# ESP32-C3

19 Hacker News commenters recommended ESP32-C3 and 2 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Cheap, stable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth microcontroller with a RISC-V core, praised for Rust and Embassy projects. Critics cite high latency and errata.

## Why people recommend it

- Runs Rust and Embassy well (3 comments): "The newer model, C3, C6, C5 all have RSIC-V cores which make it a dream to run Rust" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47919412)) "I've enjoyed learning the basics of bare-metal no_std rust on the esp32c3" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46549630)) "the esp32c3 is dirt cheap and runs embassy projects well" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46549607))
- RISC-V core, fantastic microcontroller (3 comments): "The newer model, C3, C6, C5 all have RSIC-V cores which make it a dream to run Rust" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47919412)) "Also espressif RISC V mcu's like the ESP32-C3 and -C6 are fantastic." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46549868)) "Wi-Fi: Esp Risc-V (C3 etc)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46275216))
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support (2 comments): "replacing them with ESP32-C3 for bluetooth support" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50258437)) "Wi-Fi: Esp Risc-V (C3 etc)" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46275216))
- Cheap and stable for projects (2 comments): "I find the tiny C3 to be much more stable than other versions." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49639026)) "the esp32c3 is dirt cheap and runs embassy projects well" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46549607))

## What people warn about

- Too much latency for some uses (3 comments): "I'm not seeing the practical application of this in a real world env, surely the latency is a deal breaker" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49991046)) "latency might be too high, wish the docs weren't all AI vomit" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49987472)) "This will be slow for one user, let alone more than one" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49988037))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [ESP32](https://hackerapproved.com/p/esp32.md): 190 recommend
- [Arduino boards](https://hackerapproved.com/p/arduino.md): 81 recommend
- [Raspberry Pi Pico](https://hackerapproved.com/p/raspberry-pi-pico.md): 72 recommend
- [Raspberry Pi RP2040](https://hackerapproved.com/p/rp2040.md): 29 recommend
- [ESP32-S3](https://hackerapproved.com/p/esp32-s3.md): 26 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Espressif+ESP32-C3+DevKit&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Official site](https://www.espressif.com/en/products/socs/esp32-c3)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "ESP32-C3", https://hackerapproved.com/p/esp32-c3/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).