June 3, 2026
Tiny chip, huge comment chaos
ESP32-S31
This tiny chip has gadget fans cheering, dreaming big, and already asking where to buy it
TLDR: The ESP32-S31 is a new all-in-one chip for smart devices, mixing fast performance with wireless and wired connections. Commenters are most excited about its more open design, while others are already debating wild uses for it and impatiently asking when they can buy one.
The new ESP32-S31 is basically being introduced as a do-everything brain for smart gadgets: fast, packed with connection options, and built for things like voice features, cameras, sensors, and always-online devices. It can connect over Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, smart-home standards like Thread and Zigbee, and even wired internet, which instantly made the comment section light up. The vibe? Half victory lap, half wishlist, half “okay but when can I actually get one?”
The loudest cheers were for one thing: more RISC-V chips showing up in real products. For many commenters, this wasn’t just another hardware launch; it felt like a small rebellion against clunky old chip ecosystems. One fan declared, “Love to see more RISC-V in the wild,” while another basically treated the launch like a freedom parade, gushing that developers might finally avoid “half-broken proprietary toolchains.” Yes, we got a mini soap opera about software tools in the comments, because of course we did.
Then came the classic internet overreach: one person spotted the fast wired networking and immediately asked if this little chip could become a router or WireGuard VPN box. That’s the kind of ambitious, slightly chaotic energy these launches bring out. Others were thrilled to see Wi‑Fi and wired internet on one part again, but not without a side-eye about losing MIPI display support from another chip line. And the most relatable comment of all? A simple, desperate “When can we buy these?” The people are excited, impatient, and already planning projects this chip may or may not survive.
Key Points
- •ESP32-S31 is a dual-core 32-bit RISC-V microcontroller running at up to 320 MHz for advanced IoT applications.
- •The chip provides 60 GPIOs to support complex designs with multiple wireless protocols, display interfaces, and peripherals.
- •It is positioned for edge AI and machine learning workloads such as neural network inference, signal processing, computer vision, and intelligent audio.
- •ESP32-S31 supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6, IEEE 802.15.4 for Thread and Zigbee, and Bluetooth 5.4 LE with LE Audio, Direction Finding, and Bluetooth Mesh 1.1.
- •The microcontroller also includes Bluetooth Classic (BR/EDR) and a 1000 Mbps Ethernet MAC for legacy compatibility and high-bandwidth wired connectivity.