Waveshare ESP32-H2-Zero Dev Board with RISC-V, BLE 5, Zigbee, Thread, Matter, USB-C, and rich interfaces for IoT and smart home projects

Waveshare has launched the ESP32-H2-Zero, a small development board that can be used in IoT and smart home applications. It is based on ESP32-H2FH4S chip by Espressif, capable of 32-bit RISC-V processor with up to 96 MHz speed. The board is equipped with 320 KB of SRAM, 128 KB of ROM, 4 KB of low-power memory and 4 MB of onboard flash storage.

The ESP32-H2-Zero is suited to connected projects, with support of various wireless standards. It supports Bluetooth 5 with Low Energy and Mesh performance, and also IEEE 802.15.4 of Zigbee 3.0 and Thread 1.3. It is also compatible with Matter via Thread, and can be integrated with nearly any smart home ecosystem.

ESP32-H2 Mini Development Board Specifications:

• Processor:
  • Based on ESP32-H2FH4S module
  • RISC-V 32-bit single-core processor, clock speed up to 96 MHz
• Memory: 320 KB SRAM, 128 KB ROM, and 4 KB LP (low-power) memory
• Storage: 4 MB built-in Flash for program and data storage
• Wireless Connectivity:
  • Bluetooth 5 (LE + Mesh) support for low-power wireless communication
  • IEEE 802.15.4 support  (for Zigbee 3.0 and Thread 1.3 protocols)
  • Compatible with Matter via Thread for modern smart home ecosystems
  • Integrated 2.4 GHz ceramic antenna for stable RF performance
• Peripheral Interfaces:
  • Supports up to 15 GPIOs for versatile I/O usage
  • ADC, SPI, UART, I²C, I²S, PWM, and JTAG interfaces
  • Additional power rails and customizable pads for USB, BOOT, or LOG functions
  • Castellated module edges for easy soldering onto carrier boards
  • Extra version available with pre-soldered headers
• Onboard Components:
  • USB Type-C port for power supply, programming, and debugging
  • BOOT button (for entering download mode)
  • RESET button
  • WS2812 RGB LED for status indication and visual debugging
• Power:
  • 5V DC-in via USB type-C port
  • ME6217C33M5G low-dropout regulator (800 mA max output)
• Board dimensions: 23.5 mm x 15.24 mm (compact design)

The ESP32-H2-Zero enables both ESP-IDF and Arduino IDE development, providing flexibility and options to both professional and novice developers. ESP-IDF gives complete access to the features of the SoC, with a well-developed SDK, and the Arduino IDE makes the prototyping process easy based on a simple environment. WaveShare also provides comprehensive documentation on its Wiki, including board assembly instructions, pin descriptions, and hardware usage, so it is simpler to get started on either platform.

Function Block Diagram

Waveshare offers a variety of example projects to assist developers in rapid application development, including Hello World, GPIO control, RGB LED, UART, I2C and SPI, and wireless demos, such as Bluetooth and Zigbee. The ESP32-H2-Zero supports Bluetooth LE, Mesh, Zigbee 3.0, Thread 1.3, and Matter, making it easy to prototypical and develop products across smart home products, industrial automation, and IoT systems.

Recently, we covered the ESP32-S3-based Audio Development Board, an AI-focused smart speaker platform powered by the ESP32-S3R8. If you’re interested in this product, feel free to check it out.

The ESP32-H2-Zero development board is already widely available through multiple online platforms. On AliExpress, it is priced at around $3.79 without headers and about $4.65 with pre-soldered headers. The official Waveshare store lists it in a similar range, between $3.49 and $4.49, depending on the version. It can also be found on Amazon and other electronics retailers, making the board easily accessible to developers worldwide.