WVS ESP32-S3 Zero Mini Development Board ESP32-S3FH4R2

The WVS ESP32-S3FH4R2-ZERO Development Board is a compact and versatile microcontroller board designed for IoT, embedded systems and portable electronics development. Based on the ESP32-S3FH4R2 dual-core processor, the board delivers processing speeds of up to 240MHz, integrated 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 Low Energy connectivity, and a range of configurable peripheral interfaces.

Its miniature form factor and castellated soldering holes allow the module to be soldered directly onto a custom carrier board or integrated into an existing electronic design. An onboard USB Type-C connector provides a convenient interface for power, programming and communication, while the onboard ceramic antenna supports wireless connectivity without requiring a separate external antenna.

The board combines 4MB Flash memory and 2MB PSRAM with extensive peripheral support, hardware security functions and multiple low-power operating modes. This makes it suitable for smart home products, wearable devices, mobile electronics, sensor nodes and other space-constrained connected applications.

Key Features

• Compact ESP32-S3 Zero Mini development board.
• Based on the ESP32-S3FH4R2 dual-core processor.
• Xtensa 32-bit LX7 dual-core architecture.
• Main processor frequency of up to 240MHz.
• Integrated 2.4GHz Wi-Fi supporting 802.11 b/g/n.
• Bluetooth 5 Low Energy support.
• Built-in 512KB SRAM and 384KB ROM.
• Onboard 4MB Flash memory.
• Onboard 2MB PSRAM.
• Castellated holes for direct soldering onto carrier boards.
• Integrated ceramic antenna.
• Onboard USB Type-C connector.
• Integrated full-speed USB serial controller.
• 24 configurable GPIO pins.
• Supports 4 SPI interfaces.
• Supports 2 I2C interfaces.
• Supports 3 UART interfaces.
• Supports 2 I2S interfaces.
• Supports 2 ADC interfaces.
• Hardware encryption accelerator.
• Integrated random number generator.
• HMAC and Digital Signature security modules.
• Multiple low-power operating modes.
• Onboard WS2812 RGB LED connected to GPIO21.
• Suitable for compact IoT and embedded applications.

Technical Specifications

• Product Type: Mini development board.
• Controller: ESP32-S3FH4R2.
• Processor: Xtensa 32-bit LX7 dual-core.
• Maximum Clock Frequency: 240MHz.
• Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz, 802.11 b/g/n.
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5 LE.
• SRAM: 512KB.
• ROM: 384KB.
• Flash Memory: 4MB.
• PSRAM: 2MB.
• USB Connector: USB Type-C.
• USB Function: Full-speed USB serial controller, programming and communication.
• GPIO: 24 configurable GPIO pins.
• SPI: 4 interfaces.
• I2C: 2 interfaces.
• UART: 3 interfaces.
• I2S: 2 interfaces.
• ADC: 2 interfaces.
• Antenna: Onboard ceramic antenna.
• Board Integration: Castellated soldering holes.
• RGB LED: WS2812, connected to GPIO21.
• Security Features: Hardware encryption accelerator, RNG, HMAC and Digital Signature modules.
• Power Management: Multiple low-power operating modes.

Compact Castellated Design

The ESP32-S3 Zero Mini uses castellated soldering holes around the edge of the module. This allows it to be mounted directly onto a custom PCB, daughterboard or carrier board, making it suitable for compact product designs and embedded installations.

When integrating the module into another board, ensure that the onboard ceramic antenna is not covered or obstructed by PCB material, metal parts or plastic components. Obstructing the antenna may reduce wireless performance and communication range.

Wireless Connectivity

The board supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi using the 802.11 b/g/n standard and Bluetooth 5 Low Energy. These wireless functions enable communication with networks, mobile devices, sensors and other connected equipment.

Typical wireless applications include:

• Smart home devices.
• Wireless sensor nodes.
• Remote monitoring equipment.
• Bluetooth-enabled controllers.
• IoT gateways and endpoints.
• Portable connected electronics.

GPIO and Peripheral Interfaces

The board provides 24 GPIO pins that can be configured for different functions depending on the application. Supported peripheral resources include:

• Four SPI interfaces.
• Two I2C interfaces.
• Three UART interfaces.
• Two I2S interfaces.
• Two ADC interfaces.

This range of interfaces allows the board to connect to displays, sensors, storage devices, audio peripherals, communication modules and other embedded hardware.

Programming and Firmware Flashing

The ESP32-S3 Zero does not use a separate USB-to-UART bridge chip. When flashing firmware, press and hold the BOOT button connected to GPIO0, then connect the USB Type-C cable to enter the required download mode.

The board markings labelled TX and RX identify the default UART0 pins:

• TX: GPIO43.
• RX: GPIO44.

The exact programming procedure may depend on the development environment, operating system and flashing tool being used.

Memory and Security

The board includes 4MB Flash memory for firmware and application storage, together with 2MB PSRAM for additional working memory. The ESP32-S3FH4R2 also provides security-related hardware features, including:

• Hardware encryption acceleration.
• Random number generator.
• HMAC module.
• Digital Signature module.

These features support the development of connected devices requiring secure communication, authentication and protected data handling.

Low-Power Operation

The ESP32-S3 platform supports flexible clock control, independent module power settings and multiple low-power operating modes. These functions can help reduce energy consumption in battery-powered or energy-sensitive applications.

Low-power operation is particularly useful for:

• Wearable electronics.
• Portable monitoring devices.
• Battery-powered sensor nodes.
• Smart home products.
• Mobile IoT equipment.
• Remote data collection systems.

Important Pin and Integration Notes

• GPIO33 to GPIO37 are not exposed on the ESP32-S3-Zero because these pins are used for Octal PSRAM.
• GPIO21 is used to connect to the onboard WS2812 RGB LED.
• The ceramic antenna should not be covered by PCB material, metal or plastic components.
• The board does not include a separate USB-to-UART chip.
• Use the BOOT button and GPIO0 procedure when entering firmware download mode.
• TX and RX markings refer to the default UART0 pins, GPIO43 and GPIO44.
• Confirm GPIO multiplexing and peripheral assignments before connecting external circuits.
• The supplied board is the Zero version without standard pin headers; castellated connections are intended for soldering or custom integration.

What's in the box
1 x WVS ESP32-S3 Zero Mini Development Board ESP32-S3FH4R2