If you are an engineering student, hobbyist, or maker in Pakistan building an IoT or smart automation project, you will almost always choose between two popular boards: the ESP8266 and the ESP32.
Both boards have built-in Wi-Fi and connect easily to the Arduino IDE. But which one should you buy for your project?
Figure 1: NodeMCU ESP8266 (Left), ESP32-WROOM-32 (Center), and Wemos D1 Mini (Right) on a breadboard.
Quick Comparison Table (Simple & Easy):
| Feature | ESP8266 (NodeMCU / D1 Mini) | ESP32 (WROOM-32) |
|---|---|---|
| Speed (CPU) | Single Core (80 MHz) — Good for basic tasks | Dual Core (240 MHz) — 3x Faster! |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi Only (2.4 GHz) | Wi-Fi + Bluetooth BLE (Both included!) |
| Pins for Sensors (GPIO) | About 9–11 usable pins | Up to 30 usable pins (Connect many sensors) |
| Analog Pins (ADC) | Only 1 analog pin (A0) | 18 analog pins (Can read multiple analog sensors) |
| Price in Pakistan | Approx. Rs 650 – Rs 850 | Approx. Rs 1,150 – Rs 1,350 |
When Should You Buy the ESP8266?
Choose the ESP8266 (like Wemos D1 Mini or NodeMCU) if:
- You have a small budget and only need basic Wi-Fi control.
- You are making a simple smart switch (e.g. Turn lights on/off using a mobile app).
- You are connecting only 1 or 2 sensors (like temperature DHT11).
When Should You Buy the ESP32?
Choose the ESP32-WROOM-32 if:
- You need Bluetooth to control your robot or project from your phone without internet.
- You are connecting multiple sensors (gas sensors, heartbeat sensor, ultrasonic, LCD display all at once).
- You are working on a university Final Year Project (FYP) that needs fast processing and high stability.
Where to Buy Genuine Tested Boards in Pakistan?
At ProjectStore, all our ESP32 and ESP8266 boards are 100% pre-tested by engineers before packing. You get genuine CP2102 and CH340 USB chips that install easily on your computer without driver headaches.
We ship fast with Cash on Delivery (COD) to Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, and 250+ cities across Pakistan.
