ESP32-S3 Board Shootout: DevKitC vs XIAO vs QT Py vs Thing Plus vs T-Display
The ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 wins overall for its unmatched GPIO availability and camera interface, but the XIAO ESP32S3 is the best compact option and the Thing Plus is the best for field deployments. All five boards run the same dual-core LX7 chip — the differentiator is what each manufacturer built around it.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| GPIO Availability | ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 | The DevKitC exposes 45 GPIO pins from the ESP32-S3 chip, compared to 21 on the Thing Plus, 14 on the T-Display, 13 on the QT Py, and only 11 on the XIAO. If your project needs more than a handful of digital I/O lines beyond SPI and I2C, the DevKitC is the only viable option. |
| Form Factor | Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 | The XIAO is 21x17.5mm — roughly the size of a postage stamp and 3.3x smaller by area than the DevKitC (69x25.4mm). The QT Py is similar at 22x17.8mm. For wearables, compact enclosures, or embedded installations, the XIAO wins decisively. |
| Battery and Power Management | SparkFun Thing Plus - ESP32-S3 | The Thing Plus includes a LiPo charger with power path management AND a MAX17048 fuel gauge for accurate battery percentage readings. The XIAO and T-Display have LiPo chargers but no fuel gauge. The DevKitC and QT Py have no battery management at all. |
| Storage and Memory | SparkFun Thing Plus - ESP32-S3 | The Thing Plus leads with 16MB flash, 8MB PSRAM, and a MicroSD card slot for expandable local storage. The T-Display matches the 16MB flash and 8MB PSRAM but lacks SD. The DevKitC and XIAO have 8MB flash and 8MB PSRAM. The QT Py has 8MB flash but no PSRAM. |
| Ecosystem and Connectivity | Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3 | The QT Py has the strongest ecosystem integration via STEMMA QT connector with access to 200+ Adafruit sensor breakouts and extensive CircuitPython tutorials. The Thing Plus matches with Qwiic (same connector standard) and SparkFun's ecosystem. The DevKitC relies on Espressif's bare reference design. |
| Display Integration | LILYGO T-Display S3 | The T-Display S3 is the only board with a built-in display — a 1.9-inch 170x320 ST7789 LCD with capacitive touch. No other board in this comparison includes a display. For UI-driven projects, it eliminates the cost and wiring of a separate display module. |
Which Board for Your Project?
| Use Case | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Camera project with image processing | ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 | Only the DevKitC breaks out the DVP camera pins. 45 GPIO pins accommodate the camera interface alongside other peripherals. 8MB PSRAM buffers frames. |
| Compact wearable health tracker | Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 | 21x17.5mm fits wristband and pendant enclosures. Built-in LiPo charging. Same ESP32-S3 performance as the DevKitC in 1/4 the area. |
| Remote environmental data logger | SparkFun Thing Plus - ESP32-S3 | MicroSD stores data locally. Fuel gauge manages battery lifecycle. Qwiic connects sensors instantly. 16MB flash buffers data when SD is full. |
| Portable air quality monitor with readout | LILYGO T-Display S3 | Built-in 1.9-inch touch display shows readings without external screen. Battery charging for portability. I2C connects air quality sensors. |
| Rapid sensor prototyping with CircuitPython | Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3 | STEMMA QT connector daisy-chains sensors. CircuitPython preloaded. Adafruit's tutorials and libraries make the setup-to-data time minutes, not hours. |
Where to Buy
Final Verdict
All five boards run the same ESP32-S3 chip — performance is identical. Choose the DevKitC for maximum GPIO and camera support. Choose the XIAO for minimum size. Choose the Thing Plus for field deployments needing battery management and local storage. Choose the T-Display for projects needing a built-in screen. Choose the QT Py for the STEMMA QT/CircuitPython ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all five boards running the same chip?
Yes. All use the ESP32-S3 with dual-core Xtensa LX7 at 240MHz. The differences are in what each manufacturer built around the chip: flash size, PSRAM inclusion, connectors, display, battery management, and exposed GPIO pins.
Can I develop firmware on one board and deploy on another?
Yes, with pin remapping. Since all five use the same ESP32-S3 chip, the same firmware compiles for all of them. You only need to change GPIO pin assignments in your configuration to match the specific board's pinout.
Which ESP32-S3 board has the most memory?
The Thing Plus and T-Display both have 16MB flash and 8MB PSRAM. The Thing Plus adds a MicroSD slot for expandable storage. The DevKitC and XIAO have 8MB flash and 8MB PSRAM. The standard QT Py has 8MB flash but no PSRAM.
Which board is best for someone new to ESP32?
The QT Py with CircuitPython is the easiest to start with — no toolchain setup, drag-and-drop code editing, and STEMMA QT sensors that just plug in. The DevKitC is best for learning with Arduino or ESP-IDF due to full GPIO access and breadboard compatibility.
Do any of these boards support Thread or Zigbee?
No. The ESP32-S3 chip does not have an 802.15.4 radio. For Thread or Zigbee, you need the ESP32-C6 (WiFi + Thread) or ESP32-H2 (Thread + Zigbee only). All five S3 boards support WiFi and BLE 5.0.