Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3
What is Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3?
The Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 is a compact yet powerful development board tailored for diverse applications, including robotics, IoT, and embedded machine learning. Equipped with a dual-core Xtensa LX7 processor running at up to 240 MHz, it delivers robust performance in an ultra-small thumb-sized form factor of just 21 x 17.5 mm.
Features
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Powerful MCU Board: Powered by the ESP32S3 32-bit dual-core Xtensa processor, clocked at up to 240MHz. Equipped with multiple dev ports and supports Arduino and MicroPython.
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Exceptional RF Performance: Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and BLE 5.0 for dual wireless communication, with over 100m range when paired with a U.FL antenna.
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Optimized Power Design: Features lithium battery charging management and four power consumption modes, including a deep sleep mode with ultra-low power usage of just 14μA.
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Compact, Thumb-Sized Design: Measures 21 x 17.8mm, sticking to the classic XIAO form factor—perfect for space-constrained projects like wearables.
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Production-Ready: Breadboard-friendly and SMD-compatible with a clean back, free of components.
Hardware Overview
Onboard
PinOut
Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense
What is Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense?
Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 packs a dual-core ESP32S3 chip, giving you Wi-Fi and BLE wireless connectivity plus battery charging support. Comes with a built-in camera sensor and digital mic. Got 8MB PSRAM, 8MB Flash, and a slot for an external SD card. Perfect fit for embedded ML tasks like smart voice or vision AI.
Features
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Powerful MCU Board: Features the ESP32S3 32-bit dual-core Xtensa processor, running at up to 240 MHz, with multiple dev ports and support for Arduino and MicroPython.
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Ample Memory for More Possibilities: Includes 8MB PSRAM and 8MB Flash, along with an SD card slot supporting up to 32GB FAT storage.
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Impressive Wireless Performance: Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and BLE for dual wireless communication, with a range of over 100m when paired with a U.FL antenna.
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Compact Thumb-Sized Design: Measuring just 21 x 17.8mm, it retains the classic XIAO form factor, making it ideal for tight spaces and wearable tech projects.
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Ready-to-Use AI:Includes pretrained AI models from SenseCraft AI for seamless no-code deployment.
Hardware Overview
Onboard
PinOut
Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense Vs Standard
Specification comparison
| Item | Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 | Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense |
| Processor | ESP32-S3R8Xtensa LX7 dual-core,32-bit processor that operates at up to 240 MHZ | |
| Wireless | Complete 2.4GHz Wi-Fi subsystemBLE: Bluetooth 5.0, Bluetooth mesh | |
| Built-in Sensors | / | oV2640 camera sensor for 1600*1200Digital Microphone |
| Memory | On-chip 8M PSRAM & 8MB Flash | On-chip 8M PSRAM & 8MB FlashOnboard SD Card Slot, supporting 32GB FAT |
| lnterface | 1x UART,1x IIC,1x llS,1x SPl,11xGPIOs (PWM)，9x ADC,1x User LED,1x Charge LED1x Reset button,1x Boot button | 1x UART,1x lIC,1x lIS,1x SPI,11x GPIOs (PWM),9xADC，1x User LED, 1x Charge LED,1x B2B Connector(with 2 additional GPIOs)1x Reset button, 1x Boot button |
| Dimensions | 21 x 17.8mm | 21 x 17.8 x 15mm (with expansion board) |
| Power | Input voltage (Type-C): 5Vlnput voltage (BAT): 4.2V | |
| Circuit operating Voltage (ready to operate):- Type-C:5V@19mA- BAT: 3.8V@22mA | Circuit operating Voltage (ready to operate):-Type-C: 5V@38.3mA- BAT: 3.8V@43.2mA (with expansion board) | |
| / | Webcam Web application:- Type-C:- - Average power consumption: 5V/138mA- - Photo moment: 5V/341mA- Battery:- - Average power consumption: 3.8V/154mA- - Photo moment: 3.8V/304mA | |
| / | Microphone recording & SD card writing:- Type-C:- - Average power consumption: 5V/46.5mA- - Peak power consumption: 5V/89.6mA- Battery:- - Average power consumption: 3.8V/54.4mA- - Peak power consumption: 3.8V/108mA | |
| Charging battery current：100mA | Charging battery current：100mA | |
| Low Power Consumption Model(Supply Power: 3.8V) | Modem-sleep Model:~ 25mALight-sleep Model: ~ 2 mADeep Sleep Model:~14 μA | Modem-sleep Model: ~44mALight-sleep Model: ~5mADeep Sleep Model: ~3mA |
| Wi-Fi Enabled Power Consumption | Active Model: ~ 100 mA | Active Model: ~ 110 mA (with expansion board) |
| BLE Enabled Power Consumption | Active Model: ~85 mA | Active Model: ~ 102 mA (with expansion board) |
| Working Temperature | -40°C ~65°C | |
Key Difference
XIAO ESP32S3 Sense includes:
A camera (OV2640) for image and video processing.
A microphone for audio input and sound recognition.
A 9-axis motion sensor (MPU-6500) for detecting movement, orientation, and acceleration.
XIAO ESP32S3 lacks these advanced sensors, but it is otherwise similar in terms of performance and connectivity.
Which product is better for your project?
Ideal Projects
Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3
IoT Devices: Remote sensors, smart home devices, and simple IoT gateways.
Compact Wearables: Small size and low power make it ideal for portable devices.
Wireless Applications: BLE-based projects, like proximity sensors or basic Bluetooth communication.
Automation and Control Systems: Lightweight controllers for robotics or industrial automation.
Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense
AI Vision Systems: Object detection, face recognition, and basic computer vision tasks.
Motion Tracking: Robotics or wearable devices needing precise motion sensing.
Voice Control: Smart speakers or voice-controlled IoT devices.
Edge Computing: Processing data locally to reduce latency and dependency on cloud services.
Interactive Applications: Projects combining motion, audio, and visual inputs.
Before starting your project, ask yourself these questions:
Sensors and Inputs:
Do I need to capture images or video? → Choose Sense for its OV2640 camera.
Do I need motion tracking or orientation detection? → Choose Sense for its 9-axis IMU.
Do I need audio input or voice commands? → Choose Sense for its microphone.
Data Processing and Outputs:
Do I plan to run machine learning models for AI applications? → Both boards can handle ML tasks, but Sense is better for AI involving vision or sound.
Will my project require real-time interaction with environmental data? → Choose Sense if the environment includes visual, motion, or sound components.
Connectivity and Communication:
Do I need Wi-Fi for IoT cloud-based communication? → Both boards have Wi-Fi and can handle this.
Do I need Bluetooth for local device pairing? → Both boards support Bluetooth equally.
Form Factor and Deployment:
Does my project require a very small, lightweight board? → Both boards are compact, so either works.
Will the added features of the Sense version (camera, microphone, IMU) fit into my project’s space and power constraints? → Consider the XIAO ESP32S3 if minimal features are sufficient.
Power Consumption:
Do I need to optimize for low power and long battery life? → Both boards are efficient, but XIAO ESP32S3 (without additional sensors) might use slightly less power.
Cost Constraints:
Do I need the lowest-cost option for a budget-friendly project? → Choose XIAO ESP32S3 if advanced sensors aren’t required.
Target Application:
Is this for a learning/educational project where experimenting with sensors is part of the goal? → Choose Sense to explore motion, audio, and visual processing.
Is this for a production-level project with strict requirements? → Choose based on the project’s exact sensor and processing needs.
Development and Frameworks:
Am I using Arduino, MicroPython, or ESP-IDF for development? → Both boards support these, so this isn’t a deciding factor.
Am I using frameworks like TensorFlow Lite or TinyML for AI tasks? → Both are compatible, but Sense is more versatile for input-rich AI models.
FAQ
Can the standard version be upgraded with sensors like the Sense version?
While external sensors can be added to the standard version, it increases complexity and may not fit within its compact design.
What programming languages are supported?
The Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense and Standard support multiple programming languages, including Arduino (C/C++), MicroPython, CircuitPython, and the advanced ESP-IDF framework. Additionally, the Sense version enables AI/ML programming with Python for TensorFlow Lite, while experimental support exists for languages like Rust and JavaScript. These options cater to various skill levels, from beginners to advanced developers, making the board versatile for IoT, AI, and embedded projects.
Does it support AI/ML?
The Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 Sense supports advanced AI/ML applications like image classification, voice recognition, and object detection, leveraging its built-in camera, microphone, and support for TensorFlow Lite for Microcontrollers. The Standard version, while capable of running ML models, lacks these peripherals and is better suited for simpler tasks like sensor data analysis and anomaly detection. The Sense version is ideal for audio-visual AI projects, while the Standard is more suited for general ML use cases.
Why doesn’t the board show up when connected?
If the Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 board doesn’t show up when connected, it may be due to a faulty USB cable, missing drivers, a malfunctioning USB port, or incorrect IDE settings. Other causes include the board being in bootloader mode, firmware corruption, insufficient power, or hardware defects. Solutions include using a proper data cable, installing necessary drivers, configuring the IDE, reflashing firmware, and ensuring a direct connection to a powered USB port.
How do you reset Xiao esp32s3?
Reset When the program runs abnormally, you can press Reset once during power-up to let XIAO re-execute the uploaded program. When you press and hold the BOOT key while powering up and then press the Reset key once, you can also enter Bootloader mode.
