# Espressif's ESP32-S31 Enters Mass Production, Giving DIY Builders Their Most Capable Microcontroller Yet **Source:** https://glitchwire.com/news/espressifs-esp32-s31-enters-mass-production-giving-diy-builders-their-most-capab/ **Published:** 2026-07-28T12:11:34.014Z **Author:** Tech Desk ยท Glitchwire **Categories:** Tech, Gadgets ## Summary The dual-core RISC-V chip packs Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, Thread, Zigbee, and Gigabit Ethernet into one package. Edge AI just got a lot more accessible. ## Article [Espressif Systems](https://www.espressif.com/en/products/socs/esp32-s31) announced that its ESP32-S31 has entered mass production and is now available for purchase. For the maker community and embedded developers who have spent years working around the limitations of cheaper microcontrollers, this is a significant moment. The chip represents Espressif's most ambitious attempt yet to consolidate everything DIY builders typically need into a single piece of silicon. ## What's Inside The ESP32-S31 is a dual-core 32-bit RISC-V SoC running at up to 320 MHz. One of those cores supports a 128-bit data path with SIMD instructions for parallel processing, making it well-suited for compute-intensive tasks that would have choked earlier ESP32 variants. The chip includes 512 KB of on-chip SRAM and can connect to high-speed 250 MHz DDR PSRAM for projects demanding more memory headroom. The shift to RISC-V architecture is notable. Espressif's S-series previously used Tensilica Xtensa cores, so the S31 marks a complete transition away from proprietary instruction sets. For developers, this opens up better tooling, wider community support, and fewer licensing headaches. ## Connectivity Is the Headline Where the ESP32-S31 really distinguishes itself is wireless. It combines Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) in the 2.4 GHz band, Bluetooth 5.4 with both LE and Classic support, and an IEEE 802.15.4 radio enabling Thread and Zigbee protocols. If you've ever wired together multiple modules just to get all these protocols working in one project, you understand the appeal of having them integrated on-die. Espressif says the chip will provide native support for the Matter smart home standard over both Wi-Fi and Thread. This matters for [DIY home automation projects](/news/cubebot-and-the-rising-importance-of-diy-robotics-in-the-edge-ai-era/). Building a Matter-compatible device used to require either expensive commercial hardware or cobbling together multiple boards. The S31 simplifies that dramatically. There's also a Gigabit Ethernet MAC on board, a substantial upgrade from the 100 Mbps RMII interface found in previous ESP32 microcontrollers. For industrial IoT gateways and edge devices where wired reliability matters, this is a meaningful addition. ## Edge AI Gets More Accessible Espressif positions the ESP32-S31 as particularly well suited for edge AI and machine learning workloads. The combination of the SIMD datapath, high-speed PSRAM expansion, and dedicated SPI interfaces makes neural network inference, computer vision, and intelligent audio applications viable on this platform. The chip includes a DVP camera interface (8 to 16-bit), versatile LCD support (8 to 24-bit parallel display) with hardware color space conversion, and up to 14 capacitive touch sensing channels. For projects involving [local machine learning](/news/nvidias-jetson-t3000-and-t2000-modules-are-built-for-the-memory-crisis-era/), these interfaces mean you can build complete vision or audio systems without external processing. ## Development Boards Are Already Shipping Espressif has released two development boards to help people get started. The [ESP32-S31-Function-CoreBoard-1](https://www.electronics-lab.com/espressif-esp32-s31-coreboard-and-korvo-kits-target-aiot-hmi-and-smart-audio-apps/) is a general-purpose board with Ethernet, USB, GPIO expansion, and onboard audio support, currently available for around $19.70 on AliExpress. The ESP32-S31-Korvo-1, priced at approximately $58.41, adds a dual-microphone array, speaker connectors, 4.3-inch LCD, and 3MP camera module for multimedia applications. Both boards use the ESP32-S31-WROOM-3 module and are supported by ESP-IDF, Espressif's open-source development framework. Arduino support remains in progress, with an open GitHub issue tracking integration into the Arduino core. ## What This Means for Builders The ESP32 family has grown into eleven different SoC variants, each with different strengths. The S31 is Espressif's attempt to create a single chip that handles the widest possible range of applications without forcing compromises. Smart home hubs, voice-controlled devices, industrial automation systems, and multimedia IoT projects all fall within its intended use cases. For makers working on projects that require multiple wireless protocols, local AI processing, or wired networking, the S31 eliminates the need to design around multiple chips. The ecosystem is still maturing, but the hardware is here. --- **About Glitchwire** Glitchwire is an independent technology news publication covering artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, science, security, policy, finance, and the broader technology industry. 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