ESP32-S31 vs ESP32-P4 vs ESP32-S3: Which Chip Fits Your Next Product?

ESP32-S31, ESP32-P4 and ESP32-S3 solve different product-design problems. The right choice depends on your connectivity, display interface, memory budget and software requirements—not simply the highest clock speed.

Technical review: October 15, 2026. ESP32-S31 specifications are preliminary. This is a documentation-based selection guide, not a measured performance benchmark.

Quick answer: which ESP32 should you choose?

• Consider ESP32-S31 when integrated multi-protocol connectivity is central to the product, and you can validate the exact SDK and hardware support before committing.
• Consider ESP32-P4 for a display- or camera-focused architecture, particularly when MIPI interfaces matter. Budget for a separate wireless device when the product needs Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
• Consider ESP32-S3 for a compact wireless control panel or connected device whose display, memory and connectivity requirements fit its peripherals.

ESP32-S31 vs ESP32-P4 vs ESP32-S3: key differences

Specification sources: ESP32-S31 datasheet, ESP32-P4 datasheet and ESP32-S3 product overview. Maximum clocks are ceilings, not directly comparable application-performance scores. Check the exact P4 silicon revision; do not apply the v3.x figure to every older board.

ESP32-S31: connectivity is the main differentiator

ESP32-S31 combines Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE, Bluetooth Classic and an IEEE 802.15.4 radio. Espressif also lists a 1000 Mbps Ethernet MAC and image-processing hardware. An Ethernet MAC still needs a suitable external PHY and board-level circuitry; it does not mean a complete Ethernet port is integrated. Its Wi-Fi operates at 2.4 GHz, not 5 GHz. See the official ESP32-S31 overview.

For a gateway or connected panel, this combination may reduce the need for separate connectivity devices. However, a radio feature does not automatically mean every protocol stack, audio profile or concurrent operating mode is ready in your chosen firmware release. The reviewed S31 datasheet is preliminary v0.5, and the product page describes framework support in future terms. Verify a working example for your exact application before selecting the production platform.

ESP32-P4: build around the display and camera pipeline

ESP32-P4 provides MIPI camera and display interfaces, an image signal processor, H.264 encoding and graphics-related acceleration. It is a strong candidate when your architecture starts with a camera pipeline or a MIPI display. Espressif describes connecting a separate wireless companion through interfaces such as SDIO, SPI or UART, using solutions including ESP-Hosted or ESP-AT. See the official ESP32-P4 overview.

A P4 development board with Wi-Fi is not evidence that the P4 chip contains Wi-Fi. Inspect the board schematic and identify the companion radio. Your system budget then includes its power supply, firmware, host transport, antenna placement and update strategy. Test the host-to-radio data path alongside the GUI or camera workload, rather than evaluating each subsystem in isolation.

ESP32-S3: a practical starting point for wireless HMI

ESP32-S3 combines a dual-core Xtensa processor with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE. Its vector instructions support signal-processing and neural-network software optimizations; they should not be presented as a standalone NPU or an invented TOPS rating. Bluetooth LE also does not imply Bluetooth Classic audio support. These distinctions are documented in Espressif’s S3 overview.

For a touchscreen controller, start with an actual board and panel configuration that has a working example. Our 5-inch ESP32-S3 display guide is a useful reference for board-specific setup. A firmware image for one display board is not automatically suitable for another board using the same SoC: touch controllers, backlight pins, panel timing and memory configurations can differ.

Display memory matters more than a simple MHz comparison

Consider an 800 × 480 RGB565 framebuffer. At two bytes per pixel, one full framebuffer requires 768,000 bytes (750 KiB). Two full buffers require 1,536,000 bytes, approximately 1.46 MiB, before allocating the GUI heap, images, networking buffers or application data.

This calculation is a memory estimate, not a guaranteed GUI requirement: partial rendering and other buffering strategies change the allocation. It nevertheless explains why you should check PSRAM capacity, bandwidth and driver requirements early. A higher CPU clock cannot fix an incompatible panel interface or an insufficient memory budget. Measure your actual screen transitions, touch latency and network activity together.

How we would choose for three typical projects

• A compact Wi-Fi touchscreen controller: begin by evaluating an S3 board with the required panel and PSRAM, then profile the intended UI.
• A camera terminal or MIPI display product: evaluate P4 around the camera/display pipeline; include a wireless companion if connectivity is required.
• A connected hub requiring several radio protocols: evaluate S31, with explicit SDK, coexistence and preliminary-hardware validation milestones.

These are engineering starting points. None of the three is a drop-in replacement for another. Changing the SoC can require a new PCB, pin mapping, boot configuration, firmware target and peripheral drivers.

Before moving from a development board to production

1. Record the exact SoC revision, module or package, flash size and PSRAM configuration.
2. Prove the critical display, camera, radio and peripheral drivers on a pinned SDK release.
3. Measure peak current, thermal behavior and memory use under a representative combined workload.
4. Plan firmware updates, recovery, factory flashing and functional tests before the PCB is finalized.

Explore the ESP32S Wiki and firmware flashing guide for practical setup information. If you need help turning a prototype into a custom product, our PCB design service can support the hardware work; contact us to discuss ESP32 firmware development and production flashing requirements.

Official references and revision notes

Sources checked on October 15, 2026: ESP32-S31 preliminary datasheet v0.5; ESP32-P4 pre-release datasheet v0.7, covering v3.x; and the official product pages linked above. Recheck these documents before freezing a production design. Feature availability depends on the exact silicon, hardware implementation and software release.

Illustrations: original conceptual cover and an ESP32S selection diagram. The cover is not a photograph of production chip packages. No comparative hardware benchmark was performed for this article.