Waveshare ESP32-P4-Module-DEV-KIT credit card-sized board may look like a Linux-powered Raspberry Pi SBC, but instead, it’s based on an “ESP32-P4-Module” comprised of a 400 MHz Espressif ESP32-P4 RISC-V general-purpose microcontroller, an ESP32-C6 “co-processor” for WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5, and a 16MB SPI NOR flash.
Designed for HMI applications, the board offers MIPI DSI and CSI connectors, as well as a 100Mbps Ethernet RJ45 jack, four USB 2.0 ports, a 40-pin GPIO header, and more. It basically integrates the same ports as a Raspberry Pi SBC minus HDMI, but relies on a microcontroller instead of a Linux-capable application processor.
Waveshare ESP32-P4-Module-DEV-KIT specifications:
- ESP32-P4-Module
- Microcontroller – ESP32-P4NRW32
- MCU
- Dual-core RISC-V microcontroller @ 400 MHz with AI instructions extension and single-precision FPU
- Single-RISC-V LP (Low-power) MCU core @ up to 40 MHz
- GPU – 2D Pixel Processing Accelerator (PPA)
- VPU – H.264 and JPEG codecs support
- Memory – 768 KB HP L2MEM, 32 KB LP SRAM, 8 KB TCM, 32MB PSRAM
- Storage – 128 KB HP ROM, 16 KB LP ROM
- MCU
- Wireless – WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5 via ESP32-C6 SoC (SDIO)
- Storage – 16MB NOR Flash
- Microcontroller – ESP32-P4NRW32
- Storage – MicroSD card slot (SDIO 3.0)
- Display I/F – 2-lane MIPI DSI connector
- Camera I/F – 2-lane MIPI CSI camera connector supports up to 1920×1080 resolution, 1080p30 video encoding
- Audio
- Speaker connector supporting 8Ω 2W speaker
- MEMS microphone
- Networking
- 100Mbps Ethernet RJ45 port with optional PoE support
- WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5 (via ESP32-C6) – There’s an 802.15.4 radio, but it’s not listed in the specs on the Waveshare website.
- USB
- 4x USB 2.0 OTG Type-A ports
- USB-C UART port
- Expansion
- 40-pin header with 28x GPIOs, I2C, UART, 5V, 3.3V, and GND with a pinout similar to the GPIO header on Raspberry Pi SBCs
- I2C and I3C connectors (7 and 8 below)
- Misc
- Boot and Reset buttons
- Power LED
- RTC battery connector (5)
- USB Host/Device jumper (13)
- Ceramic antenna for WiFi and Bluetooth (16)
- ESP32-C6 UART terminal (17)
- Power Supply
- 5V via USB-C port or 2-pin connector (18)
- Optional PoE via additional module connected to 4-pin header (9)
- Dimensions – 85 x 56 mm
It’s the second ESP32-P4 devkit from Waveshare since the company introduced the ESP32-P4-NANO board last year. At the time (November 2024), it could only be programmed with the ESP-IDF framework, and that’s still the case for ESP32-P4-Module-DEV-KIT. The company did try Arduino/PlatformIO and MicroPython firmware, but it’s not stable enough for most people:
Due to stability requirements, in order for PlatformIO to support ESP32-P4, it also requires support from the PlatformIO community for the Arduino-esp32 SDK V3.1x version.
During development, we tested MPY firmware for ESP32-P4, which can run some basic commands. However, this is just a preliminary verification; actual interface and peripheral applications are not yet adapted. Once fully adapted and stable, we will release ESP32-P4 usage examples in MicroPython.
The wiki only has instructions and demo source code for the ESP-IDF for now, including an ESP-Phone demo based on ESP_Brookesia to show an Android-like interface with many different applications, an LVGL demo, an Ethernet to WiFi gateway, and more.
Waveshare sells the board itself, but also various kits with a speaker, a 7-inch touchscreen display, or a 10-inch touchscreen display.
- ESP32-P4-Module Basic Kit – Board with 8Ω 2W speaker
- ESP32-P4-Module-DEV-KIT-A – Board with 8Ω 2W speaker, RPi Camera (B), and 15-pin FFC cable for the camera
- ESP32-P4-Module-DEV-KIT-B – Same as DEV-KIT-A plus a 7-inch touchscreen display, a screwpack, and additional cables.
- ESP32-P4-Module-DEV-KIT-C – Same as DEV-KIT-A plus a 10-inch touchscreen display, a screwpack, and additional cables.
The Waveshare ESP32-P4-Module-DEV-KIT credit card-sized board and devkits can be purchased on AliExpress for $27.89 to $105.29, with the exact price depending on the selected kit (and taxes). You’ll also find it on the Waveshare shop for $19.99 and up, and Waveshare has an Amazon store, but their latest ESP32-P4 board is not listed there yet. The ESP32-P4-Module itself is not sold online, and it’s unclear whether the company sells it to OEM/ODM clients or only uses it for internal projects.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Are these actually available? I’ve been trying to find P4 boards that aren’t via scalpers for a long time. Waveshare, Olimex, and someone else have announced boards but they’re seemingly never available, presumably awaiting the P4 itself.
Are they production silicon or rev0 that’ll be incompatible with the “real” parts when (if?) they ever actually go mass production?
Then again, by the time these chips actually make it to market they may ALL be facing scalper markups unless you live near the plant. 🫤
Olimex recently lifted the 1 pcs limit on their web shop:
https://www.olimex.com/Products/IoT/ESP32-P4/ESP32-P4-DevKit/open-source-hardware
The board specs are also finalized to include the ESP32-P4NRW32 module, which has 32MB built-in PSRAM.
The board seems to also be available in the UK through The Pi Hut:
https://thepihut.com/products/olimex-esp32-p4-devkit-development-board
I am guessing other distributors will catch-up soon too, you can ping them (e.g. DigiKey lists no stock at the moment).