MCU Modules

The shielded, FCC/CE/IC-pre-certified modules you solder onto a custom PCB so you don't have to do RF layout or compliance from scratch. For dev boards built around these modules see Dev Kits & Boards; for the silicon datasheets see MCU Platforms.

If you're building anything that ships in volume, buy a module. The cost premium over a bare chip is small; the saved RF compliance / antenna tuning work is enormous.

Espressif ESP32 modules (the big catalog)

Espressif first-party modules are FCC / CE / IC / KCC / NCC / SRRC pre-certified. Second sources (Ai-Thinker, Doit, etc.) usually ship the same Espressif RF cert.

ESP32 (classic)

• ★ ESP32-WROOM-32E / -32UE — the workhorse 18 × 25.5 mm module; PCB antenna (E) or U.FL connector (UE). Cheap, available, every contract manufacturer has stencil files.
• ESP32-WROVER-E / -IE — same MCU + 8 MB PSRAM. Use when you need extra heap (LVGL, image buffers, ML).
• ESP32-SOLO-1 — single-core variant in WROOM form; cost-down.
• ESP32-MINI-1 / -1U — smaller 13.2 × 16.6 mm module for space-constrained designs.

ESP32-S2 / S3

• ★ ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 / -1U — the modern flagship module; S3, lots of GPIO, USB-OTG, BLE 5. Variants by flash (4/8/16 MB) and PSRAM (0/2/8 MB octal). The default for new ESP32 designs.
• ★ ESP32-S3-MINI-1 / -1U — smaller (15.4 × 20.5 mm) S3 module; the choice for compact wearables.
• ESP32-S2-WROOM / -MINI — Wi-Fi-only S2 modules; niche.

ESP32-C3 / C6 / H2 (RISC-V)

• ★ ESP32-C3-WROOM-02 — cheap RISC-V Wi-Fi+BLE module (PCB antenna).
• ESP32-C3-MINI-1 / -1U — smaller C3 module.
• ★ ESP32-C6-WROOM-1 / -1U — Wi-Fi 6 + BLE 5 + 802.15.4. The Matter / Thread / Zigbee module.
• ESP32-C6-MINI-1 / -1U — smaller C6 form.
• ESP32-H2-MINI-1 / -1U — 802.15.4-only (Thread/Zigbee) + BLE; pair with a Wi-Fi border router.

ESP32-P4

• ESP32-P4-NANO / ESP32-P4-Function-EV-Board reference modules — early-availability P4 modules; intended for HMI / vision / display work. Pair with an ESP32-C6 module on the same board for Wi-Fi/BLE.

Antenna variants

ESP modules end in:

• (blank) / E — PCB trace antenna; cheap, fine if your enclosure is plastic.
• U — U.FL / IPEX MHF connector for an external antenna; pick when you have a metal enclosure or need range.
• N — IPEX with no PCB antenna option (newer naming).

Second-source ESP modules

Same chips, different packagers. Generally cheaper, sometimes available when Espressif's own modules are out of stock. Re-certification is the catch — many ship with their own FCC IDs.

• Ai-Thinker ESP-12F / -12S / -07S (ESP8266) — the original "ESP-12 module" everyone knows.
• Ai-Thinker ESP-32S / -WROOM clones — drop-in equivalents, sometimes lower flash specs.
• Doit / WT / various ESP modules — Shenzhen ecosystem; verify the cert on the module you actually receive.

Raspberry Pi RP-silicon modules

Modules built around RP2040 / RP2350. The Pi Foundation publishes module datasheets; third parties sell the modules.

• ★ Pimoroni / Cytron / Waveshare RP2040 modules — castellated modules, similar idea to ESP32-WROOM, but no built-in radio.
• WeAct RP2040-Plus / RP2350-Plus — popular cheap castellated boards (technically pre-built, sold as modules).
• Adafruit RP2040 SCORPIO — RP2040 module with extra LED-driving PIO setup.
• Maker Pi Pico W3 (Cytron) — RP2350 with onboard CYW43439 radio in a soldered-down form.
• Raspberry Pi RM2 (announced) — official Pi-foundation RF module pairing CYW43439 with the Pi designs; pair with a bare RP2350 to add Wi-Fi/BT.

Nordic nRF modules

Nordic supplies reference designs; module makers (u-blox, Fanstel, Raytac, Insight SiP, Minew) ship pre-certified versions.

• Raytac MDBT50Q / MDBT53 — popular nRF52840 / nRF5340 modules.
• Fanstel BT840 / BT832 — nRF52840 / nRF52832 modules with various antenna options.
• u-blox NORA-B1 / NORA-B10 — nRF5340 modules with full FCC/CE/etc.
• u-blox ANNA-B112 / NINA-B3 — older nRF52 modules.
• Insight SiP ISP1807 / ISP2053 — small nRF52840 / nRF5340 modules with onboard antenna.
• Nordic nRF54L Series modules — emerging in 2026; same partners.

STM32 modules

Less common — the STM32 chips are usually placed bare, since most STM32 SKUs lack radios. The exceptions are STM32WB / WBA (BLE+) and STM32WL (LoRa).

• STM32WB5MMG — ST's own BLE / 802.15.4 module on STM32WB; pre-certified.
• u-blox BMD-345 / BMD-350 / BMD-380 — STM32WB BLE modules.
• Murata Type 1SC / Type 1SS — combine STM32 with cellular modems.

Cellular IoT modules

Not strictly MCU modules, but they sit next to one. These are LTE-M / NB-IoT / Cat-1 modems with full cellular cert.

• ★ Quectel BG95 / BG96 / BG770A — workhorse LTE-M / NB-IoT modems with optional onboard MCU.
• u-blox SARA-R4 / SARA-R5 / SARA-R10 — premium-tier cellular modules; SARA-R5 has integrated security.
• SIMCom SIM7080G / SIM7600 — common in maker boards (LilyGO etc.).
• Nordic nRF9151 / nRF9161 — cellular SiP from Nordic itself; integrated MCU + modem.

LoRa / sub-GHz modules

• Semtech SX1276 / SX1262 / SX1268 / LR1110 / LR1121 — the actual LoRa transceiver chips; modules from Murata, RAK, Heltec, Hope.
• Murata CMWX1ZZABZ (Type ABZ) — STM32L0 + SX1276 LoRaWAN module; ubiquitous.
• RAK Wireless RAK4630 / RAK3172 / RAK11200 — modules pairing nRF52 / STM32WL / ESP32 with LoRa, ready to drop into RAK's WisBlock ecosystem.
• Hope RFM95 / RFM69 — bare radio modules (no MCU); breadboard-friendly.

How to evaluate a module

• ★ Check the FCC ID / CE DoC — modular cert (vs. single-modular) means you can use it under your own brand without re-testing the radio. ESP32-WROOM-32E, ESP32-S3-WROOM-1, etc., all carry full modular certs.
• Antenna placement matters — keep the keepout zone (no copper under the antenna), follow Espressif's "AN0001 hardware design" or equivalent.
• Flash size and PSRAM — pick what your firmware actually needs (4 MB flash is fine for most ESP firmwares; image-heavy / LVGL apps want PSRAM).
• Crystal vs. integrated oscillator — ESP modules embed crystals; STM32 needs you to add one.
• Pin count — ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 exposes more GPIO than the MINI; trade with size.

Pick this if…

• Default ESP module, modern: ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 (or -1U for external antenna).
• Default ESP module, smallest: ESP32-S3-MINI-1.
• Default Wi-Fi 6 / Matter ESP module: ESP32-C6-WROOM-1.
• Default cheap ESP module: ESP32-C3-WROOM-02 or ESP32-WROOM-32E.
• Default BLE module, well-certified: Raytac MDBT50Q (nRF52840) or u-blox NORA-B1 (nRF5340).
• LoRaWAN module: Murata Type ABZ or RAK4630.
• Cellular IoT: Nordic nRF9151, or Quectel BG95 + your own MCU.
• Custom RP2040/RP2350 board, no radio: any Pimoroni / WeAct / Cytron module — or just place the chip bare, the layout is forgiving.