | ~0.55 mA/MIPS | ~0.21 mA/MIPS |
| Test | ESP32 | Raspberry Pi 4B |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to 85°C | 0°C to 50°C |
| Idle Temperature | ~30°C | ~45°C |
| Heavy Load Temperature | ~65°C | ~80°C (with throttling) |
| Thermal Throttling | Starts at 105°C | Starts at 80°C |
Consider your project requirements: power needs, processing demands, cost constraints, and connectivity requirements. ProtoAI can help you design a custom solution using either platform.
Ready to start building your prototype? Check out our Custom Hardware Prototyping Guide for a step-by-step approach to bringing your ideas to life.