# SparkFun launches ESP32-P4 RedBoards with RISC-V, Wi-Fi 6 or PoE

> **Key takeaway:** SparkFun's new ESP32-P4 IoT RedBoards pair dual-core 400MHz RISC-V with either ESP32-C5 Wi-Fi 6/Thread/Zigbee or 10/100Mbps Power over Ethernet, targeting embedded and HMI applications.

**Published:** 2026-11-07T04:00:55+00:00 
**Source:** LinuxGizmos 
**Category:** open-hardware 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/sparkfun-launches-esp32-p4-redboards-with-risc-v-wi-fi-6-or-.html 

## Summary
SparkFun has released two ESP32-P4-based development boards that bring dual-core RISC-V processing to IoT applications with a choice of wireless or wired networking. The ESP32-P4 & ESP32-C5 IoT RedBoard (DEV-30909, $49.95) adds dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 LE, and 802.15.4 for Zigbee/Thread through an ESP32-C5 companion module, while the ESP32-P4 PoE RedBoard (DEV-30910, $55.95) substitutes wired 10/100Mbps Ethernet with Power over Ethernet capability. Both boards are built around the ESP32-P4NRW32X microcontroller with two 400MHz RISC-V application cores and a 40MHz low-power RISC-V core, supplemented by 32MB PSRAM and 16MB flash.

The boards target human-machine interface and embedded applications with MIPI camera and display connectors, Arduino-compatible R3 headers with 22 I/O pins, dual USB-C ports, and Qwiic expansion. SparkFun ships them with MicroPython pre-installed and supports Espressif's ESP-IDF and Arduino IDE, though Arduino Core v3.3.12 currently requires patches for the C5's 5GHz Wi-Fi and PoE Ethernet. Full hardware schematics and KiCad design files are published as open hardware.

## ESP32-P4 architecture and board-level implementation
- **SoC configuration:** The ESP32-P4NRW32X integrates two 32-bit RISC-V cores at up to 400MHz plus a low-power RISC-V core at up to 40MHz, with AI instruction extensions, DMA controllers, and hardware acceleration for image and audio processing.
- **Memory hierarchy:** On-chip resources include 768KB high-performance L2 memory and 32KB low-power SRAM; SparkFun adds 32MB external PSRAM, 16MB flash, and a microSD slot for removable storage.
- **Wireless variant (DEV-30909):** Uses an ESP32-C5 WROOM module for 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 LE, and IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee/Thread); the C5 has independent BOOT/Reset buttons and a 0.1-inch serial header for separate programming.
- **PoE variant (DEV-30910):** Replaces wireless with a MagJack RJ45 and 10/100Mbps Ethernet transceiver, including a 5V/1.8A buck regulator for single-cable power and data delivery.
- **Peripheral and expansion I/O:** Both boards provide MIPI camera/display ribbon connectors, two USB-C ports (High-Speed OTG and Serial/JTAG), RedBoard/R3 headers (6 analog, 16 digital), Qwiic I2C, LiPo battery support with charging, and an RGB status LED.

## Why it matters
These boards strengthen the open-hardware RISC-V ecosystem by providing accessible, well-documented development platforms with published schematics and KiCad files, lowering barriers for embedded Linux and RTOS developers working on edge AI and HMI projects. The dual networking options address divergent deployment scenarios—wireless mesh/IoT versus wired industrial installations—while the ESP-IDF and MicroPython support ensures flexibility across hobbyist, prototyping, and production firmware workflows. However, the current Arduino Core patch requirement for 5GHz Wi-Fi and PoE indicates upstream gaps that may slow adoption among developers expecting drop-in compatibility.