ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 - Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 BLE Zigbee Module | Espressif
MPN: ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 10 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 100 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 500 | $0 | $0.00 |
| 1,000 | $0 | $0.00 |
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 Overview
A wireless module is a pre-certified, fully integrated subassembly that combines a microcontroller SoC, RF front end, antenna, crystal, and flash memory on one small PCB, so designers add connectivity to a product without designing a radio from scratch. In the system hierarchy, a module sits above the SoC level (SoC -> module -> development board) and below complete end products, drastically shortening time-to-market for IoT devices and reducing RF certification effort.
Key features include industry-first 5 GHz dual-band Wi-Fi 6 support in a RISC-V MCU, multi-protocol operation spanning 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5 LE, Zigbee, and Thread, and flash options ranging from 4 MB to 32 MB QuadSPI depending on the ordering code. The dual-band capability lets products use the less congested 5 GHz band for higher throughput and lower interference, a decisive advantage in dense smart-home deployments.
Technically, the module is built around the ESP32-C5 SoC, which Espressif describes as the industry's first RISC-V MCU supporting 2.4/5 GHz dual-band Wi-Fi 6 alongside IEEE 802.15.4. This allows Matter-over-Thread and Zigbee 3.0 devices to coexist with Wi-Fi on a single chip, simplifying border-router and hub architectures. The ambient operating temperature range is -40 to +85 C per the module datasheet family table.
Typical applications include smart-home devices (Matter, Thread, Zigbee), industrial automation nodes, healthcare and consumer electronics, where the rich peripheral set and multi-protocol radio reduce external component count.
For design-in, note that strapping pins and the antenna keep-out area must follow Espressif's hardware design guidelines; the module requires a clean 3.3 V supply with adequate peak current capability for Wi-Fi 6 TX bursts.
This page synthesizes datasheet specifications, family variants, drop-in alternatives, and practical design guidance not consolidated in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N4
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N8
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N16
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N32
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1U-N4
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / 802.15.4 Transceiver Module |
| Core SoC | ESP32-C5 (single-core RISC-V) |
| CPU Frequency | Up to 240 MHz |
| Wi-Fi Standard | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Wi-Fi Bands | 2.4 GHz (2.412 GHz - 2.484 GHz) and 5 GHz (5.18 GHz - 5.885 GHz) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5 (LE) |
| 802.15.4 Protocols | Zigbee, Thread |
| Antenna Type | PCB trace antenna |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C |
| Package Dimensions | 27.5 x 18 mm |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (castellated pads) |
| RoHS Status | RoHS compliant |
| GPIO Count | 29 GPIOs |
| Toolchain Support | ESP-IDF v5.5+ |
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 Interfaces & Connectors
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Wireless, Bluetooth, GPIO. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5 (LE) |
| GPIO | 29 GPIOs |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C |
Power input and thermal parameters for ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Home Devices (Matter / Thread), Industrial Automation Nodes, Healthcare and Wellness Monitoring, Consumer Electronics and Appliances, Wi-Fi 6 Gateways and Border Routers, Drone and Aerospace-Adjacent Telemetry.
Smart Home Devices (Matter / Thread)
The ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 fits Matter and Thread smart-home products because its ESP32-C5 SoC integrates Wi-Fi 6 (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 5 LE, and IEEE 802.15.4 on one chip, letting a single module act as a Thread end device while retaining Wi-Fi for provisioning or high-rate data. The 29 GPIOs drive relays, sensors, and LEDs directly, reducing external component count. The dual-band radio is especially valuable in apartment buildings where the 2.4 GHz band is saturated; switching to 5 GHz improves responsiveness and range reliability. Per the datasheet, the module operates from -40 to +85 C, covering uncontrolled indoor environments. Designers should follow Espressif hardware design guidelines for strapping pins and antenna keep-out to pass regulatory testing with minimal iterations.
Recommended
Industrial Automation Nodes
In factory and process automation, the ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 serves as a wireless sensor/actuator node combining Thread or Zigbee meshing with Wi-Fi 6 backhaul. The -40 to +85 C ambient rating per the datasheet covers control cabinets and unconditioned floors, and the single-core RISC-V core at up to 240 MHz runs protocol stacks alongside application logic with headroom. Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 mitigates the severe 2.4 GHz congestion typical of plants dense with legacy Wi-Fi and ISM equipment. The module's 27.5 x 18 mm castellated footprint supports automated assembly on standard SMD lines, and RoHS compliance simplifies EU-market certification. Firmware is developed on ESP-IDF v5.5+ with the ESP32-C5-DevKitC-1 for rapid prototyping before committing to production PCBs.
Recommended
Healthcare and Wellness Monitoring
Connected health devices such as patient monitors, wearable hubs, and telehealth gateways benefit from the ESP32-C5-WROOM-1's multi-protocol radio: BLE 5 LE for low-power accessory links, Wi-Fi 6 for encrypted cloud upload, and Thread for meshed sensor arrays in care facilities. The datasheet explicitly lists healthcare among target applications. The 5 GHz band reduces interference from hospital Wi-Fi infrastructure crowded on 2.4 GHz, protecting data integrity for latency-sensitive readings. The single-core RISC-V MCU at 240 MHz handles TLS sessions and sensor fusion simultaneously. With 4 MB to 32 MB QuadSPI flash options across the family, OTA firmware updates and local data buffering are well supported; the N16 variant suits applications needing long offline log retention.
Recommended
Consumer Electronics and Appliances
For connected appliances, set-top accessories, and smart consumer devices, the ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 provides certified dual-band Wi-Fi 6 plus BLE for mobile-app commissioning in one pre-certified module, cutting RF design and regulatory costs versus a discrete chip design. The 27.5 x 18 mm module suits both handheld and wall-powered products, and castellated pads allow hand or reflow soldering. Bluetooth 5 LE enables modern pairing flows, while Wi-Fi 6 target wake time helps meet energy regulations in standby. Per Espressif, the module family is aimed squarely at consumer electronics. Product teams should budget a clean 3.3 V rail with burst-current headroom for Wi-Fi TX, and reserve an IPEX-based WROOM-1U variant for products with metal or miniaturized enclosures needing external antennas.
Recommended
Wi-Fi 6 Gateways and Border Routers
Because the ESP32-C5 SoC is the industry's first RISC-V MCU combining 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi 6 with IEEE 802.15.4, the module is well suited to Thread border routers and Matter bridges that must translate between Wi-Fi and low-power mesh networks. The ESP32-C5-DevKitC-1 reference design demonstrates this integration with full Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Thread functions per Espressif documentation. Concurrent 802.15.4 and Wi-Fi operation is managed by ESP-IDF coexistence mechanisms; designers should validate worst-case concurrent throughput during development since airtime is shared between radios. The 5 GHz band is particularly advantageous for the Wi-Fi uplink side, keeping high-rate traffic out of the congested 2.4 GHz spectrum where the 802.15.4 mesh also operates.
Recommended
Drone and Aerospace-Adjacent Telemetry
Unmanned aerial vehicles and ground robots benefit from the ESP32-C5-WROOM-1's 5 GHz Wi-Fi 6 link for high-bandwidth telemetry and payload data, an area where 2.4 GHz links suffer interference from control radios and video transmitters. The module's -40 to +85 C rating covers high-altitude and engine-bay-adjacent temperature extremes per the datasheet family table. BLE 5 LE provides a low-rate fallback and ground-crew configuration channel. At roughly 27.5 x 18 mm and with an integrated PCB antenna, the module minimizes mass and integration effort on airframes. Teams should mount the module with the antenna edge clear of carbon-fiber or metal structures, or select the WROOM-1U IPEX variant with an external antenna for optimal RF performance in constrained fuselages.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N4 | ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N8 | ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N16 | ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N32 | ESP32-C5-WROOM-1U-N4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 27.5 x 18 mm castellated SMD module, PCB antenna | 27.5 x 18 mm - same | 27.5 x 18 mm - same | 27.5 x 18 mm - same | 27.5 x 18 mm - same | WROOM-1U family module, IPEX connector |
| Brand | Espressif Systems | Espressif Systems | Espressif Systems | Espressif Systems | Espressif Systems | Espressif Systems |
| Wi-Fi Bands | 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz (Wi-Fi 6 / 802.11ax) | 2.4 + 5 GHz | 2.4 + 5 GHz | 2.4 + 5 GHz | 2.4 + 5 GHz | 2.4 + 5 GHz |
| Bluetooth / 802.15.4 | Bluetooth 5 (LE), Zigbee, Thread | BLE 5, Zigbee, Thread | BLE 5, Zigbee, Thread | BLE 5, Zigbee, Thread | BLE 5, Zigbee, Thread | BLE 5, Zigbee, Thread |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C | -40 C to +85 C |
| Antenna | PCB trace antenna | PCB trace antenna | PCB trace antenna | PCB trace antenna | PCB trace antenna | IPEX connector (external antenna) |
Key Differentiators
- Dual-band 5 GHz Wi-Fi 6 in a RISC-V MCU module (vs ESP32-C6 modules)
- Largest flash headroom in family (vs ESP32-C5-WROOM-1-N4)
- Antenna flexibility (vs ESP32-C5-WROOM-1U-N4)
Design Notes
Keep the module's PCB-antenna region free of copper pours, ground planes, and plastic enclosures with metalization. Espressif hardware design guidelines require a keep-out area around the antenna edge of the module; route no traces under the antenna section on any layer. For products with metal housings, select the ESP32-C5-WROOM-1U with an IPEX connector and an external antenna instead of burying the PCB antenna inside the enclosure, which severely degrades range.
Provide a low-impedance 3.3 V supply rated for Wi-Fi 6 TX burst currents; place bulk capacitance (e.g., 22 uF or greater) near the module supply pins plus 100 nF ceramics for high-frequency decoupling. An under-sized regulator causes brownout resets during 5 GHz TX at maximum power. Estimated: verify peak current against the electrical characteristics table in the ESP32-C5-WROOM-1 datasheet for your regulatory domain and channel bandwidth before finalizing the PMIC selection.
Respect the strapping pins identified in community and official pinout references: their logic levels at reset determine boot mode (e.g., download vs flash boot). Pull-ups/pull-downs and attached peripherals on these pins can brick booting. Additionally, avoid assigning GPIO used by the internal flash to application logic. Development should use ESP-IDF v5.5 or newer, per the espboards.dev compatibility notes for ESP32-C5.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliance stated on JLCPCB part listing (C42441836). Other compliance statuses not present in the verified data.
