# FeatherS3 ESP32-S3

> Pro ESP32-S3 Feather-form-factor board by Unexpected Maker — dual-core 240 MHz LX7, 16 MB Flash, 8 MB PSRAM, WiFi, BLE 5, 21 GPIO, 2× STEMMA connectors, dual LDOs, LiPo charging.

## Quick Facts

- **Brand:** Unexpected Maker
- **Board Type:** dev-board
- **Price:** ~$22.5
- **Product Readiness:** developer
- **CPU:** Xtensa LX7 dual-core @ 240 MHz (ESP32-S3)
- **CPU Architecture:** Xtensa LX7
- **CPU Cores:** 2
- **RAM:** 512 KB SRAM + 8 MB PSRAM
- **PSRAM:** 8MB QSPI
- **Flash:** 16MB
- **Power:** 5V + LiPo
- **Operating Voltage:** 3.3V
- **Battery:** user-supplied LiPo
- **Antenna:** built-in PCB antenna

## Connectivity

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

## Open Source

- **Firmware:** Yes
- **Schematics:** Yes
- **PCB Layout:** No

## Compatible Firmware

circuitpython, micropython, arduino, esp-idf

## Use Cases

- iot
- wearable
- smart-home

## Components

- **ESP32-S3** (mcu): Espressif ESP32-S3 dual-core 240 MHz Xtensa LX7 with WiFi, BLE 5, native USB, and vector AI instructions. — [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=feathers3-esp32-s3&source=md-export)

## Protocols

- **I2C**: SDA: GPIO3, SCL: GPIO4
- **SPI**: MOSI: GPIO11, MISO: GPIO12, SCK: GPIO13
- **UART**: TX: GPIO43, RX: GPIO44
- **USB**: 

## GPIO Map

| Pin | Name | Type | Functions |
|-----|------|------|-----------|
| GPIO1 | GPIO | GPIO | ADC, GPIO, touch |
| GPIO2 | GPIO | GPIO | ADC, GPIO, touch |
| GPIO3 | SDA | I2C | I2C, ADC, touch |
| GPIO4 | SCL | I2C | I2C, ADC, touch |
| GPIO5 | GPIO | GPIO | ADC, GPIO, touch |
| GPIO6 | GPIO | GPIO | ADC, GPIO, touch |
| GPIO7 | GPIO | GPIO | ADC, GPIO, touch |
| GPIO8 | GPIO | GPIO | ADC, GPIO, touch |
| GPIO9 | GPIO | GPIO | ADC, GPIO, touch |
| GPIO10 | GPIO | GPIO | ADC, GPIO, touch |
| GPIO11 | MOSI | SPI | SPI, GPIO |
| GPIO12 | MISO | SPI | SPI, GPIO |
| GPIO13 | SCK | SPI | SPI, GPIO |
| GPIO36 | GPIO | GPIO | GPIO |
| GPIO37 | GPIO | GPIO | GPIO |
| GPIO38 | GPIO | GPIO | GPIO |
| GPIO43 | TX | UART | UART |
| GPIO44 | RX | UART | UART |

## Available Software

- **[CircuitPython](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fcircuitpython.org%2Fboard%2Funexpectedmaker_feathers3%2F&ref=openhardware.directory&product=feathers3-esp32-s3&source=md-export)**
- **[Arduino ESP32](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fespressif%2Farduino-esp32&ref=openhardware.directory&product=feathers3-esp32-s3&source=md-export)**

## Description

## Overview

The FeatherS3 by Unexpected Maker is a high-specification ESP32-S3 development board in the Adafruit Feather form factor. It carries 16 MB of QSPI Flash and 8 MB of QSPI PSRAM, two 700 mA 3.3 V LDO regulators for clean power separation between MCU and sensor loads, and 21 GPIO pins — more than any other standard Feather-compatible ESP32-S3 board.

Two STEMMA/Qwiic connectors provide immediate I2C sensor access without soldering. The ESP32-S3's native USB and USB Serial JTAG share the USB-C port, enabling UF2 drag-and-drop firmware updates alongside traditional JTAG debugging. A low-power RGB LED, power and charge indicator LEDs, and a 3D high-gain antenna round out the hardware.

LiPo battery charging is built in, and the board exposes both VBAT and 5 V sense pins so user code can monitor power-supply state. The ultra-low deep sleep current makes the FeatherS3 practical for battery-powered WiFi/BLE sensor nodes that wake periodically.

Firmware options include CircuitPython (shipped pre-loaded with UF2 bootloader), MicroPython, Arduino 2.0.3+, and ESP-IDF. The Feather footprint gives access to the entire FeatherWing ecosystem of display, cellular, GPS, and audio add-on boards.

## Where to Buy

- [Adafruit](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adafruit.com%2Fproduct%2F5399&ref=openhardware.directory&product=feathers3-esp32-s3&source=md-export) — 22.5

## Resources

- [product](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.adafruit.com%2Fproduct%2F5399&ref=openhardware.directory&product=feathers3-esp32-s3&source=md-export)
- [github](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2FUnexpectedMaker%2Ffeathers3&ref=openhardware.directory&product=feathers3-esp32-s3&source=md-export)
- [manufacturer](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Funexpectedmaker.com%2Ffeathers3&ref=openhardware.directory&product=feathers3-esp32-s3&source=md-export)

## Tags

`esp32-s3`, `unexpected-maker`, `feathers3`, `feather`, `circuitpython`, `wifi`, `ble`, `psram`, `lipo`, `stemma-qt`

## Images

![FeatherS3 ESP32-S3](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/feathers3-esp32-s3/45086776110e.jpg)
![FeatherS3 ESP32-S3](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/feathers3-esp32-s3/ff4f39f35f20.jpg)
![FeatherS3 ESP32-S3](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/feathers3-esp32-s3/82a96dc818c3.jpg)

> **Battery Powered:** Li-Po

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