# Espressif ESP Thread Border Router

> Official Espressif dual-SoC development board combining ESP32-S3 (host) and ESP32-H2 (radio co-processor) to build Thread 1.3 border routers and Zigbee gateways with Matter support over WiFi.

## Quick Facts

- **Brand:** Espressif
- **Board Type:** dev-board
- **Price:** ~$10.05
- **CPU:** Xtensa LX7 dual-core @ 240MHz (ESP32-S3, host) + RISC-V @ 96MHz (ESP32-H2, radio co-processor)
- **CPU Architecture:** Xtensa LX7 + RISC-V RV32IMAC
- **CPU Cores:** 2 (host) + 1 (RCP)
- **RAM:** 512KB SRAM (S3) + 320KB SRAM (H2)
- **PSRAM:** 2MB PSRAM (S3)
- **Flash:** 8MB (S3) + 4MB (H2)
- **USB:** USB-C (UART bridge)
- **Power:** 5V
- **Operating Voltage:** 3.3V
- **Antenna:** Built-in PCB antenna

## Connectivity

- **Wifi:** 802.11 b/g/n
- **Bluetooth:** BLE 5
- **Thread:** Thread 1.3 (Certified)
- **Zigbee:** Zigbee 3.0
- **Matter:** Matter over Thread

## Use Cases

- thread-border-router
- zigbee-gateway
- matter-smart-home
- home-automation

## Components

- **ESP32-S3-WROOM-1** (mcu): Xtensa LX7 dual-core @ 240MHz running OpenThread Border Router stack over WiFi. Provides 8MB flash and 2MB PSRAM for border router application. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espressif.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdocumentation%2Fesp32-s3-wroom-1_wroom-1u_datasheet_en.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=espressif-esp-thread-border-router&source=md-export)
- **ESP32-H2-MINI-1** (mcu): RISC-V @ 96MHz acting as radio co-processor for IEEE 802.15.4. Handles Thread/Zigbee physical and MAC layers, communicating with host over UART/SPI. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espressif.com%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fdocumentation%2Fesp32-h2-mini-1_mini-1u_datasheet_en.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=espressif-esp-thread-border-router&source=md-export)

## GPIO Map

| Pin | Name | Type | Functions |
|-----|------|------|-----------|
| GPIO0 | GPIO / Boot | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output, strapping |
| GPIO1 | GPIO / ADC | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output, adc |
| GPIO2 | GPIO / ADC | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output, adc |
| GPIO3 | GPIO / ADC | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output, adc |
| GPIO4 | GPIO / ADC | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output, adc |
| GPIO5 | GPIO / ADC | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output, adc |
| GPIO6 | GPIO | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO7 | GPIO | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO8 | GPIO / SPI CS (RCP) | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, strapping |
| GPIO9 | GPIO / Boot | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output, strapping |
| GPIO10 | GPIO / SPI CLK (RCP) | SPI | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO11 | GPIO / SPI MOSI (RCP) | SPI | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO12 | GPIO / SPI MISO (RCP) | SPI | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO13 | GPIO / SPI | SPI | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO14 | GPIO | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO15 | GPIO | GPIO | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO16 | UART0 TX (to RCP) | UART | digital-output |
| GPIO17 | UART0 RX (from RCP) | UART | digital-input |
| GPIO18 | GPIO / I2C SDA | I2C | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO19 | GPIO / I2C SCL | I2C | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO20 | GPIO / USB D- | USB | digital-input, digital-output |
| GPIO21 | GPIO / USB D+ | USB | digital-input, digital-output |

## Description

## Overview

The ESP Thread Border Router is Espressif's official reference design for building Thread 1.3 border routers and Zigbee 3.0 gateways. It uses a dual-SoC architecture: an ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 as the host processor running OpenThread's border router stack over WiFi, and an ESP32-H2-MINI-1 as the IEEE 802.15.4 radio co-processor providing physical and MAC layer access.

This board is the recommended platform for developing and deploying Matter-over-Thread infrastructure. The host SoC connects to your WiFi network and runs the Thread Border Router daemon, while the H2 co-processor handles all 802.15.4 radio operations — Thread mesh networking, Zigbee coordinator functions, and Matter commissioning flows.

An optional Sub-Ethernet daughter board extends connectivity to wired Ethernet networks for deployments where WiFi is not suitable. The board is fully supported by the open-source esp-thread-br SDK and holds a Thread 1.3 Certified Component Certificate from the Thread Group.

## Where to Buy

- [Espressif Store](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espressif.com%2Fen%2Fcompany%2Fcontact%2Fbuy-a-sample&ref=openhardware.directory&product=espressif-esp-thread-border-router&source=md-export) — 0
- [Espressif](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espressif.com%2Fen%2Fdev-board%2Fesp-thread-border-routerzigbee-gateway-en&ref=openhardware.directory&product=espressif-esp-thread-border-router&source=md-export) — $10.05

## Resources

- [product](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.espressif.com%2Fprojects%2Fesp-thread-br%2Fen%2Flatest%2Fhardware_platforms.html&ref=openhardware.directory&product=espressif-esp-thread-border-router&source=md-export)
- [github](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fespressif%2Fesp-thread-br&ref=openhardware.directory&product=espressif-esp-thread-border-router&source=md-export)

## Tags

`esp32-s3`, `esp32-h2`, `thread`, `matter`, `zigbee`, `border-router`, `gateway`, `espressif`

## Images

![Espressif ESP Thread Border Router](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/espressif-esp-thread-border-router/5714150fcb13.png)

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