Espressif Launches a Revised ESP32-C3 V2, Delivering Additional RAM and Flash
New chip revision unlocks an application-dependent "up to" 20kB of static RAM and 100kB of flash over the original model.
Espressif has announced the launch of a new chip — or, rather, a boosted version of an older chip now featuring additional user-accessible RAM and flash storage: the ESP32-C3 V2, also known as the ESP8684 V2.
"Espressif has upgraded the ESP32-C2 (ESP8684) to enhance its performance and efficiency," the company says of its latest hardware release. "This update provides additional memory and flash storage, enabling developers to build more complex applications while ensuring long-term stability and support. This upgrade enhances performance and reliability, providing stronger support for your project."
Somewhat confusingly, Espressif isn't providing precise figures for the boosted memory capacities of the new chip revision — and it's not changing the name, either. It promises "up to 20kB of additional SRAM [Static RAM]" to enhance real-time data processing and multitasking capabilities, with a particular focus on suitability for the Internet of Things (IoT), and "approximately 100kB of extra flash memory," but warns that both figures are application-dependent and not all projects will see the full benefit.
Ascertaining which parts include the ESP32-C2 V2 chip over the original release from two years back requires looking for an "X" suffix at the end of the product variant code, such as ESP8684H2X and ESP8684-MINI-1-H2X; this, Espressif says, indicates an "extended" part with the new chip fitted. Users will also require an update to the ESP-IDF toolchain to take advantage of the memory optimization: ESP-IDF v5.4, v5.3.2, v5.2.4, v5.1.5, and v5.0.8 and above are all compatible.
Those who are already building on the ESP32-C2, meanwhile, are warned that programs compiled for the original chip revision aren't directly compatible with the ESP32-C2 V2 — meaning it's not a drop-in upgrade. The chips also come with a new in-package flash module, the company has said, though this is only for second-sourcing "to improve [component] supply stability."
More information is available on the Espressif website.
