Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect vs ESP32-C6: Wi-Fi, BLE, PIO and Thread Compared

The Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect and ESP32-C6 are both capable wireless microcontroller platforms, but they represent almost opposite design philosophies.

Nano RP2040 Connect combines two separate processors:

ESP32-C6 integrates the application CPU and modern radio system into a single SoC:

The Nano’s defining strength is RP2040 PIO plus its rich onboard hardware: IMU, microphone, secure element and 16 MB Flash.

ESP32-C6’s defining strength is its modern multi-protocol radio architecture, especially native Thread/Matter and Wi-Fi 6.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Nano RP2040 Connect	ESP32-C6
Main application MCU	RP2040	ESP32-C6
Main CPU	Dual Cortex-M0+	32-bit RISC-V
Main clock	133 MHz	Up to 160 MHz
Low-power CPU	No separate LP core	20 MHz LP RISC-V core
SRAM	264 kB	512 kB + 16 kB LP SRAM
Flash	16 MB onboard QSPI	External Flash; common DevKitC-1 uses 8 MB
Wi-Fi	2.4 GHz via NINA-W102	Integrated 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth	Via NINA-W102	Integrated BLE
IEEE 802.15.4	No	Yes
Thread	No native Thread radio	Yes
Matter over Thread	No	Yes
Zigbee	No	Yes
ESP-NOW	Not a normal RP2040-side feature	Yes
PIO	2 blocks, 8 state machines	No RP2040-style PIO
ADC	4 native RP2040 ADC + 4 NINA-assisted analog inputs	12-bit ADC, up to 7 external channels depending on package/board
DAC	No true DAC	No true DAC
IMU	LSM6DSOX onboard	Board-dependent; not part of SoC
Microphone	MP34DT06J onboard	Board-dependent; not part of SoC
Security	ATECC608A + RP2040 platform	Secure boot, Flash encryption, eFuses, crypto hardware
2026 status	Arduino marks board End of Life	Current Espressif platform

The Architecture Difference Is Fundamental

Nano RP2040 Connect uses a two-chip wireless design.

The NINA-W102 is itself based on an ESP32-class processor, but in normal Nano RP2040 Connect use it behaves as a wireless coprocessor.

ESP32-C6 is much more integrated:

That integrated architecture gives ESP32-C6 direct access to its networking stacks without a separate wireless firmware layer.

CPU: RP2040 Dual-Core vs ESP32-C6 RISC-V

RP2040 provides:

ESP32-C6 provides:

The two architectures are difficult to compare by clock frequency alone.

RP2040’s dual cores are attractive for splitting deterministic workloads across two processors.

ESP32-C6’s faster modern RISC-V core and larger memory are better suited to complex networking, cryptography and RTOS-heavy IoT applications.

Memory: Nano Has More Flash, C6 Has More RAM

Nano RP2040 Connect includes:

ESP32-C6 contains:

and uses external Flash selected by the module/board manufacturer.

A common ESP32-C6-DevKitC-1 configuration provides:

So the Nano gives more onboard storage than many common C6 development boards, while ESP32-C6 gives significantly more working RAM.

Why RAM Matters for Wireless Workloads

Wireless applications consume RAM for:

• TCP/IP buffers;
• TLS;
• MQTT queues;
• Matter data structures;
• Thread networking;
• BLE services;
• JSON documents.

ESP32-C6’s larger SRAM therefore matters more than the modest clock-speed difference in many connected applications.

PIO Is the Nano’s Biggest Architectural Advantage

RP2040 contains:

PIO can implement custom digital protocols independently of the Cortex-M0+ cores.

Typical uses include:

• WS2812 / NeoPixel output;
• quadrature encoders;
• custom serial protocols;
• additional UARTs;
• unusual SPI modes;
• precise pulse capture;
• stepper timing;
• high-speed deterministic I/O.

ESP32-C6 Has No Direct PIO Equivalent

ESP32-C6 instead provides specialised peripherals such as:

• RMT;
• LEDC PWM;
• MCPWM;
• SPI;
• I²C;
• UART;
• I²S;
• TWAI;
• GPIO matrix routing.

These are powerful, but they are not the same as a tiny programmable state-machine subsystem.

If the project relies on an unusual protocol that PIO can implement elegantly, Nano RP2040 Connect can still be more attractive.

Wi-Fi: ESP32-C6 Is More Modern

Nano RP2040 Connect uses the NINA-W102 for 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.

ESP32-C6 integrates:

with backward compatibility for older 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks.

Wi-Fi 6 adds features such as:

• OFDMA;
• improved efficiency in busy networks;
• Target Wake Time support;
• modern IoT-oriented power-management features.

Bluetooth

Both platforms support Bluetooth Low Energy.

On Nano RP2040 Connect, BLE is provided by the NINA-W102 coprocessor.

On ESP32-C6, BLE is part of the integrated wireless subsystem.

This generally makes BLE development more direct on ESP32-C6, especially when combining BLE with Thread or Matter commissioning.

Thread Is the C6’s Biggest Wireless Advantage

ESP32-C6 integrates an:

which provides the hardware foundation for:

• Thread;
• Matter over Thread;
• Zigbee.

Nano RP2040 Connect has no 802.15.4 radio.

So it cannot become a native Thread endpoint without adding external radio hardware.

Matter over Thread in Current Arduino-ESP32

In the current Arduino-ESP32 core, ESP32-C6 supports Matter-over-Thread directly.

The Matter API can select Thread as the network transport:

This is a major difference from older ESP32-S3-class boards, which lack native 802.15.4.

Matter Is Not the Same as Thread

ESP32-C6 can participate in all three layers required for a Matter-over-Thread endpoint.

Zigbee

ESP32-C6 also supports Zigbee through Espressif’s current Zigbee stack.

Nano RP2040 Connect does not contain the required IEEE 802.15.4 radio.

For new smart-home development, this is a decisive platform difference.

ESP-NOW

ESP32-C6 supports:

for direct peer-to-peer ESP-family communication.

Nano RP2040 Connect’s NINA-W102 is based on ESP32 hardware, but ESP-NOW is not exposed as a normal RP2040-side feature through the standard WiFiNINA workflow.

Nano RP2040 Connect Has Far More Onboard Sensors

Arduino included:

• LSM6DSOX 6-axis IMU;
• MP34DT06J digital microphone;
• ATECC608A secure element;
• RGB LED;
• 16 MB Flash.

Most generic ESP32-C6 development boards include none of those sensors.

You add them externally as required.

IMU: LSM6DSOX

The Nano’s LSM6DSOX provides:

• 3-axis accelerometer;
• 3-axis gyroscope;
• embedded motion functions;
• machine-learning features.

This makes the Nano attractive for motion projects without adding any external sensor board.

Microphone

The onboard:

PDM microphone supports:

• audio classification;
• keyword spotting;
• sound-level monitoring;
• TinyML.

Again, a normal ESP32-C6 development board needs an external microphone.

ADC Architecture

Nano RP2040 Connect exposes eight Nano-style analog labels:

but only:

are native RP2040 ADC inputs.

The additional:

use the NINA-W102 analog path.

ESP32-C6 ADC

ESP32-C6 includes a 12-bit SAR ADC.

Espressif documents seven external ADC channels on:

for the common package configuration.

The exact pins exposed depend on the board.

No True DAC on Either Platform

Neither RP2040 nor ESP32-C6 includes a conventional voltage DAC.

For true analog output, both require:

• external DAC;
• PWM plus filtering;
• digital audio DAC/codec.

USB

Nano RP2040 Connect provides native RP2040 USB through Micro-USB.

ESP32-C6 provides native:

and many development boards expose this through USB-C.

ESP32-C6’s integrated JTAG path is especially convenient for debugging.

Debugging

ESP32-C6 has a stronger standard debugging story because USB Serial/JTAG is built into the SoC.

That gives direct access to:

• flashing;
• serial console;
• JTAG debugging.

Nano RP2040 Connect can be debugged through RP2040 SWD pads, but the normal Arduino workflow is more upload/serial oriented.

Security

Nano RP2040 Connect adds the:

secure element for protected key storage and cryptographic operations.

ESP32-C6 instead provides extensive SoC-level security including:

• secure boot;
• Flash encryption;
• eFuses;
• hardware cryptography;
• random-number generation;
• secure key storage mechanisms.

Both can support secure IoT designs, but their security architectures are different.

Power and Low-Power Design

Nano RP2040 Connect is a feature-rich development board with multiple onboard components.

That convenience comes with board-level power overhead from:

• NINA-W102;
• IMU;
• microphone;
• secure element;
• LEDs and regulation.

ESP32-C6 was designed specifically with modern low-power IoT in mind and includes a low-power RISC-V core plus low-power SRAM and peripherals.

Wi-Fi 6 Target Wake Time

ESP32-C6 supports Wi-Fi 6 features such as Target Wake Time.

This can reduce active radio time in compatible applications and infrastructure.

For battery-powered Wi-Fi nodes, this is a more modern foundation than the older NINA-W102 generation.

Arduino Software Ecosystem

Nano RP2040 Connect

The normal stack uses:

• Arduino Mbed core;
• WiFiNINA;
• ArduinoBLE;
• PDM;
• Arduino_LSM6DSOX;
• MicroPython.

ESP32-C6

The current ecosystem includes:

• Arduino-ESP32;
• WiFi;
• BLE;
• ESP-NOW;
• OpenThread;
• Matter;
• Zigbee;
• ESP-IDF;
• ESP-Matter.

For a new connected project, the C6 software ecosystem is broader and more actively aligned with current smart-home radio standards.

MicroPython

Nano RP2040 Connect has official Arduino-documented MicroPython support and a generous 16 MB Flash filesystem.

ESP32-C6 also has MicroPython support in the broader ESP32 ecosystem, but Nano RP2040 Connect’s large Flash remains attractive for Python-heavy storage needs.

Which Is Better for Custom I/O?

Nano RP2040 Connect wins when the project depends on:

• PIO;
• precise deterministic digital timing;
• custom serial protocols;
• non-standard bus decoding;
• extra software-defined peripherals.

Which Is Better for Smart Home?

ESP32-C6.

It directly supports the radio technologies that now matter most:

Nano RP2040 Connect can handle Wi-Fi/BLE IoT well, but it cannot become a native Thread/Zigbee node by itself.

Which Is Better for TinyML Sensor Projects?

Nano RP2040 Connect has a strong out-of-box advantage because it already includes:

• IMU;
• microphone;
• 16 MB Flash.

ESP32-C6 has more RAM and a faster main CPU, but the required sensors must normally be added externally.

Which Is Better for Wireless Flexibility?

ESP32-C6 wins decisively.

The same chip can support:

• normal Wi-Fi IoT;
• BLE peripherals;
• ESP-NOW;
• Thread endpoints;
• Matter-over-Thread;
• Zigbee devices.

Which Is Better for a Long-Term New Product?

ESP32-C6 is easier to justify because Nano RP2040 Connect is now listed by Arduino as:

The Nano remains useful for existing deployments and hobby projects, but EOL status matters for:

• future availability;
• production sourcing;
• new PCB designs;
• long-lived commercial products.

Which Is Better for Existing Nano RP2040 Projects?

If you already depend on:

• Nano carrier boards;
• WiFiNINA;
• LSM6DSOX;
• PDM microphone;
• PIO code;

staying on Nano RP2040 Connect may be much simpler than redesigning around ESP32-C6.

Migration Considerations

Moving from Nano RP2040 Connect to ESP32-C6 requires review of:

• pin assignments;
• 3.3 V power rails;
• WiFiNINA code;
• ArduinoBLE code;
• PIO-dependent functionality;
• onboard IMU/microphone replacements;
• Flash/storage assumptions;
• USB/debug workflow.

High-level Arduino APIs such as:

are the easiest parts to move.

Decision Table

Requirement	Better fit
RP2040 PIO	Nano RP2040 Connect
Onboard IMU	Nano RP2040 Connect
Onboard microphone	Nano RP2040 Connect
16 MB onboard Flash	Nano RP2040 Connect
Dedicated ATECC608A	Nano RP2040 Connect
Wi-Fi 6	ESP32-C6
Native Thread	ESP32-C6
Matter over Thread	ESP32-C6
Zigbee	ESP32-C6
ESP-NOW	ESP32-C6
More SRAM	ESP32-C6
Integrated USB/JTAG	ESP32-C6
Modern smart-home platform	ESP32-C6
Existing Nano carrier compatibility	Nano RP2040 Connect
New long-term design	ESP32-C6

Quick Reference

Final Thoughts

Nano RP2040 Connect remains an unusual and capable board because it combines:

• RP2040 PIO;
• 16 MB Flash;
• Wi-Fi/Bluetooth through NINA;
• an IMU;
• a microphone;
• a secure element.

For deterministic custom I/O or self-contained TinyML sensor projects, those features still make it useful.

ESP32-C6 is the stronger foundation for a new wireless product because its radio architecture is much more current.

It combines:

• Wi-Fi 6;
• BLE;
• Thread;
• Matter-over-Thread;
• Zigbee;
• ESP-NOW;
• larger SRAM;
• integrated USB/JTAG.

The simplest decision rule in 2026 is:

For detailed pinouts, see our Nano RP2040 Connect pinout guide and ESP32-C6 DevKitC-1 pinout guide.