Arduino Nano ESP32 vs ESP32-S3 DevKitC-1: Which S3 Board Is Better?

The Arduino Nano ESP32 and ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 are both built around the ESP32-S3 platform.

At chip level, they share the same basic strengths:

• dual-core Xtensa LX7 CPU up to 240 MHz;
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi;
• Bluetooth Low Energy;
• native USB;
• USB/JTAG debugging;
• 12-bit ADC;
• flexible GPIO matrix;
• LEDC PWM;
• ESP-NOW;
• vector instructions for signal-processing/AI workloads.

But the boards are aimed at very different users.

The better board therefore depends much more on packaging and I/O requirements than on CPU performance.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Arduino Nano ESP32	ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1
Main module	u-blox NORA-W106-10B	ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 / 1U / 2
Main SoC	ESP32-S3	ESP32-S3
CPU	Dual-core Xtensa LX7, up to 240 MHz	Dual-core Xtensa LX7, up to 240 MHz
Logic voltage	3.3 V	3.3 V
Flash	16 MB	Current variants include 8 MB or 32 MB
PSRAM	8 MB Octal PSRAM	Current variants include 8 MB or 16 MB
Wi-Fi	2.4 GHz Wi-Fi	2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
Bluetooth	BLE 5-class	BLE 5-class
USB	Single USB-C native USB/JTAG path	USB-to-UART port + native ESP32-S3 USB port
User I/O exposure	Compact Nano subset	Most available module GPIO exposed
Antenna options	Integrated module antenna	PCB antenna or external-antenna 1U variant
Input power	USB-C or VIN 6-21 V	USB, 5 V pin or 3.3 V pin
MicroPython	Official Arduino support	Possible, but board is mainly a generic ESP32-S3 dev platform
Best fit	Compact finished projects and Nano carriers	Maximum GPIO access and ESP32-S3 experimentation

Same ESP32-S3, So Raw Processing Performance Is Similar

Both boards are based on the ESP32-S3.

That means both can provide:

If two boards have comparable Flash/PSRAM configuration and run the same code at the same CPU frequency, the processor itself is not the deciding factor.

The important differences are everything around that processor.

Nano ESP32 Uses the NORA-W106-10B

Arduino’s Nano ESP32 uses the u-blox:

which integrates the ESP32-S3 plus:

This means every standard Nano ESP32 has a predictable memory configuration.

DevKitC-1 Comes in Multiple Memory Variants

Espressif’s current ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 v1.1 documentation lists several variants.

Board variant	Module	Flash	PSRAM
N8R8	ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N8R8	8 MB	8 MB
N32R16V	ESP32-S3-WROOM-2-N32R16V	32 MB	16 MB
1U-N8R8	ESP32-S3-WROOM-1U-N8R8	8 MB	8 MB

This flexibility is one of the DevKitC-1’s strongest advantages.

Nano ESP32 Has More Flash Than the Common N8R8 DevKit

Compared with the common:

Nano ESP32 provides:

So Nano ESP32 actually gives you twice the Flash while retaining the same 8 MB PSRAM capacity.

But DevKitC-1 Can Go Much Bigger

The current N32R16V DevKitC-1 variant offers:

which exceeds Nano ESP32’s fixed memory configuration.

This is useful for:

• large LVGL framebuffers;
• camera applications;
• larger ML models;
• big filesystem partitions;
• large web applications;
• audio buffering.

DevKitC-1 Exposes Far More GPIO

This is the most important practical difference.

Nano ESP32 has to fit the traditional Nano footprint.

Its normal user header therefore provides:

for roughly 22 Nano-style signal positions.

The ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 instead breaks out most available GPIO from the module onto two long headers.

This makes the DevKit much better for projects that need:

• parallel RGB displays;
• camera buses;
• many relays;
• multiple SPI chip-select lines;
• many ADC inputs;
• large keypad matrices;
• many interrupt inputs;
• simultaneous UART/I²C/SPI buses.

Nano ESP32’s Pinout Is Easier to Read as an Arduino Board

The trade-off is that Nano ESP32 gives you familiar Arduino names:

which makes code look familiar to Arduino users.

DevKitC-1 exposes raw ESP32 GPIO names:

For experienced ESP32 developers, the raw numbering is often preferable because it maps directly to Espressif documentation.

Nano ESP32 Has a Pin-Numbering Trap

Nano ESP32 supports Arduino-style pin numbering as well as raw ESP32 GPIO numbering.

For example:

Using a bare numeric:

can mean something different depending on the selected Arduino IDE pin-numbering mode.

For portable Nano ESP32 code, use:

rather than bare integer constants.

DevKitC-1 Uses the ESP32 GPIO Number Directly

On DevKitC-1, the silkscreen label:

means:

which makes low-level ESP-IDF and Arduino-ESP32 documentation easier to follow.

GPIO Availability Depends on DevKit Memory Variant

More exposed pins does not mean every labelled GPIO is always free.

Espressif notes that on DevKitC-1 boards using Octal Flash/PSRAM:

are used internally for memory communication and are not available for external use.

This is especially important with:

• ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 Octal PSRAM variants;
• ESP32-S3-WROOM-2 variants.

Always check the exact module suffix before assigning these pins.

Nano ESP32 Hides Those Module-Level Details

Nano ESP32 presents a fixed supported board configuration.

You do not have to ask:

• which WROOM module is installed;
• whether GPIO35-37 are tied to Octal memory;
• whether the board has PCB or external antenna;
• which Flash/PSRAM suffix you bought.

That predictability is valuable for products and tutorials.

USB: Nano ESP32 Is Simpler

Nano ESP32 uses one USB-C connector connected into the native ESP32-S3 USB architecture.

That connector handles:

• programming;
• USB serial;
• power;
• USB device operation;
• USB/JTAG debugging.

DevKitC-1 Gives You Two USB Paths

Current ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 boards expose:

The USB-to-UART side includes a dedicated bridge chip.

The native USB port connects directly to the ESP32-S3 USB OTG peripheral.

Two USB Paths Are Excellent for Development

The DevKit arrangement is useful when you want:

• a stable serial console through the USB-UART bridge;
• native USB experiments on the second port;
• USB/JTAG debugging;
• recovery even when an experimental USB application is broken.

Nano ESP32 is physically cleaner but does not provide the same separate bridge-versus-native-port convenience.

USB Connector Type

Nano ESP32 uses:

Espressif’s standard DevKitC-1 v1.1 documentation still describes Micro-USB connections for the development board.

For a permanent enclosure or user-facing product, Nano ESP32’s USB-C connector is usually more convenient.

Power Input: Nano ESP32 Has a Wide VIN Range

Nano ESP32 supports:

through its onboard power architecture.

This makes it easy to power from:

• 9 V;
• 12 V;
• higher-voltage embedded rails within the documented range.

DevKitC-1 Is a 5 V / 3.3 V Development Board

Espressif documents three normal power methods:

• USB;
• 5 V pin;
• 3.3 V pin.

It does not provide a Nano-style wide-range 6-21 V VIN input.

If your project has a 12 V supply, DevKitC-1 normally needs an external regulator to produce 5 V or 3.3 V.

Nano ESP32 Is Better for Embedded Carrier Boards

The Nano form factor is narrow and compact.

It works well for:

• socketed daughterboards;
• breadboards;
• custom carrier PCBs;
• compact enclosures;
• finished embedded products.

The DevKitC-1 is primarily a development board rather than a compact module for permanent installation.

DevKitC-1 Is Better for the Workbench

The larger board gives you:

• many more header pins;
• easy oscilloscope/probe access;
• separate USB paths;
• BOOT and RESET buttons;
• clear raw GPIO numbering;
• more room around jumper wires.

For exploring the ESP32-S3 itself, those advantages matter.

Antenna Options

Nano ESP32 uses the integrated antenna of the NORA-W106 module.

ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 is available with:

• ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 using a PCB antenna;
• ESP32-S3-WROOM-1U using an external antenna connector;
• ESP32-S3-WROOM-2 variants.

If your enclosure or installation needs a remote/external antenna, the 1U DevKit variant is much more convenient.

RGB LED Differences

Nano ESP32 includes an onboard RGB LED with board-specific Arduino symbols.

DevKitC-1 also includes an addressable RGB LED, but its pin depends on hardware revision.

Espressif documents:

This is a good example of why board revision matters when copying DevKit pinout examples.

ADC Access

The ESP32-S3 has two 12-bit SAR ADC units.

Nano ESP32 exposes a convenient group of eight analog-labelled pins:

DevKitC-1 exposes more ADC-capable ESP32-S3 GPIO directly.

For projects requiring many analog channels, DevKitC-1 is therefore more flexible.

ADC2 and Wi-Fi

On both boards, ESP32-S3 ADC2 has more resource-sharing constraints than ADC1.

For analog measurements while Wi-Fi is active, prefer ADC1-capable pins where possible.

Nano ESP32 makes that particularly easy to remember:

No True DAC on Either Board

Because both boards use ESP32-S3:

For true analog output use:

• external I²C/SPI DAC;
• PWM plus low-pass filter;
• I²S DAC or audio codec.

PWM Is Essentially the Same Architecture

Both use the ESP32-S3 LEDC PWM peripheral.

PWM can be routed through the GPIO matrix to many suitable pins.

The DevKit exposes more possible outputs simply because more ESP32-S3 GPIO reaches its headers.

SPI, I²C and UART

ESP32-S3 peripheral routing is flexible on both boards.

Nano ESP32 provides Nano-compatible defaults:

DevKitC-1 gives you raw GPIO access and lets you choose peripheral routing more freely.

Which Board Is Better for Multiple Peripherals?

DevKitC-1 is usually easier when a project has:

• multiple displays;
• camera;
• SD card;
• several UART devices;
• many interrupt inputs;
• many chip selects;
• parallel interfaces.

Nano ESP32 can still handle substantial I/O, but the compact header exposes fewer physical signals.

MicroPython

Arduino explicitly supports MicroPython on Nano ESP32 and provides Nano-specific examples and documentation.

The board’s fixed:

configuration makes it a very comfortable MicroPython platform.

ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 can also run MicroPython, but the exact build and available memory need to match the particular module variant.

Arduino Cloud

Nano ESP32 is officially integrated into Arduino Cloud.

DevKitC-1 can of course connect to cloud services using standard ESP32 libraries, but it is not primarily sold as an Arduino Cloud board.

ESP-IDF Development

DevKitC-1 is the more natural reference board for pure ESP-IDF development because:

• Espressif documents it directly;
• GPIO names match the chip documentation;
• there are many exposed pins;
• module variants align with Espressif’s own ecosystem.

Nano ESP32 can also be used with ESP32 tooling, but the Arduino-specific pin layer and compact board mapping mean you must keep its board definition in mind.

Arduino IDE Development

Nano ESP32 is more beginner-friendly if you come from traditional Arduino boards.

You can think in:

instead of immediately memorising raw ESP32 GPIO numbers.

DevKitC-1 is often easier for experienced ESP32 developers because the board labels and code can use the same GPIO number directly.

Which Board Is Better for Displays?

For a small SPI display:

is perfectly capable.

For:

• large RGB parallel displays;
• camera + display combinations;
• many control pins;
• high GPIO-count HMI projects;

DevKitC-1 is easier because it exposes much more of the S3.

Which Board Is Better for Camera Projects?

The ESP32-S3 itself has excellent support for camera workloads.

The limitation on Nano ESP32 is physical pin exposure.

If your camera module requires many data/control signals, DevKitC-1 generally gives you more routing options.

For a purpose-built camera project, a dedicated ESP32-S3 camera board may be even better than either.

Which Board Is Better for Battery or Embedded Power?

Nano ESP32’s wide VIN input and compact format make integration into a finished embedded device easier.

DevKitC-1’s onboard USB-UART bridge and extra development circuitry are convenient on a desk but are not always desirable in a low-power finished product.

For serious low-power hardware, a custom ESP32-S3 module PCB will beat either development board.

Which Board Is Better for External Antennas?

DevKitC-1 wins because the:

variant uses an ESP32-S3-WROOM-1U with an external antenna connector.

Nano ESP32 does not offer that board-level antenna option.

Which Board Is Better for a Finished Product?

Nano ESP32 is easier when:

• the Nano footprint fits your carrier;
• 22-ish external signals are enough;
• 16 MB Flash + 8 MB PSRAM is enough;
• USB-C is desirable;
• wide VIN simplifies power;
• you want a socketable module-like development board.

DevKitC-1 is more appropriate when:

• this is still a development prototype;
• you need maximum GPIO access;
• you need an external antenna;
• you want to test multiple module-memory variants;
• dual USB paths matter.

Which Board Is Better for Learning ESP32-S3?

For learning Arduino on ESP32-S3:

is extremely friendly.

For learning the ESP32-S3 hardware itself:

is arguably better because it exposes more GPIO and uses Espressif’s raw naming conventions.

Software Portability Between the Two

High-level ESP32 code can usually move easily between them:

The main porting work is normally:

• changing pin definitions;
• checking Flash/PSRAM partition scheme;
• handling RGB LED differences;
• adjusting USB/Serial assumptions;
• removing Nano-specific pin names.

Nano ESP32 vs DevKitC-1 Decision Table

Requirement	Better fit
Smallest practical board	Nano ESP32
Nano carrier-board compatibility	Nano ESP32
USB-C	Nano ESP32
Wide 6-21 V VIN	Nano ESP32
Fixed 16 MB Flash + 8 MB PSRAM	Nano ESP32
Official Arduino MicroPython path	Nano ESP32
Maximum exposed GPIO	DevKitC-1
32 MB Flash / 16 MB PSRAM option	DevKitC-1
External antenna option	DevKitC-1U
Separate USB-UART and native USB	DevKitC-1
Raw GPIO labels	DevKitC-1
ESP-IDF hardware experimentation	DevKitC-1
Large parallel-I/O project	DevKitC-1

Quick Reference

Final Thoughts

The Arduino Nano ESP32 and ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 are not competing on CPU performance because both are ESP32-S3 boards.

They are competing on board design.

Choose Nano ESP32 when you want:

• a compact Nano footprint;
• USB-C;
• 16 MB Flash and 8 MB PSRAM without variant confusion;
• wide VIN input;
• Arduino-style pin names;
• easy MicroPython and Arduino Cloud support;
• a board that can move cleanly from breadboard to finished carrier.

Choose ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 when you want:

• far more exposed GPIO;
• raw ESP32 pin access;
• different Flash/PSRAM module options;
• external antenna support;
• separate USB-UART and native USB ports;
• a better bench platform for exploring the full ESP32-S3.

The simplest decision rule is:

For detailed pinouts, see our Arduino Nano ESP32 pinout guide and ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 pinout guide.