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

The Arduino Portenta H7 and Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi are built around almost the same high-performance computing platform, but they are designed for very different kinds of projects.

Both use:

So this is not really a processor-performance comparison.

The real question is:

Quick Comparison

Feature	Portenta H7	GIGA R1 WiFi
Main MCU	STM32H747XI	STM32H747XI
Cortex-M7	Up to 480 MHz	Up to 480 MHz
Cortex-M4	Up to 240 MHz	Up to 240 MHz
Internal Flash	2 MB	2 MB
Internal RAM	1 MB	1 MB
External SDRAM	8 MB	8 MB
External Flash	16 MB NOR	16 MB NOR
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth	Murata 1DX	Murata 1DX
Logic voltage	3.3 V	3.3 V
Form factor	Portenta / MKR + dual HDC	Mega/Due-style
Board size	66.04 × 25.40 mm	101 × 53 mm
Accessible digital I/O	High-density carrier architecture	76 GPIOs on accessible headers/connectors
Analog inputs	8 via HDC architecture	12
User DAC outputs	1 directly exposed in standard Arduino mapping	2
CAN	Yes, transceiver required	Yes, transceiver required
Ethernet	10/100 PHY onboard, connector via carrier	No onboard Ethernet PHY/RJ45; add shield/module
USB-C	Device/host, DisplayPort-capable	Programming/device/HID
USB-A host	Via carrier / USB-C architecture	Dedicated onboard USB-A host
Audio jack	No onboard 3.5 mm jack	Yes
Li-Po support	Integrated battery connector/charger	No equivalent onboard Li-Po system
VIN	Regulated approximately 5 V	6-24 V
Best physical use	Embedded/carrier/production	Bench prototyping and large I/O projects

Same STM32H747 Dual-Core Processor

Both boards use the:

with:

For raw MCU performance, neither board has a meaningful advantage.

Same Core Memory Resources

Both boards provide:

This makes both suitable for:

• large Arduino applications;
• MicroPython;
• graphics;
• camera buffering;
• machine-learning inference;
• networking;
• large data structures.

Same Wireless Module Family

Both use the:

for:

So neither board should be chosen simply because one is expected to have dramatically faster Wi-Fi.

The Biggest Difference Is the Form Factor

Portenta H7 is compact:

and designed as a module that plugs into a carrier board.

GIGA R1 WiFi is much larger:

and uses the familiar:

Portenta H7 Is a System-on-Module

The Portenta design philosophy is:

The board exposes most advanced signals through two:

on the underside.

This keeps the module compact while allowing a custom carrier to expose only the interfaces required by the final product.

GIGA R1 WiFi Exposes Everything for Prototyping

Arduino designed GIGA to make STM32H747 features easier to reach without designing a carrier PCB.

It provides:

on a board that can sit directly on a bench.

GIGA Is Better for Dupont Wires and Breadboard-Style Development

If a project needs:

• many loose wires;
• logic analyser clips;
• multiple sensors;
• temporary prototypes;
• standard shields;

the GIGA layout is much easier to work with.

Portenta Is Better for Compact Embedded Hardware

If the final product needs:

• small physical size;
• board-to-board connectors;
• custom carrier PCB;
• industrial enclosure;
• repeatable production assembly;

Portenta H7 is the more natural mechanical architecture.

Digital I/O

GIGA R1 WiFi explicitly exposes:

through accessible headers and dedicated connectors.

Portenta H7 exposes a smaller conventional MKR-style top header, while its much larger I/O set lives on the high-density connectors.

Analogue Inputs

GIGA provides:

on the board.

Portenta H7 exposes:

on the standard side header plus:

through the high-density system.

DAC Outputs

GIGA exposes both STM32H747 DAC channels:

and routes them conveniently to its audio/analogue system.

Portenta’s normal Arduino mapping exposes:

as the directly accessible DAC output.

GIGA Has a 3.5 mm Audio Jack

One of GIGA’s most useful built-in features is the:

connected to:

• DAC outputs;
• analogue microphone input;
• audio circuitry.

This makes audio experiments far easier than on Portenta H7.

Portenta Uses Carrier-Level Audio Interfaces

Portenta H7 exposes digital audio and analogue signals through its high-density connectors.

A carrier board can therefore provide:

• codec;
• headphone output;
• microphones;
• I2S/SAI peripherals.

but these are not built into the module as a convenient 3.5 mm socket.

USB Architecture

Both have USB-C, but they use it differently.

Portenta H7 USB-C

Portenta’s USB-C can support:

• programming;
• USB device mode;
• USB host/OTG operation;
• DisplayPort output;
• power delivery to connected devices under supported conditions.

GIGA USB-C

GIGA uses USB-C for:

• programming;
• serial communication;
• USB HID;
• board power.

GIGA Adds a Dedicated USB-A Host Port

GIGA also has:

directly on the board.

This makes it easy to connect:

• USB flash drives;
• keyboards;
• mice;
• compatible USB peripherals.

Portenta Has Onboard 10/100 Ethernet PHY

Portenta H7 includes an:

with Ethernet signals routed through the high-density connector.

A carrier board supplies the:

• RJ45 socket;
• magnetics;
• mechanical connector.

GIGA Does Not Include the Same Native Ethernet Hardware

GIGA can use Ethernet through:

• Arduino Ethernet Shield Rev2;
• other compatible Ethernet hardware;
• external SPI Ethernet controllers.

But Ethernet is not built into the board at the same level as Portenta H7.

CAN Bus

Both boards provide a:

but both require an external physical CAN transceiver.

The MCU pins are:

not:

Camera Support

Both boards support cameras, but the mechanical interfaces differ.

GIGA

GIGA includes a dedicated:

for compatible modules such as:

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

depending on library and adapter support.

Portenta

Portenta exposes its camera interface through the high-density carrier architecture.

The Portenta Vision Shield is a common way to add a camera.

Display Support

GIGA provides a dedicated display connector used by the:

with high-speed display signals exposed directly on the board.

Portenta H7 exposes:

through its high-density connector and can also provide:

through USB-C.

GIGA Is Easier for Maker Displays

GIGA’s display ecosystem is designed for quick physical connection.

Portenta’s display architecture is more suitable for:

• custom carrier boards;
• integrated HMIs;
• compact commercial products.

Power Input Is Very Different

GIGA has a very flexible:

input.

This is convenient in:

• industrial benches;
• 12 V systems;
• 24 V control cabinets;
• robotics prototypes.

Portenta Expects a Regulated 5 V-Class Input

Portenta H7 expects approximately:

through its VIN/USB power architecture.

Do not feed it 12 V or 24 V directly just because GIGA accepts those voltages.

Portenta Includes Li-Po Battery Support

Portenta H7 includes:

which makes it much more convenient for:

• portable embedded products;
• battery-backed devices;
• mobile instrumentation.

GIGA Does Not Have the Same Battery Architecture

GIGA provides:

for keeping its real-time clock alive, but it is not a replacement for Portenta’s integrated Li-Po system.

Shield Compatibility

GIGA follows the large:

shield geometry.

Arduino lists compatible examples including:

• Ethernet Shield Rev2;
• Motor Shield Rev3;
• 4 Relays Shield;
• 9 Axis Motion Shield.

The important electrical condition is that the shield must support:

Portenta Uses Carriers Instead of Traditional Shields

Portenta’s ecosystem includes carrier boards such as:

• Portenta Breakout;
• Portenta Max Carrier;
• Portenta Mid Carrier;
• Portenta Hat Carrier;
• Portenta Machine Control.

This is much closer to an embedded-module architecture than a classic Arduino shield stack.

Secure Hardware

GIGA includes a:

secure element.

Current Portenta H7 configurations include stronger professional security hardware such as:

and board revisions/configurations may also include Microchip secure-device support.

Both platforms are therefore suitable for authenticated connected products, but the security architecture differs.

Industrial Temperature and Production Use

Portenta H7 is positioned as an industrial module and Arduino documents operation over:

for the Portenta H7 family.

The high-density board-to-board connectors and compact module format also make it far easier to integrate into:

• production PCBs;
• DIN-rail products;
• industrial HMIs;
• embedded controllers.

GIGA Is Designed for Accessible Development

GIGA’s strengths are almost the opposite:

• large headers;
• easy oscilloscope access;
• easy jumper-wire access;
• USB-A host onboard;
• audio jack onboard;
• camera/display connectors;
• wide VIN range.

Dual-Core Programming

Both boards can run the:

cores independently and exchange data between them.

Typical partition:

MicroPython

Both platforms can run MicroPython.

The STM32H747 plus:

gives considerably more headroom than small MCU boards.

Which Is Better for Prototyping?

For bench work, GIGA is normally easier because:

are available without designing another PCB.

Which Is Better for a Compact Product?

Portenta H7 is the more natural fit because:

is specifically designed for embedded integration.

Which Is Better for Ethernet?

Portenta H7 has the stronger native architecture because it already includes a:

and only needs the carrier-side physical connector/magnetics.

GIGA normally needs a separate Ethernet shield or module.

Which Is Better for USB Host?

GIGA is easier for quick experiments because the:

is already fitted.

Portenta is more flexible in embedded products but usually relies on its USB-C/carrier architecture.

Which Is Better for Audio?

GIGA is easier because it exposes:

directly.

Portenta can implement sophisticated audio through its carrier interfaces, but requires more external hardware.

Which Is Better for Battery Power?

Portenta H7 because it includes:

Which Is Better for 12 V or 24 V Input?

GIGA.

Its:

is much more convenient in industrial prototypes.

Which Is Better for Shields?

GIGA if the project uses:

form-factor shields.

Portenta if the project uses:

Decision Table

Requirement	Better fit
Raw CPU performance	Essentially the same
RAM / external SDRAM	Essentially the same
Compact production module	Portenta H7
Carrier-board integration	Portenta H7
Native 10/100 Ethernet PHY	Portenta H7
Li-Po charging	Portenta H7
Large accessible GPIO count	GIGA R1 WiFi
2.54 mm headers	GIGA R1 WiFi
USB-A host socket	GIGA R1 WiFi
3.5 mm audio jack	GIGA R1 WiFi
12/24 V-friendly VIN	GIGA R1 WiFi
Mega/Due-style shields	GIGA R1 WiFi
Fast bench prototyping	GIGA R1 WiFi
Mass-production integration	Portenta H7

Quick Reference

Final Thoughts

Portenta H7 and GIGA R1 WiFi have nearly identical processing power.

The distinction is not:

It is:

Choose Portenta H7 when the final hardware needs:

• compact size;
• custom carrier PCB;
• integrated Ethernet PHY;
• Li-Po charging;
• industrial integration;
• high-density board-to-board connectors.

Choose GIGA R1 WiFi when development benefits from:

• 76 accessible GPIOs;
• 2.54 mm headers;
• 12 analogue inputs;
• two DAC outputs;
• USB-A host;
• audio jack;
• camera/display connectors;
• 6-24 V VIN;
• Mega/Due shield compatibility.

For detailed Portenta mappings, see our Arduino Portenta H7 pinout guide. For detailed GIGA wiring, see our Arduino GIGA R1 WiFi pinout guide.