The ESP32-S3 Audio Board by Waveshare is an AI-centric smart speaker development platform built around the ESP32-S3R8 module, boasting a dual-core Xtensa LX7 processor running up to 240 MHz, with integrated 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth 5 (LE) connectivity. It features generous on-board memory (512 KB SRAM, 384 KB ROM, 8 MB PSRAM) plus an external 16 MB Flash. Designed for voice-enabled applications, the board includes a dual microphone array with noise reduction and echo cancellation, a speaker header, and supports high-quality onboard audio processing.
It also features seven programmable surround RGB LEDs and a real-time clock for scheduling and wake-up tasks. It supports both battery-powered and USB-powered modes with power management and optional Li-ion charging. For rich human-machine interaction, it includes expansion interfaces, an SPI-LCD display port, DVP camera connector (supporting OV2640/OV5640), USB, I²C, I/O pins, and a microSD card slot for local storage. This all-in-one design makes it ideal for rapid development of AI speakers, voice interaction systems, HMI screens, and camera-augmented IoT devices.
ESP32-S3 Audio Development Board Specifications:
- SoC: Espressif ESP32-S3R8 dual-core Xtensa LX7 processor @ up to 240 MHz with vector instructions for AI acceleration
- Memory:
- 512 KB SRAM, 384 KB ROM
- 8 MB PSRAM
- Storage:
- 16 MB Flash
- microSD card slot
- Wireless connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 5 (LE)
- Audio:
- Dual microphone array with noise reduction & echo cancellation
- Speaker header for external output
- Onboard audio processing support
- Display & Camera interfaces:
- SPI LCD connector
- 24-pin DVP camera connector (OV2640 / OV5640 supported)
- USB interface: USB-C for programming and power delivery
- Expansion pins: (I²C, I/O, etc.)
- Other features:
- 7x RGB LEDs
- Real-time clock (PCF85063) for power-off time retention for alarm, scheduled task, and wake-up functions
- Power:
- 5V via USB-C and battery input
- Power management IC with Li-ion battery charging support
- Dimension: 58mm x 43.7mm
The ESP32-S3 Audio Board is supported by the ESP-IDF development framework, with examples for audio input/output, voice wake-up, and AI acceleration. It also works with ESP-Skainet for speech recognition, ESP-SR for voice wake word detection, and ESP-ADF (Audio Development Framework) for building complete audio pipelines. Developers can program it in C/C++ using ESP-IDF, or with Arduino IDE for simpler projects. Integration with platforms like MicroPython and TensorFlow Lite Micro is also possible for machine learning and AI audio applications.
The Waveshare ESP32-S3 Audio Development Board is available directly from Waveshare’s store for $15.99 without a battery or $17.99 with a 3.7V Li-ion battery included. It can also be found on Amazon at a slightly higher price, around $23.99 for the board alone and $24.99 for the version with the battery. This makes it an affordable option for developers looking to build smart speaker projects, AI voice assistants, or audio-based IoT applications.
Editor 
Sayantan Nandy 