ESP32-WROOM-32E - WiFi + BT 4.2 MCU Module | Espressif
MPN: ESP32-WROOM-32E β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2.85 | $2.85 |
| 10 | $2.58 | $25.80 |
| 100 | $2.31 | $231.00 |
| 500 | $2.09 | $1,045.00 |
| 1,000 | $1.86 | $1,860.00 |
ESP32-WROOM-32E Overview
A Wi-Fi + Bluetooth MCU module is a surface-mount system-in-package that combines a microcontroller, radio transceiver, RF matching network, flash memory, crystal, and antenna onto a single certified PCB assembly. Such modules sit at the top of the embedded hierarchy: semiconductor -> wireless SoC -> RF-certified module -> end IoT device, letting engineers add wireless connectivity without RF design expertise or regulatory re-certification of the radio section.
Key differentiating features include dual-core processing that separates Wi-Fi protocol stacks from user applications, 802.11 b/g/n with a data rate up to 150 Mbps, Bluetooth v4.2 BR/EDR and BLE Class 1/2/3 operation, and 38 castellated edge pads that allow both hand soldering and automated assembly. The castellated half-hole pads also enable mounting the module as a sub-PCB on a carrier board.
Technically, the ESP32-D0WD-V3 silicon inside is the bug-fixed revision 3 die, improving RF transmit spectrum cleanliness and resolving the well-known strapping-pin flash-voltage issue found in older revision 1 silicon used in the original ESP32-WROOM-32. The module integrates a 40 MHz crystal, flash memory, and a PCB inverted-F antenna tuned during production.
Typical applications include low-power sensor networks, voice encoding and MP3 streaming devices, smart-home nodes, and industrial IoT gateways, where integrated dual-radio connectivity and sufficient compute headroom are required in one certified package.
For design, respect the strapping pins (GPIO0, GPIO2, GPIO12, GPIO15) at boot and keep the antenna area of the host PCB free of copper and components for best RF performance.
This page synthesizes datasheet specifications, drop-in replacement options, and practical design notes not found on standard distributor listings.
Drop-in alternatives for ESP32-WROOM-32E β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with ESP32-WROOM-32E (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Bluetooth, CPU, Supply Voltage.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ESP32-WROOM-32E-N4
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-WROOM-32E-N16
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-WROOM-32UE
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-WROOM-32D
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-WROOM-32E-N8
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―β In Stock
$3.22 / Unit
View Datasheet βESP32-WROOM-32E Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Core SoC | ESP32-D0WD-V3 |
| CPU | Dual-core Xtensa LX6, up to 240 MHz |
| SRAM | 520 KB |
| ROM | 448 KB |
| Wi-Fi Standard | 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz |
| Bluetooth | v4.2 BR/EDR + BLE, Class 1, 2 and 3 |
| Supply Voltage | 3.0 V to 3.6 V (typical 3.3 V) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Antenna Type | Integrated PCB antenna |
| Package Dimensions | 18 x 25.5 x 3.1 mm |
| Pin Count | 38 castellated pads |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Peripherals | SPI, I2C, I2S, UART, CAN, PWM, ADC, DAC, touch sensor |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
ESP32-WROOM-32E Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 2 | 3V3 β Power supply, 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Pin 3 | EN β Chip enable, active high (pull-up recommended) |
| Pin 4 | SENSOR_VP (GPIO36) β ADC1 CH0 / sensor input |
| Pin 5 | SENSOR_VN (GPIO39) β ADC1 CH3 / sensor input |
| Pin 6 | IO34 β GPIO34, input only, ADC1 CH6 |
| Pin 7 | IO35 β GPIO35, input only, ADC1 CH7 |
| Pin 8 | IO32 β GPIO32, ADC1 CH4, XTAL_32K_P option |
| Pin 9 | IO33 β GPIO33, ADC1 CH5, XTAL_32K_N option |
| Pin 10 | IO25 β GPIO25, DAC1 / ADC2 CH8 |
| Pin 11 | IO26 β GPIO26, DAC2 / ADC2 CH9 |
| Pin 12 | IO27 β GPIO27, ADC2 CH7, touch7 |
| Pin 13 | IO14 β GPIO14, ADC2 CH6, touch6, HSPI CLK |
| Pin 14 | IO12 β GPIO12 (MTDI), strapping pin - flash voltage select |
| Pin 15 | GND β Ground |
| Pin 16 | IO13 β GPIO13, ADC2 CH4, touch4, HSPI MOSI |
| Pin 17 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 18 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 19 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 20 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 21 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 22 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 23 | IO15 β GPIO15 (MTDO), strapping pin, ADC2 CH3, touch3 |
| Pin 24 | IO2 β GPIO2, strapping pin, must be low/floating for download boot |
| Pin 25 | IO0 β GPIO0, strapping pin - low at reset enters download mode |
| Pin 26 | IO4 β GPIO4, ADC2 CH0, touch0, SD data |
| Pin 27 | IO16 β GPIO16, HSPI-ready/UART2 RX option |
| Pin 28 | IO17 β GPIO17, UART2 TX option |
| Pin 29 | IO5 β GPIO5, strapping-timing pin, VSPI CS0 |
| Pin 30 | IO18 β GPIO18, VSPI CLK |
| Pin 31 | IO19 β GPIO19, VSPI MISO |
| Pin 32 | NC β Not connected (per datasheet) |
| Pin 33 | IO21 β GPIO21, I2C SDA default |
| Pin 34 | RXD0 (IO3) β UART0 RX / GPIO3 |
| Pin 35 | TXD0 (IO1) β UART0 TX / GPIO1 |
| Pin 36 | IO22 β GPIO22, I2C SCL default |
| Pin 37 | IO23 β GPIO23, VSPI MOSI |
| Pin 38 | GND β Ground |
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | 3.0 V to 3.6 V (typical 3.3 V) |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
Power input and thermal parameters for ESP32-WROOM-32E as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
ESP32-WROOM-32E is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Home and IoT Sensor Nodes, Voice Encoding and Audio Streaming Devices, Industrial IoT Gateways, Wearable and Portable Connected Devices, Security and Camera-Adjacent IoT Devices, Prototyping and STEM Education.
Smart Home and IoT Sensor Nodes
The ESP32-WROOM-32E fits smart-home sensor and actuator nodes because it integrates Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth v4.2 + BLE in one certified module, removing the need for a separate radio BOM line. Its ESP32-D0WD-V3 dual-core LX6 CPU at up to 240 MHz handles TLS, MQTT, and local control loops concurrently on separate cores, while 520 KB SRAM buffers sensor data. In typical use, the module runs ESP-IDF or Arduino firmware, samples I2C sensors, and reports over Wi-Fi with BLE used for provisioning. Deep-sleep modes reduce current to microamps between wake cycles, and the 3.0-3.6 V input range pairs directly with a single Li-ion cell through a 3.3 V LDO, making multi-year deployments practical.
Recommended
Voice Encoding and Audio Streaming Devices
Espressif explicitly targets voice encoding, music streaming, and MP3 decoding with this module family. The dual-core architecture dedicates one LX6 core at 240 MHz to audio codecs while the other manages Wi-Fi streaming, and the 520 KB SRAM plus external SPI flash store codec firmware and buffers. The I2S peripheral connects directly to audio ADC/DAC or codec chips such as the ES8388, and the N8/N16 flash variants accommodate large firmware and asset images for OTA updates. Because the Wi-Fi radio achieves up to 150 Mbps PHY rate, sustained MP3 or AAC streaming with modest headroom is achievable, though designers should validate throughput under concurrent BLE activity.
Recommended
Industrial IoT Gateways
In industrial settings, the ESP32-WROOM-32E serves as a low-cost protocol gateway bridging Modbus, CAN, or RS-485 field devices to cloud services. The module's CAN controller, multiple UARTs, SPI, and I2C interfaces connect to transceiver PHYs, while the -40C to +85C operating range covers control-cabinet temperatures. The Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n radio with 150 Mbps PHY rate uploads aggregated telemetry, and BLE enables local commissioning from mobile tools. Designers should protect the module's GPIO from industrial transients with TVS diodes and isolation, and use the castellated pads for solderable, vibration-tolerant attachment on carrier PCBs within DIN-rail enclosures.
Recommended
Wearable and Portable Connected Devices
For portable and wearable connected products, the 18 x 25.5 x 3.1 mm footprint and 3.0-3.6 V supply allow direct operation from a single-cell Li-ion battery via a compact LDO. The BLE radio supports smartphone pairing for configuration and data sync, while Wi-Fi handles bulk uploads when in range. Light-sleep and deep-sleep modes cut average current dramatically, extending battery life between charges, and the 520 KB SRAM supports on-device signal processing such as motion classification. The integrated PCB antenna of the 32E avoids external-antenna BOM cost, though plastic enclosures and antenna keep-out zones on the host PCB are required for optimal RF performance.
Recommended
Security and Camera-Adjacent IoT Devices
The ESP32-WROOM-32E supports door/window sensors, PIR-based alarms, and low-frame-rate camera accessories via its SPI camera interface compatibility within the ESP32 family. Dual radios enable a Wi-Fi alarm path plus BLE proximity keyfob detection, and the 240 MHz dual-core CPU performs local decision logic and encrypted transport (TLS) without a host MCU. AES, SHA, and RSA hardware accelerators in the ESP32-D0WD-V3 secure cloud communication and secure-boot chains. Designers should note that GPIO count and SRAM limit full video streaming; for high-resolution camera streams, the ESP32-S3 or ESP32-CAM-class solutions are the recommended upgrade, while the 32E excels at sensor-heavy security endpoints.
Recommended
Prototyping and STEM Education
The ESP32-WROOM-32E is the module at the heart of popular dev boards such as the ESP32-DEVKITC-32E, making it a default choice for prototyping and education. Castellated pads support both hand soldering and pogo-pin fixtures, the Arduino IDE, MicroPython, and ESP-IDF toolchains are fully supported, and an enormous community library ecosystem shortens time-to-first-demo. Because the module is the same certified part used in production hardware, prototypes port directly to manufacturing without re-certification of the radio section. Students and engineers can move from breadboard experiments with the dev board to a custom carrier PCB carrying the module with identical firmware behavior.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ESP32-WROOM-32E β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ESP32-WROOM-32E-N4 | ESP32-WROOM-32E-N16 | ESP32-WROOM-32UE | ESP32-WROOM-32D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 38-pad castellated module, 18 x 25.5 x 3.1 mm, PCB antenna | 38-pad castellated module - same footprint | 38-pad castellated module - same footprint | 38-pad castellated module - same footprint | 38-pad castellated module - same footprint |
| Brand | Espressif Systems | Espressif Systems | Espressif Systems | Espressif Systems | Espressif Systems |
| SoC / Silicon Revision | ESP32-D0WD-V3 (rev 3) | ESP32-D0WD-V3 (rev 3) | ESP32-D0WD-V3 (rev 3) | ESP32-D0WD-V3 (rev 3) | ESP32-D0WD (earlier revision) |
| Antenna | Integrated PCB antenna | Integrated PCB antenna | Integrated PCB antenna | IPEX connector for external antenna | Integrated PCB antenna |
| Radio | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n + BT v4.2 BR/EDR + BLE | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n + BT v4.2 BR/EDR + BLE | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n + BT v4.2 BR/EDR + BLE | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n + BT v4.2 BR/EDR + BLE | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n + BT v4.2 BR/EDR + BLE |
| Pins 17-22 | NC (not connected) | NC (not connected) | NC (not connected) | NC (not connected) | Partially usable - migration caution |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Legacy - 32E recommended |
Key Differentiators
- Bug-fixed rev 3 silicon (ESP32-D0WD-V3) (vs ESP32-WROOM-32D)
- Integrated PCB antenna at no extra BOM cost (vs ESP32-WROOM-32UE)
- Active lifecycle with flash-size scalability (vs ESP32-WROOM-32D)
Design Notes
Keep a complete antenna keep-out zone on the host PCB: no copper, traces, or components under or beside the module's PCB antenna section (roughly the top 8-10 mm of the module). Route no signals on layers beneath the antenna area; a solid GND plane should stop before the antenna region. Espressif's hardware design guidelines specify module placement at the board edge with the antenna extending beyond or over free space for best radiation efficiency.
Provide a 3.3 V supply with at least 500 mA headroom. Wi-Fi transmit bursts draw high peak current, so place a 10 uF bulk capacitor plus a 100 nF ceramic decoupling capacitor close to the 3V3 and GND pads. Avoid long thin power traces; use a power plane or at least wide (>=0.5 mm) traces. An LDO chosen only for average current will cause brownout resets during TX bursts - verify supply droop under radio stress during validation.
Respect the strapping pins: GPIO0 (download mode), GPIO2, GPIO12/MTDI (flash voltage), and GPIO15/MTDO are sampled at reset. Never let external circuitry pull GPIO12 high at boot, since it selects a 1.8 V flash voltage and prevents startup on 3.3 V flash modules. Add appropriate pull-ups (EN, IO0 via boot switch) and pull-downs per Espressif hardware guidelines, and leave pads 17-22 unconnected since they are NC on the 32E.
Use castellated pads for both reflow and hand-solder attachment; add a periphery landing pattern with slightly elongated pads for inspection. ESP32 module modules are Moisture-Sensitive Devices - follow the MSL rating on the packing label and bake if the floor-life is exceeded before reflow.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Espressif product documentation. Module carries regional radio certifications (FCC/CE and others) per Espressif certification documentation; specific cert IDs were not present in provided data.
