The ESP32-C5-DevKitC-1 is another upcoming entry-level development board designed for IoT applications, featuring the ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 module. This board supports key wireless protocols, including Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), Bluetooth LE 5, Zigbee, and Thread.

The ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 module is equipped with a 32-bit RISC-V single-core processor running at 240 MHz along with 384 KB of SRAM and 320 KB of ROM. It supports Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11 ax) for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, enabling faster data transfers and better energy efficiency.

According to the ESP32-C5 product page, this device supports BLE5, Zigbee 3.0, and Thread 1.3, and features an IEEE 802.15.4 subsystem integrating PHY and MAC layers. It supports a variety of software stacks, including Thread, Zigbee, Matter, HomeKit, and MQTT.

In addition, the ESP32-C5 continues to offer Bluetooth LE SIG Mesh and ESP-Mesh-Lite, with BLE5 enabling long-range operation via advertising extensions and coded PHY. It also supports 2 Mbps high throughput PHY for enhanced coverage and usability.

The board shares a similar form factor with the ESP32-C61-DevKitC-1 but offers a few more I/O options, including 29 GPIOs supporting SPI, UART, I2C, and RMT. Additional features include a six-channel LED PWM, a 12-bit ADC with six channels, and TWAI support for advanced communication protocols.

For debugging, the board includes USB Serial/JTAG, and ETM and MCPWM support for motor control and event tracking.

The ESP32-C5-DevKitC-1 is powered via a USB Type-C port, which also supports USB 2.0 full-speed data transfer rates of up to 12 Mbps. Other useful features include an addressable RGB LED controlled by GPIO27 and a boot button for entering firmware download mode.

For power, developers have multiple options, including the USB Type-C port, 5V pin headers, or 3V3 pin headers, providing flexibility for various setups.

Further information

Similarly to the ESP32-C61-WROOM-1 module, Espressif Systems recommends reaching out directly to request samples for this product, as noted on their Wiki pages.

(Update 5/5/2025): On April 30, Espressif announced that the ESP32-C5 SoC has entered mass production. As the industry’s first RISC-V SoC to support dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), along with Bluetooth 5 (LE) and IEEE 802.15.4 for Zigbee and Thread, the ESP32-C5 targets applications requiring efficient, low-latency wireless communication.

The company confirmed that the chip features a 32-bit single-core processor running at up to 240 MHz, 384 KB of SRAM, 320 KB of ROM, and support for external PSRAM. It also includes an LP-CPU operating at up to 40 MHz for low-power workloads. Up to 29 programmable GPIOs are available, along with interfaces such as SDIO, QSPI, and advanced security features.

Software support is provided through Espressif’s ESP-IDF framework, with initial support expected in ESP-IDF v5.5. The ESP32-C5 is also compatible with ESP-AT and ESP-Hosted solutions, allowing it to function as a connectivity co-processor for external hosts.

Development boards (DevKitC-1-N8R4) are now available through Espressif’s official store for $14.65 at the time of writing. Interested developers are encouraged to contact Espressif’s support team for additional details.