Arduino Nano Matter vs ESP32-C6: Best Matter and Thread Development Board?

The Arduino Nano Matter and ESP32-C6 are two of the most interesting development platforms for Matter, Thread and Zigbee projects in 2026.

Both contain an IEEE 802.15.4 radio, which is the critical hardware requirement for native Thread and Zigbee.

But their architectures are quite different:

The most important question is therefore not whether either board “supports Matter”. Both do.

The real question is whether you want a dedicated low-power Matter/Thread platform or a multi-radio ESP32 platform that can also run normal Wi-Fi applications.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Arduino Nano Matter	ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1
Main device	Silicon Labs MGM240SD22VNA	ESP32-C6-WROOM-1/1U
CPU	Arm Cortex-M33	32-bit RISC-V
Maximum silicon clock	78 MHz	160 MHz
RAM	256 kB	512 kB HP SRAM + 16 kB LP SRAM
Flash	1536 kB	8 MB on DevKitC-1
Wi-Fi	No	2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth LE	BLE 5.3	BLE 5.3-class
IEEE 802.15.4	Yes	Yes
Thread	Yes	Thread 1.3
Matter over Thread	Yes	Yes
Matter over Wi-Fi	No	Yes
Zigbee	Yes	Zigbee 3.0
ADC	12-bit, up to 20 analog channels internally	12-bit SAR ADC, 7 external channels on GPIO0-6
DAC	Up to four 12-bit DAC channels	No true voltage DAC
CAN/TWAI	No native classic CAN emphasis	TWAI controller
USB	USB-C debug/programming bridge	Native USB-C + USB-to-UART USB-C
Debugging	SWD/OpenOCD over onboard USB	USB Serial/JTAG + JTAG
Power input	USB-C, 5 V, VIN 6-21 V, direct 3.3 V low-power option	USB-C, 5 V or 3.3 V
Form factor	18 × 45 mm Nano	Larger DevKitC breadboard board

Matter, Thread and BLE Are Different Layers

Before comparing the boards, it is worth separating three technologies that are often mixed together.

A typical Matter-over-Thread accessory works like this:

Both Nano Matter and ESP32-C6 can implement that architecture directly because both contain an IEEE 802.15.4 radio.

Both Can Be Real Thread Devices

This is the biggest difference from ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 and classic ESP32 boards.

Those chips have Wi-Fi and BLE but no IEEE 802.15.4 radio.

Nano Matter and ESP32-C6 can therefore join a Thread mesh without an external radio coprocessor.

Nano Matter Is Purpose-Built Around 802.15.4

Arduino’s Nano Matter uses the Silicon Labs:

which integrates:

• 78 MHz Cortex-M33;
• 1536 kB Flash;
• 256 kB RAM;
• IEEE 802.15.4;
• Bluetooth LE 5.3;
• Bluetooth Mesh;
• Silicon Labs Secure Vault.

The board is explicitly positioned around:

• Matter;
• OpenThread;
• Zigbee;
• low-power IoT.

ESP32-C6 Adds Wi-Fi 6

ESP32-C6 combines:

• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6;
• Bluetooth LE;
• IEEE 802.15.4;
• Thread 1.3;
• Zigbee 3.0;

on one chip.

This gives it a unique advantage:

ESP32-C6 Can Run Matter over Wi-Fi or Thread

This is one of the strongest differences between the two platforms.

Current Arduino-ESP32 Matter support includes:

for ESP32-C6.

In the current Arduino core, Thread Matter builds are available directly through the board/tool configuration.

Application code can select:

when using Thread as the Matter transport.

Nano Matter Is Thread-Focused

Nano Matter does not have Wi-Fi.

Its Matter architecture is therefore naturally:

That makes the design conceptually cleaner for a dedicated Thread endpoint.

There is no temptation to build the product as Wi-Fi first and Thread second.

Which Is Better for Learning Matter?

Nano Matter has an advantage in simplicity.

The Arduino Silicon Labs core includes a dedicated:

selection.

The bundled Matter library is designed to expose common Matter device functionality through Arduino-friendly APIs.

Arduino’s hardware documentation and discovery material are explicitly organised around Matter development.

ESP32-C6 Matter Support Has Improved Significantly

Historically, Matter development on ESP32 often meant moving straight into:

which is a powerful environment but more complex than a normal Arduino sketch.

That distinction is smaller in 2026 because the current Arduino-ESP32 core now includes Matter support directly.

Current Espressif documentation confirms:

• Matter-over-Wi-Fi builds on ESP32-C6;
• Matter-over-Thread prebuild support on ESP32-C6;
• Arduino OpenThread APIs;
• Arduino Zigbee APIs.

This makes ESP32-C6 a much stronger Arduino-level Matter competitor than it was in earlier years.

Silicon Labs Protocol Stack Selection

On Nano Matter, the current core exposes selectable stacks such as:

This matters because radio stacks consume a substantial amount of Flash and RAM.

If you are not using wireless functionality, selecting:

releases considerably more application memory.

Matter Is Memory-Hungry

This applies to both platforms.

Matter includes:

• device data model;
• cryptography;
• commissioning;
• BLE support;
• IPv6 networking;
• persistent credentials;
• clusters and endpoints.

Do not compare these boards based only on the memory available to a bare Blink sketch.

Memory: ESP32-C6 Has Much More Headroom

Nano Matter provides:

The official ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 currently uses an:

and ESP32-C6 contains:

This gives ESP32-C6 more space for:

• larger applications;
• additional protocol features;
• web/cloud integration;
• OTA partitions;
• larger buffers;
• filesystems.

CPU Performance

Nano Matter’s Cortex-M33 runs up to:

ESP32-C6’s main RISC-V CPU runs up to:

Clock speed alone is not a perfect performance comparison, but ESP32-C6 generally has more application processing headroom.

Nano Matter Has a Strong Low-Power Architecture

Arduino designed Nano Matter specifically as an ultra-low-power IoT board.

The current datasheet recommends a dedicated low-power configuration:

• cut the power-LED jumper;
• power through the 3.3 V pin;
• leave the USB bridge unpowered.

This is valuable for:

• contact sensors;
• temperature sensors;
• battery-powered buttons;
• sleepy Thread end devices.

ESP32-C6 Also Has Low-Power Hardware

ESP32-C6 includes:

• low-power SRAM;
• low-power GPIO;
• low-power UART/I²C functions;
• deep-sleep modes;
• Wi-Fi 6 Target Wake Time support.

However, the official DevKitC-1 includes:

• USB-to-UART bridge;
• power LED;
• dual USB paths;
• other development circuitry.

For a final ultra-low-power product, a custom ESP32-C6 module design will normally be more representative than the full DevKitC board.

Wi-Fi Is the ESP32-C6’s Biggest Advantage

Because C6 has Wi-Fi 6, the same board can act as:

This is extremely useful during prototyping.

You can first build:

then later compare:

without changing hardware.

Wi-Fi 6 Does Not Make Thread Faster

The Wi-Fi radio and 802.15.4 radio are separate protocol capabilities sharing the 2.4 GHz RF subsystem.

A Matter-over-Thread device does not suddenly gain Wi-Fi bandwidth just because ESP32-C6 contains Wi-Fi 6.

Thread remains:

• low power;
• 250 kbit/s IEEE 802.15.4 PHY;
• mesh-oriented;
• designed for small IoT messages.

Zigbee Support

Both platforms support Zigbee.

Nano Matter

The current Silicon Labs Arduino core includes a Zigbee protocol-stack selection and Arduino-friendly Zigbee library.

ESP32-C6

The current Arduino-ESP32 core includes a Zigbee library built on Espressif’s Zigbee SDK.

It supports device roles including:

• coordinator;
• router;
• end device.

Thread Support

ESP32-C6’s Arduino OpenThread library now provides high-level APIs and a CLI interface.

The board can therefore be used for:

• raw Thread experimentation;
• Thread end devices;
• Matter-over-Thread applications.

Nano Matter’s OpenThread support is integrated with the Silicon Labs Matter stack.

Bluetooth LE Commissioning

Both boards can use BLE during Matter commissioning.

The typical flow is:

After commissioning, normal Matter-over-Thread communication moves over Thread rather than BLE.

Both Need a Thread Border Router for Normal Home Integration

If you are building a Thread endpoint, neither board replaces the network’s Thread Border Router.

You still need something that routes:

This may be provided by Home Assistant hardware, Apple, Google, Amazon or another compatible Thread Border Router.

Home Assistant

Both boards can be commissioned into a Home Assistant Matter environment when the Thread infrastructure is correctly configured.

A typical setup is:

For ESP32-C6 specifically, see our Matter over Thread with ESP32-C6 and Home Assistant guide.

Analog Hardware: Nano Matter Has the Edge

Nano Matter’s MGM240S provides:

The Nano header exposes a subset of those capabilities.

ESP32-C6 provides:

but no true voltage DAC.

If You Need True Analog Output

Nano Matter is the stronger platform.

ESP32-C6 needs:

• an external DAC;
• PWM plus filtering;
• I²S with an external audio DAC;

for true analog voltage output.

ESP32-C6 Adds TWAI

ESP32-C6 includes a Two-Wire Automotive Interface controller compatible with classic CAN-style operation through an external transceiver.

This is useful if the same board needs:

• Thread/Zigbee;
• plus CAN/TWAI integration.

Nano Matter is not positioned around a comparable CAN controller.

GPIO Exposure

Nano Matter exposes:

in the compact Nano layout.

ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 breaks out essentially all available GPIO except Flash-reserved signals.

Current DevKitC-1 documentation exposes GPIO including:

subject to strapping and USB/UART restrictions.

ESP32-C6 Strapping Pins Need Care

ESP32-C6 uses several strapping pins:

Their logic levels are sampled during reset.

They can normally be used after boot, but external circuits should not force inappropriate levels while the chip starts.

GPIO8 also drives the DevKitC-1 RGB LED.

For a full explanation, see our ESP32-C6 DevKitC-1 pinout and safe GPIO guide.

Nano Matter Has a Cleaner Nano-Style Pin Experience

Nano Matter is designed around Arduino pin names:

This is easier for users moving from other Arduino Nano boards.

ESP32-C6 development boards normally expose raw:

which aligns better with Espressif documentation but requires more awareness of strapping, USB and boot pins.

USB and Debugging

Nano Matter

Nano Matter uses USB-C and provides:

• programming;
• data connection;
• SWD debugging through the onboard USB/debug system.

Arduino’s tooling uses OpenOCD/SWD for upload and debug.

ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1

The current DevKitC-1 provides two USB-C interfaces:

The native port supports:

• power;
• flashing;
• USB protocols;
• JTAG debugging.

The separate USB-UART port is useful when experimenting with native USB.

Power Input

Nano Matter accepts:

ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 accepts:

So Nano Matter is easier to drop into systems with 9 V or 12 V supply rails.

Form Factor

Nano Matter measures:

and is available:

• without headers for carrier/SMD integration;
• with pre-installed headers for prototyping.

ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 is a larger development board intended for breadboards and bench development.

Antenna Options

Nano Matter uses its integrated module antenna arrangement.

ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 can be built with:

• ESP32-C6-WROOM-1 — onboard PCB antenna;
• ESP32-C6-WROOM-1U — external antenna connector.

This gives C6 more RF placement flexibility.

Security

Nano Matter explicitly exposes Silicon Labs:

technology.

This is designed to protect:

• device identity;
• keys;
• secure boot;
• authenticated firmware;
• cryptographic operations.

ESP32-C6 also includes substantial hardware-security features including cryptographic accelerators, secure boot, Flash encryption, eFuses and hardware key protection.

Both are capable of production-grade secure designs when configured correctly.

Development Ecosystem

Nano Matter

Best suited to developers who want:

• Arduino IDE;
• simple Matter examples;
• Silicon Labs protocol stack selection;
• ArduinoBLE compatibility;
• Nano carrier compatibility.

ESP32-C6

Best suited to developers who want access to:

• Arduino-ESP32;
• ESP-IDF;
• ESP-Matter;
• ESP-Zigbee SDK;
• OpenThread;
• Wi-Fi networking;
• ESP-NOW;
• Home Assistant/ESP32 ecosystem.

Which Is Easier for a First Matter Device?

Nano Matter has the cleaner product positioning.

The board, Arduino core and examples are all built around the idea that:

That reduces decision complexity.

ESP32-C6 is more flexible, but flexibility also means more choices:

• Matter over Wi-Fi or Thread;
• Arduino or ESP-IDF;
• raw OpenThread or Matter;
• Wi-Fi services alongside Matter;
• multiple board variants.

Which Is Better for Experimentation?

ESP32-C6 is the more flexible laboratory platform because it can test:

without changing the chip.

That is particularly valuable when you are still deciding which networking architecture a project should use.

Which Is Better for a Battery Thread Sensor?

Nano Matter has a strong argument because:

• the board was explicitly designed for low-power IoT;
• it has a documented direct 3.3 V low-power mode;
• the radio stack is tightly integrated around Thread/Matter;
• the Nano board omits Wi-Fi hardware entirely.

For a final production ESP32-C6 battery sensor, a custom C6 module board can also be extremely efficient, but the full DevKitC-1 is development-oriented.

Which Is Better for a Mains-Powered Smart Switch?

ESP32-C6 is especially attractive because power consumption is less critical and Wi-Fi gives additional flexibility.

The same device could expose:

• Matter over Thread;
• local Wi-Fi configuration;
• diagnostic web pages;
• cloud connectivity.

Whether combining those features is desirable in a finished certified Matter product is a separate design decision.

Which Is Better for Zigbee?

Both are capable.

Nano Matter offers a straightforward Zigbee stack selection inside the Silicon Labs Arduino core.

ESP32-C6 offers Arduino Zigbee plus the deeper Espressif Zigbee SDK ecosystem.

If you already work with ESP32, C6 is usually easier to integrate into an existing codebase.

Which Is Better for Wi-Fi + Thread Experiments?

ESP32-C6 wins because Nano Matter has no Wi-Fi radio.

This is useful when comparing:

on identical hardware.

Which Is Better for Analog Projects?

Nano Matter has the stronger analog feature set because of its:

ESP32-C6 has a capable 12-bit ADC but no internal true DAC.

Which Is Better for a 12 V Embedded System?

Nano Matter is easier because its documented VIN range is:

ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 needs a regulated 5 V or 3.3 V supply.

Which Is Better for Maximum GPIO Access?

ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 is a larger breakout board and exposes most non-Flash GPIO.

Nano Matter compresses the system into the fixed Nano header footprint.

If physical size is not a concern and you want raw pin access, DevKitC-1 is easier.

Decision Table

Requirement	Better fit
Simplest Arduino Matter starting point	Nano Matter
Matter over Thread	Both
Matter over Wi-Fi	ESP32-C6
Thread	Both
Zigbee	Both
Wi-Fi 6	ESP32-C6
ESP-NOW	ESP32-C6
More RAM/Flash headroom	ESP32-C6 DevKitC-1
True DAC	Nano Matter
Wide 6-21 V VIN	Nano Matter
Compact Nano carrier format	Nano Matter
External antenna option	ESP32-C6-WROOM-1U DevKit
Maximum exposed GPIO	ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1
TWAI/CAN controller	ESP32-C6
Low-power Thread endpoint focus	Nano Matter
Multi-protocol experimentation	ESP32-C6

Quick Reference

Final Thoughts

Nano Matter and ESP32-C6 are both strong Matter/Thread development platforms, but they optimise for different things.

Choose Arduino Nano Matter when you want:

• a dedicated Matter/Thread platform;
• a very clean Arduino workflow;
• low-power IoT focus;
• true DAC hardware;
• wide VIN;
• compact Nano integration;
• Silicon Labs Secure Vault and protocol ecosystem.

Choose ESP32-C6 when you want:

• Matter over both Thread and Wi-Fi;
• Wi-Fi 6;
• ESP-NOW;
• Zigbee and Thread experimentation;
• more RAM and Flash;
• ESP-IDF / ESP-Matter access;
• more exposed GPIO;
• TWAI/CAN support;
• a board that can switch between normal ESP32 Wi-Fi projects and modern 802.15.4 projects.

The simplest decision rule is:

For detailed pinouts, see our Nano Matter pinout guide and ESP32-C6 DevKitC-1 pinout guide.