If the ESP32-C3 was the reliable workhorse, the ESP32-C6 is what you pick in 2026 when the project touches Home Assistant, Matter, Thread, or Zigbee. Why? Because it’s one of Espressif’s first “triple-radio” parts that puts Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz…
If ESP8266 was the pioneer and the original ESP32 was the heavyweight champ, ESP32-C3 is the modern workhorse: Espressif’s first big move to RISC-V, built to be an affordable, power-efficient “drop-in upgrade” class for Wi-Fi IoT — but with Bluetooth…
If you’re looking for the true modern successor to the legendary ESP8266, this is it. While the ESP32 family has expanded into multi-core, AI-friendly, Matter-ready chips, the ESP32-C2 was built for one mission: the cheapest, most power-efficient, high-volume Wi-Fi IoT.…
If you’ve looked at Espressif’s lineup lately, you’ve seen the shift: “ESP32” is now a family, and the ESP32-C series is the RISC-V branch built for modern, power-efficient IoT. In 2026, the C-series splits cleanly into two camps: Below is…
ESP32-S2 is the “USB + Wi-Fi” ESP32: single-core, Wi-Fi only (no Bluetooth), and designed for USB devices, low-cost IoT, and HMI-style projects where you want native USB without stepping up to ESP32-S3. But “ESP32-S2” can mean different things: This guide…
If you’re reading esp32.co.uk, you probably already have Home Assistant packed with ESPHome sensors, smart relays, and automations that look like a small engineering project. But let’s be totally candid: a smart home is useless if it takes 15 seconds…
If you’re reading esp32.co.uk, you probably already have Home Assistant stuffed with ESPHome sensors, smart relays, and automations that look like a small PhD thesis. But none of that matters if turning a light on takes 10–15 seconds of app-fumbling.…
ESP32-S3 is the “modern classic” ESP32 for USB, AI/DSP workloads, and display/camera projects. But “ESP32-S3” can mean a lot of different things: This guide maps the whole ecosystem and helps you pick the right S3 board in 60 seconds. Sources…
KNX is a standardized, wired building automation protocol. Unlike consumer smart home gadgets (which often rely on a central hub or WiFi), KNX is decentralized. Because it is an open standard used by over 500 manufacturers (like Siemens, ABB, MDT,…
The Sensirion SHT45 is one of the most accurate, stable sensors you can use for temperature and humidity monitoring. It is a true upgrade over common “good enough” sensors, especially in spaces where small changes matter such as a humidor,…
Building a reliable CO₂ monitor is one of the best “bang-for-buck” ESPHome projects. The Sensirion SCD41 is a true CO₂ sensor (photoacoustic sensing / PAS), not a “calculated eCO₂” VOC estimate, so it’s ideal for proper IAQ monitoring. Using MQTT…
We’ve monitored temperature and air quality. Now comes perimeter security. BLE smart locks are the “final boss” of Bluetooth in a smart home because they need a secure, encrypted, two-way connection. Sensors can drop a packet and you won’t care.…
We’ve covered temperature sensors (e.g., Govee) and mechanical actuators (e.g., SwitchBot). Now comes the most valuable “health layer” in a smart home: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). A lot of “smart air monitors” push data over Wi-Fi and vendor apps. A…
SwitchBot is the king of retrofitting: it can press dumb buttons, pull curtains, and lock doors without replacing hardware. In Home Assistant, the BLE approach is popular with power users because it can be local, fast, and hub-free—but it’s also…
Govee BLE thermometers/hygrometers are cheap and surprisingly useful in Home Assistant—if the Bluetooth side is engineered properly. The integration itself is mostly UI-based today, but to make it robust (no dropouts, good range, usable automations) there are two places where…
