Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi vs Portenta H7: Same STM32H747, Very Different Boards

The Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi and Arduino Portenta H7 look like very different boards, but underneath they are remarkably closely related.

Both are built around the:

Both also provide:

The important difference is not raw processor performance.

It is how Arduino packages the same high-end MCU platform.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi	Arduino Portenta H7
Main MCU	STM32H747XI	STM32H747XI
Main CPU	Cortex-M7 up to 480 MHz	Cortex-M7 up to 480 MHz
Second CPU	Cortex-M4 up to 240 MHz	Cortex-M4 up to 240 MHz
Internal Flash	2 MB	2 MB
Internal RAM	1 MB	1 MB
External Flash	16 MB QSPI NOR	16 MB NOR
External SDRAM	8 MB	8 MB
Logic voltage	3.3 V	3.3 V
Digital I/O	76 GPIO	Up to 78 via high-density connectors
Analog inputs	12	8 via high-density connectors
DAC	2	STM32H747 DAC available through board pinout
UART	4	Multiple UART, including 4 listed in current Portenta specifications
Wi-Fi	2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n	2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth	BLE supported	Bluetooth Classic + BLE support documented by Arduino
Ethernet PHY	No onboard Ethernet PHY	10/100 Ethernet PHY
USB	USB-C peripheral + USB-A host	Multipurpose USB-C
DisplayPort	No USB-C DisplayPort output	Yes
Li-Po charger	No integrated battery charger	Yes, single-cell Li-Po
Camera connector	Dedicated onboard 20-pin connector	Available through Portenta expansion ecosystem
Audio jack	3.5 mm onboard	No equivalent onboard 3.5 mm jack
GPIO connector style	2.54 mm headers + dedicated connectors	MKR-style + two 80-pin high-density connectors
Industrial temperature	General-purpose maker/prototyping positioning	-40 °C to +85 °C documented

Same Processor, Same Raw CPU Performance

At the heart of both boards is exactly the same MCU family:

with:

So a simple CPU benchmark should not be the deciding factor between GIGA and Portenta H7.

Both start from essentially the same computational foundation.

Both Boards Can Run the Two Cores Independently

The dual-core architecture lets you split an application such as:

Arduino uses an RPC mechanism to let the two cores communicate.

On GIGA, this workflow is exposed very clearly through:

Portenta H7 uses the same fundamental STM32H747 dual-core concept.

Memory Is Also Extremely Similar

Both platforms provide approximately the same high-level memory resources:

This gives both boards enough memory for applications such as:

• large graphics buffers;
• camera frames;
• audio processing;
• MicroPython;
• TensorFlow Lite / embedded ML;
• large networking stacks;
• advanced HMIs.

GIGA’s Main Advantage: Accessible Prototyping

The GIGA R1 WiFi was deliberately designed around the familiar:

with standard:

and a huge number of signals exposed directly.

This makes it very easy to use with:

• breadboards;
• jumper wires;
• oscilloscope probes;
• logic analysers;
• custom Mega/Due-style shields;
• bench prototypes.

GIGA Exposes 76 GPIO

Arduino specifies:

with the major groups arranged as:

This makes the board particularly attractive when the application needs a lot of physical I/O without a custom carrier board.

Portenta Uses High-Density Connectors

Portenta H7 follows a different philosophy.

It has:

on the underside.

These expose the advanced MCU interfaces while keeping the board physically compact.

That is excellent for:

• carrier boards;
• industrial products;
• compact systems;
• production designs;
• modular upgrades.

It is less convenient for a quick jumper-wire prototype.

Portenta Is Much Smaller

Portenta H7 is approximately:

while GIGA is approximately:

Portenta therefore packages essentially the same main MCU and memory class into a much smaller footprint.

That Compactness Comes with a Connector Trade-Off

On GIGA:

On Portenta:

This is why Arduino itself positions GIGA as the more accessible prototyping option and Portenta as the more production-oriented platform.

Portenta H7 Has Onboard Ethernet PHY

The standard Portenta H7 includes:

with Ethernet signals available through the expansion connector ecosystem.

This is a major advantage for:

• industrial networking;
• wired control systems;
• reliable fixed installations;
• systems where Wi-Fi is undesirable.

GIGA Does Not Include an Onboard Ethernet PHY

GIGA has excellent:

connectivity, but wired Ethernet requires additional hardware.

Portenta H7 Adds Li-Po Battery Support

Portenta includes support for a:

with an integrated charging system.

Arduino currently specifies:

for the supported Li-Po configuration.

This makes Portenta easier to integrate into:

• portable instruments;
• battery-backed controllers;
• mobile robotics;
• field equipment.

GIGA Has No Equivalent Integrated Li-Po Charger

GIGA is primarily designed as a powered development/prototyping board.

For battery operation, you normally add an external:

• Li-Po charger;
• battery protection circuit;
• power-management stage.

GIGA Wins for Wide VIN

GIGA accepts:

which makes it convenient in:

• 12 V control systems;
• industrial prototypes;
• automotive-style bench systems;
• machine panels.

Portenta’s main power architecture is designed around:

rather than a wide 6-24 V input.

Both Use the Murata 1DX Wireless Family

Both boards use the Murata 1DX wireless module family.

That gives them:

so wireless throughput is not a major reason to choose between them.

Bluetooth Stack Details Differ by Software

Arduino’s current Portenta H7 product documentation explicitly describes:

support.

GIGA documentation focuses primarily on BLE support through the current Arduino software stack.

Because the underlying radio hardware is closely related, the practical capability can depend on the firmware and Arduino library stack being used.

GIGA Has a Dedicated USB-A Host Port

GIGA includes:

This is very convenient for plugging in:

• keyboards;
• USB flash drives;
• HID devices.

Portenta H7 Uses a More Capable Multipurpose USB-C

Portenta’s USB-C connector can be used for:

• programming;
• power;
• USB device operation;
• USB hub functionality;
• OTG power;
• DisplayPort output.

This makes the Portenta USB-C interface more sophisticated, especially for embedded-computer-style applications.

Portenta Supports DisplayPort over USB-C

This is a major Portenta-specific feature.

The STM32H747 graphics system plus Portenta board routing can drive an external monitor through:

for suitable applications.

GIGA does not provide DisplayPort through its USB-C connector.

GIGA Uses a Dedicated Display Connector Instead

GIGA exposes high-speed display signals through its dedicated display connector.

This is designed to work with hardware such as the:

and is convenient for integrated embedded HMIs.

Graphics Hardware Is Fundamentally Shared

Because both boards use STM32H747, both benefit from the same underlying graphics-oriented MCU features such as:

• Chrom-ART acceleration;
• JPEG hardware;
• high-performance DMA;
• large external SDRAM support.

The main difference is how Arduino routes and exposes those capabilities.

Camera Connectivity

GIGA includes a:

directly on the board.

Arduino documents camera support including modules such as:

• OV7670;
• OV7675;
• GC2145;
• HM01B0.

Portenta can also support camera/vision projects, but normally through the Portenta expansion/carrier ecosystem rather than the same large onboard GIGA camera header.

GIGA Includes a 3.5 mm Audio Jack

The GIGA audio jack is connected to:

making it convenient for:

• audio synthesis;
• signal generation;
• DSP;
• microphone experiments.

Portenta H7 does not provide the same onboard 3.5 mm audio connector.

Both Support Advanced Security

GIGA includes:

as its dedicated secure element.

Portenta H7’s current standard configuration includes:

and current Arduino material also identifies Microchip secure-element hardware in the Portenta ecosystem.

Portenta’s security architecture is more explicitly aimed at:

• industrial deployment;
• secure identity;
• credential protection;
• production devices.

Portenta Has Industrial Temperature Positioning

Arduino specifies Portenta H7 for approximately:

operating temperature.

This supports its positioning for:

• industrial machinery;
• laboratory equipment;
• robotics controllers;
• mission-critical devices;
• production embedded systems.

GIGA Is Positioned More Toward Advanced Prototyping

GIGA is extremely capable, but the design emphasises:

• accessible headers;
• maker/prototyping workflow;
• large I/O count;
• easy attachment of displays/cameras;
• bench development.

That makes it an excellent engineering prototype board even when the final product may later use a Portenta-class module.

GIGA Is Easier to Probe

For development work, this matters more than it sounds.

On GIGA you can directly attach:

• oscilloscope probes;
• logic analyser clips;
• jumper wires;
• temporary sensors;
• prototype boards.

Portenta’s high-density connectors usually make a carrier or breakout board more desirable.

Portenta Is Easier to Integrate into a Product

The opposite is true once the design matures.

A compact module with high-density connectors can be mounted onto a custom carrier that contains:

• power supply;
• field connectors;
• Ethernet jack;
• isolated I/O;
• industrial transceivers;
• application-specific hardware.

This is a more production-friendly architecture than embedding a full Mega-sized development board.

GPIO Count

GIGA lists:

Portenta’s current documentation identifies:

available through the high-density connector system.

The headline numbers are close.

What differs is accessibility.

GIGA GPIO Is Easier to Access

GIGA:

Portenta:

For lab prototyping, GIGA usually feels much more like a conventional Arduino.

Analogue Inputs

GIGA exposes:

while current Portenta H7 documentation lists:

through the high-density connectors.

So GIGA is more convenient when the design needs many directly accessible analogue channels.

Both Have Advanced STM32H7 ADC Hardware

The underlying STM32H747 provides far more sophisticated analogue conversion than a traditional AVR Arduino.

Both platforms can benefit from:

• higher-resolution ADC modes;
• DMA;
• advanced triggering;
• high sampling rates.

The exact Arduino API exposure depends on the board core and application.

Which Is Better for Breadboard Prototyping?

GIGA R1 WiFi.

Its:

make it easier to wire directly.

Which Is Better for a Custom Production Carrier?

Portenta H7.

Its:

fit that use case better.

Which Is Faster?

Neither has a meaningful inherent CPU advantage.

Both use the same:

Application performance will instead depend on:

• software;
• memory use;
• peripheral architecture;
• board-specific I/O;
• how the two cores are divided.

Which Has More RAM?

Effectively a draw at the headline board level:

on both standard configurations.

Which Is Better for Wired Ethernet?

Portenta H7.

Its standard configuration includes a:

accessible through the expansion system.

Which Is Better for Wi-Fi?

Broadly a draw in radio hardware class.

Both use Murata 1DX-based wireless connectivity and support 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n.

Which Is Better for USB Host?

Both can support host functionality.

GIGA makes it physically straightforward with a dedicated:

Portenta routes more roles through its multipurpose USB-C architecture.

Which Is Better for an External Monitor?

Portenta H7.

Its USB-C can expose:

which GIGA’s USB-C does not.

Which Is Better for an Embedded Touch HMI?

Both can do excellent HMI work.

GIGA is particularly convenient with:

while Portenta is better suited to custom embedded-display/carrier architectures.

Which Is Better for Battery Operation?

Portenta H7.

The integrated single-cell Li-Po charging architecture gives it a clear advantage.

Which Is Better for 12 V or 24 V Input?

GIGA.

Its:

is much easier to integrate into common control-system supply rails.

Which Is Better for Audio Prototyping?

GIGA.

The onboard 3.5 mm jack makes DAC/microphone experiments considerably easier.

Which Is Better for Industrial Deployment?

Portenta H7 is the more purpose-built platform.

Its architecture is explicitly aimed at:

• industrial machinery;
• robotics;
• production devices;
• custom carrier boards;
• harsh-temperature environments.

Which Is Better for Learning STM32H747?

GIGA is usually easier.

You get essentially the same processor power while retaining:

• large Arduino headers;
• easy probing;
• direct access to lots of GPIO;
• simple camera/display connectors.

A Sensible Development Path

For some commercial projects, a useful workflow is:

This is not mandatory, but the shared STM32H747 architecture makes the two boards natural relatives.

Decision Table

Requirement	Better fit
Easy jumper-wire prototyping	GIGA R1 WiFi
2.54 mm headers	GIGA R1 WiFi
12 analog inputs	GIGA R1 WiFi
Dedicated USB-A host socket	GIGA R1 WiFi
Onboard audio jack	GIGA R1 WiFi
Direct camera connector	GIGA R1 WiFi
6-24 V VIN	GIGA R1 WiFi
Compact module	Portenta H7
Production carrier boards	Portenta H7
High-density connectors	Portenta H7
Onboard Ethernet PHY	Portenta H7
Li-Po charging	Portenta H7
DisplayPort over USB-C	Portenta H7
Industrial temperature range	Portenta H7
480 MHz M7	Both
240 MHz M4	Both
8 MB SDRAM	Both
16 MB external Flash	Both
Wi-Fi	Both

Quick Reference

Final Thoughts

GIGA R1 WiFi and Portenta H7 are much closer technically than their appearance suggests.

They share the same fundamental compute platform:

So the choice is mainly about physical integration.

Choose GIGA R1 WiFi when you want:

• easy prototyping;
• large 2.54 mm headers;
• lots of directly accessible GPIO;
• USB-A host;
• audio jack;
• camera/display connectors;
• wide VIN.

Choose Portenta H7 when you want:

• compact size;
• custom carrier-board integration;
• Ethernet PHY;
• Li-Po charging;
• DisplayPort over USB-C;
• industrial temperature capability;
• a production-oriented module architecture.

The simplest way to think about the pair is:

For detailed GIGA pin mapping, see our Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi pinout guide. For practical dual-core programming, see our GIGA R1 M7/M4 dual-core guide.