Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4
The Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V4 is an ESP32-S3R2 board with 16 MB flash, 2 MB PSRAM, SX1262 LoRa, a 0.96-inch OLED, USB-C without a CP2102, and a solar plus GNSS header. Amazon US 915 MHz listings are the hop. GNSS is an SH1.25-8Pin connector — the GPS module is not on the PCB. Keep the V3 page if we only need a cheap OLED node.
Buy V4 when we want the GNSS/solar headers and 16 MB flash — skip if a V3 already meshes, or if we need GPS on the board like a T-Beam.
Where to Buy
Pros
- ESP32-S3R2, 16 MB flash, 2 MB PSRAM — more headroom than the V3's ESP32-S3FN8 / 8 MB
- SX1262 LoRa; high-power SKUs are specified at 28±1 dBm, low-power at 22 dBm
- SH1.25-8Pin GNSS header and SH1.25-2P solar input that the V3 does not have
- 0.96-inch 128x64 OLED and Meshtastic support on the same footprint class as V3
- USB-C native; Heltec removed the CP2102 UART bridge
Cons
- GNSS is a header, not a populated GPS chip — Amazon titles that say GNSS still need a module
- Stock stub antenna is the same weak point as V3; urban range is antenna-limited
- High-power 28 dBm SKUs are not the same board as 22 dBm SKUs — check the listing
V4 versus V3
Heltec's own table is the useful one: V3 is ESP32-S3FN8 with 8 MB flash and no GNSS or solar header. V4 is ESP32-S3R2, 16 MB external flash, 2 MB PSRAM, solar input, and an 8-pin GNSS connector. Deep sleep is specified under 20 µA.
The V3 Amazon hop stays B0DRSJV1ZL. This page is a different product. Do not treat V4 as a silent replacement SKU.
GNSS header, not a tracker
The Amazon 915 MHz title mentions GNSS. The datasheet is an SH1.25-8Pin interface. We still buy and wire a module, then enable its power rail in firmware. If we want a card tracker with GPS in the shell, that is the T1000-E, not this board.
Full Specifications
Processor
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Xtensa LX7 [1] |
| CPU Cores | 2 [1] |
| Clock Speed | 240 MHz [1] |
Memory
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Flash | 16 MB [1] |
| SRAM | 512 KB [1] |
| PSRAM | 2 MB [1] |
Connectivity
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| WiFi | 802.11 b/g/n [1] |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 [1] |
| lora | SX1262 (US915 / 863-928 MHz) [1] |
| lora_tx_power | 22 or 28 dBm [1] |
| meshtastic | Fully supported [1] |
I/O & Interfaces
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Display | 0.96" OLED (128x64, SSD1315) [2] |
| gps | SH1.25-8Pin GNSS header (module not onboard) [2] |
| USB | USB-C (native, no CP2102) [2] |
Power
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery Charging | Li-ion + SH1.25-2P solar input [1] |
| Deep Sleep Current | <20 uA [1] |
Physical
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 51.7 x 25.4 x 10.7 mm [2] |
| Form Factor | Compact with OLED + PC screen cover [2] |
Who Should Buy This
V4 keeps the OLED + SX1262 pattern and adds the GNSS header plus 16 MB flash. Skip if we need GPS in the box today.
No onboard GNSS chip. T-Beam Supreme includes L76K, 18650 holder, and solar input populated.
Better alternative: LILYGO T-Beam Supreme
V3 is still the smaller-BOM board and its hop is unchanged. Buy V4 for the headers and flash, not because V3 disappeared.
Better alternative: Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 V3
Frequently Asked Questions
Does V4 include a GPS chip?
No. It exposes an SH1.25-8Pin GNSS header. A module is a separate part. For GPS in the case, use a T-Beam Supreme or SenseCAP T1000-E.
Should we replace a working V3?
Not for Meshtastic text alone. V4 is the buy when we want solar/GNSS headers or 16 MB flash. The V3 hop is unchanged.
What frequency is the Amazon listing?
The mapped ASIN is the 915 MHz (US) OLED listing. EU868 and other bands are different SKUs. Every node on a mesh must match the band.
Is Meshtastic supported?
Heltec documents Meshtastic, LoRaWAN, and MeshCore. Flash the V4 profile, not the V3 profile, in the Meshtastic web flasher.
22 dBm or 28 dBm?
Heltec ships both. The datasheet lists 21±1 dBm and 28±1 dBm variants. Read the exact Amazon title and Heltec model code before we assume high-power PA.