---

Bosch Sensortec is the leader in environmental sensing for IoT, and their BMP/BME sensors are used everywhere—from drones and weather stations to air-quality monitors and smart-home automation.
Although many modules look identical, each generation offers different capabilities, accuracy improvements, and target applications.

This guide compares every BMP and BME sensor, explains their capabilities, and helps you choose the right one for your ESP32AliExpress price or Arduino project.

---

1. Overview of the BMP/BME Sensor Families

Bosch environmental sensors are divided into two families:

✅ BMP Series (Pressure + Temperature)

Designed primarily for barometric pressure and altitude measurement.
Used in drones, phones, and weather stations.

✅ BME Series (Pressure + Temperature + Humidity + Gas)

Multi-sensor environmental units, suitable for air-quality and automation.

---

2. Full Sensor List

Series	Sensors	Measurements
BMP	BMP085AliExpress price, BMP180, BMP280AliExpress price, BMP380, BMP388	Temp + Pressure
BME	BME280, BME680, BME688	Temp + Pressure + Humidity (+ Gas on 680/688)

---

3. Key Specifications Table (All Sensors)

3.1 High-Level Feature Comparison

Sensor	Temp	Humidity	Pressure	Gas (VOC)	AI Gas	Interface	Notes
BMP085AliExpress price	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	I²C	First-gen, obsolete
BMP180	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	I²C	Very common, accurate for altitude
BMP280AliExpress price	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	I²C/SPI	Low power, highly stable
BMP380	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	I²C/SPI	Newer, higher precision
BMP388	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	I²C/SPI	Highest accuracy pressure sensor
BME280	✔	✔	✔	❌	❌	I²C/SPI	Best all-round sensor
BME680	✔	✔	✔	✔	❌	I²C/SPI	VOC gas sensor (IAQ)
BME688	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	I²C/SPI	ML-based gas detection

---

4. Detailed Sensor Comparison

---

4.1 BMP Series (Pressure-Only Sensors)

4.1.1 BMP085

• Year: 2006
• Accuracy: ±2 hPa
• Interface: I²C
• Power: 12 μA

Obsolete but historically important.

---

4.1.2 BMP180

• Most common early BMP due to low cost and solid accuracy
• Pin-compatible with BMP085

Specs:

Parameter	Value
Pressure accuracy	±0.12 hPa
Altitude error	±1 m
Temp accuracy	±1.0°C
Interface	I²C

Good for drones and indoor altitude measurements.

---

4.1.3 BMP280

The successor to BMP180, with lower noise and optional SPI.

Parameter	Value
Pressure accuracy	±1 hPa
Altitude error	±1 m
Temp accuracy	±1.0°C
Interface	I²C / SPI

Used in many “BME280 clones” because the packages look identical.
⚠ If you buy a very cheap “BME280,” it is often a BMP280 with no humidity sensor.

---

4.1.4 BMP380

A newer pressure sensor with higher accuracy and lower noise.

Parameter	Value
Pressure accuracy	±0.08 hPa
Altitude error	±0.5 m
Interface	I²C / SPI

More stable over temperature compared to older BMPs.

---

4.1.5 BMP388

Highest precision pressure sensor in the BMP family.

Parameter	Value
Pressure accuracy	±0.08 hPa
Altitude error	±0.5 m
Temp accuracy	±0.5°C
Noise level	Extremely low
Interface	I²C / SPI

Used in:

• Drones
• Altimeters
• High-resolution weather stations

---

4.2 BME Series (Humidity + Pressure + Temperature + Gas)

---

4.2.1 BME280 — The Popular All-Rounder

One of the most widely used sensors in IoT and Home Assistant.

Parameter	Value
Temp accuracy	±1.0°C
Humidity accuracy	±3% RH
Pressure accuracy	±1 hPa
Interface	I²C / SPI
Power use	Very low

Why it’s so popular:

• Reliable
• Accurate enough for weather stations
• Cheap
• Easy to use with ESP32/Arduino

---

4.2.2 BME680 — VOC Gas Sensor Added

Same as BME280 plus gas sensor.

Parameter	Value
Temp accuracy	±1.0°C
Humidity	±3%
Pressure	±1 hPa
Gas	VOC resistance sensor
CO₂ estimate	Software-derived
Power	Medium

The gas sensor outputs:

• VOC index
• IAQ score (0–500)
• CO₂ equivalent (pseudo-calculated)
• Breath VOC score

Perfect for:

• Home ventilation systems
• Air quality monitoring
• Smart HVAC

Not ideal for real CO₂ measurement (not NDIR).

---

4.2.3 BME688 — AI Gas Identification

An upgraded BME680 with AI gas classification.

Parameter	Value
Gas	VOC + gas signatures
AI Capability	✔ ML model training
Humidity	±3%
Pressure	±1 hPa
Temp	±1°C

You can train the sensor to detect:

• Coffee
• Alcohol vapors
• Smoke
• Food spoilage gases
• Custom profiles

Best for:

• Air-quality appliances
• Odour classification
• Detection of dangerous gases (non-toxic levels)
• Advanced automation systems

---

5. Accuracy Summary Table

Sensor	Temperature	Humidity	Pressure	Gas Accuracy
BMP085	±2°C	❌	~±2 hPa	❌
BMP180	±1°C	❌	±0.12 hPa	❌
BMP280	±1°C	❌	±1 hPa	❌
BMP380	±0.5°C	❌	±0.08 hPa	❌
BMP388	±0.5°C	❌	±0.08 hPa	❌
BME280	±1°C	±3%	±1 hPa	❌
BME680	±1°C	±3%	±1 hPa	IAQ (moderate)
BME688	±1°C	±3%	±1 hPa	IAQ + AI classification

---

6. Use-Case Recommendations

Best for Weather Stations

• BME280 → full environmental data
• BMP388 → high-precision pressure

Best for Home Assistant Automation

• BME280
• BME680 (if air quality needed)

Best for Air-Quality Monitoring

• BME680
• BME688 (AI-based, most advanced)

Best for Drones / Altimeters

• BMP388
• BMP380

Best for Low-Power Battery Sensors

• BMP280
• BME280

Best for Gas Classification / AI

• BME688

---

7. Which Sensor Should You Choose?

If you need humidity → BME280

Cheap, accurate, reliable.

If you need gas / air quality → BME680

VOC + IAQ + CO₂ estimate.

If you need AI gas recognition → BME688

Machine-learning profiles.

If you need best altitude accuracy → BMP388

If you need cheapest basic pressure → BMP180 or BMP280

---

8. Final Summary Table (All Sensors)

Sensor	T	H	P	Gas	AI	Best Use
BMP085	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	Legacy pressure
BMP180	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	Cheap pressure/altitude
BMP280	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	Battery pressure sensors
BMP380	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	Precision pressure
BMP388	✔	❌	✔	❌	❌	Drones, altimeters
BME280	✔	✔	✔	❌	❌	Weather stations, indoor sensing
BME680	✔	✔	✔	✔	❌	IAQ, ventilation control
BME688	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	AI smell detection, smart appliances