# Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3

> Tiny dual-core ESP32-S3 dev board in the QT Py / Seeed XIAO footprint — 8 MB flash, WiFi, BLE 5, native USB-C, STEMMA QT, 13 GPIO, 10 ADC inputs, no PSRAM variant.

## Quick Facts

- **Brand:** Adafruit
- **Board Type:** dev-board
- **Price:** ~$12.5
- **Product Readiness:** developer
- **CPU:** Xtensa LX7 dual-core @ 240 MHz (ESP32-S3)
- **CPU Architecture:** Xtensa LX7
- **CPU Cores:** 2
- **RAM:** 512 KB SRAM
- **Flash:** 8MB
- **Power:** 5V
- **Operating Voltage:** 3.3V
- **Dimensions:** 21.7 × 17.8 × 5.7 mm
- **Weight:** 1.2 g
- **Antenna:** built-in PCB antenna

## Connectivity

- **Wifi:** 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n
- **Bluetooth:** BLE 5.0

## Open Source

- **Firmware:** Yes
- **Schematics:** Yes
- **PCB Layout:** Yes

## Compatible Firmware

circuitpython, arduino, esp-idf

## Use Cases

- iot
- smart-home
- wearable

## Components

- **ESP32-S3** (mcu): Espressif ESP32-S3 dual-core 240 MHz Xtensa LX7 with 512 KB SRAM, native USB OTG, WiFi, and BLE 5. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espressif.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdocumentation%2Fesp32-s3_datasheet_en.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3&source=md-export)

## Protocols

- **I2C**: SDA: GPIO5, SCL: GPIO6
- **I2C (STEMMA QT)**: SDA: GPIO5, SCL: GPIO6
- **SPI**: MOSI: GPIO35, MISO: GPIO36, SCK: GPIO37
- **UART**: TX: GPIO43, RX: GPIO44
- **USB**: 

## GPIO Map

| Pin | Name | Type | Functions |
|-----|------|------|-----------|
| GPIO18 | ADC | ADC | ADC, touch |
| GPIO17 | ADC | ADC | ADC, touch |
| GPIO9 | ADC | ADC | ADC, touch |
| GPIO8 | ADC | ADC | ADC, touch |
| GPIO5 | SDA | I2C | I2C, STEMMA QT, touch |
| GPIO6 | SCL | I2C | I2C, STEMMA QT, touch |
| GPIO35 | MOSI | SPI | SPI |
| GPIO36 | MISO | SPI | SPI |
| GPIO37 | SCK | SPI | SPI |
| GPIO43 | TX | UART | UART |
| GPIO44 | RX | UART | UART |

## Available Software

- **[CircuitPython](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fcircuitpython.org%2Fboard%2Fadafruit_qtpy_esp32s3_nopsram%2F&ref=openhardware.directory&product=adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3&source=md-export)**
- **[Arduino ESP32](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fespressif%2Farduino-esp32&ref=openhardware.directory&product=adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3&source=md-export)**

## Description

## Overview

The Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3 brings the dual-core 240 MHz ESP32-S3 into the tiny 21.7 × 17.8 mm QT Py / Seeed XIAO footprint. With 8 MB of Flash and 512 KB of on-chip SRAM (no PSRAM in this variant), it is the most capable QT Py in terms of raw compute while remaining at roughly the same price as the single-core ESP32-S2 variant.

Native USB-C via the ESP32-S3's hardware USB OTG means the board can emulate keyboards, mice, MIDI controllers, and USB mass-storage drives without a bridge chip. The UF2 bootloader appears as a flash drive for drag-and-drop firmware updates. Both WiFi and BLE 5 are available simultaneously, a significant upgrade over the WiFi-only ESP32-S2 QT Py.

A STEMMA QT / Qwiic connector provides immediate I2C sensor chain capability. Ten 12-bit ADC inputs, 5 capacitive touch pins, hardware I2S, and PWM on any output give broad I/O coverage for the board's size. An NeoPixel RGB LED with its own power-control pin enables efficient low-power operation.

CircuitPython is the recommended starting point, with the extensive Adafruit CircuitPython library bundle providing drivers for the most popular sensors. Arduino (with Espressif's ESP32 Arduino core) and ESP-IDF are also supported for advanced users who need lower-level access to the ESP32-S3's rich peripheral set.

## Where to Buy

- [Adafruit](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adafruit.com%2Fproduct%2F5426&ref=openhardware.directory&product=adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3&source=md-export) — 12.5

## Resources

- [product](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adafruit.com%2Fproduct%2F5426&ref=openhardware.directory&product=adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3&source=md-export)
- [github](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fadafruit%2FAdafruit-QT-Py-ESP32-S3-PCB&ref=openhardware.directory&product=adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3&source=md-export)
- [learn guide](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Flearn.adafruit.com%2Fadafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3&ref=openhardware.directory&product=adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3&source=md-export)

## Tags

`esp32-s3`, `qt-py`, `stemma-qt`, `circuitpython`, `native-usb`, `wifi`, `ble`, `tiny`, `xiao-compatible`

## Images

![Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3/fc00ad09687e.jpg)
![Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3/fc2501552524.jpg)
![Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/adafruit-qt-py-esp32-s3/2dc3ed6105a7.jpg)

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