Advantages of ESP32
Before discussing this issue, we first need to outline the advantages of ESP32 compared to STM32. The ESP32 features a dual-core 240MHz processor, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth including low power Bluetooth, while most STM32 chips lack built-in wireless capabilities and rely on external devices for wireless communication, which is the main advantage of ESP32.
Thanks to its larger Flash memory, most ESP32s are developed using MicroPy or Arduino IDE, allowing programming in C++ or Python. This results in extremely rich community support, making it suitable for beginners and developers with lower programming skills, and AI programming can be effectively applied on ESP32.
Thus, rather than saying that ESP32 is a toy, it is more accurate to say that its development threshold is quite low; as long as one has a basic proficiency in C/C++ and is adept at using AI assistants, one can easily work with ESP32, making it an extremely versatile module.
Advantages of STM32
Compared to ESP32, STM32 has a certain technical threshold. Although most chips are single-core, they have incomparable advantages in traditional embedded control fields. STM32 also has rich community support, but it requires a certain ability to port driver code.
STM32’s hardware peripherals such as PWM, ADC, and DAC are far superior to those of ESP32; the distortion of ESP32’s PWM becomes significant beyond 200+KHZ, and the performance of its ADC peripherals is also weaker than that of STM32, which varies across different STM32 series.
The U series focuses on low-power products, the W series specializes in wireless communication (Bluetooth/Lora, etc.), and the G series boasts powerful analog peripherals, with its ADC and DAC, along with onboard operational amplifiers and comparators, demonstrating astonishing performance. (Recently recommended using the G4 series microcontroller by my advisor.)
The F series is a general-purpose series, making it more versatile in the absence of a specific application scenario. The H series is high-performance, with almost every H series supporting high refresh rates for screens and high frequencies for tasks, which can be greatly enhanced when paired with real-time operating systems.
Therefore, compared to ESP32, STM32 has a broader application field and stronger functionality.
How to Choose
When it comes to choosing between ESP32 and STM32 for project products, it should actually depend on the usage scenario. The ESP32 is more suitable for places where technical proficiency is lacking and wireless communication is needed, such as in the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart device fields, where ESP32 has a significant advantage. Therefore, I typically use ESP32 as a more extensible wireless module in conjunction with STM32.
However, in scenarios where wireless applications are not needed, Ethernet interfaces seem to be more appropriate.
Most STM32 microcontrollers come equipped with corresponding Ethernet interfaces.
(This is also why it is inconvenient for us students to use Ethernet.)
Therefore, in traditional embedded control, STM32 still has incomparable performance, but this also means that there is a certain technical threshold. Choose according to your needs.