The XIAO Plus series, which contains the XIAO ESP32S3 Plus, XIAO nRF52840 Plus, and XIAO nRF52840 Sense Plus, was introduced by Seeed Studio in response to community comments asking for additional I/O possibilities. These redesigned boards include better back soldering points and 23 castellated mounting pins (20 GPIOs and 3 power pins), which increases their compatibility with carrier boards for intricate applications.
XIAO ESP32S3 Plus:
Built around the powerful ESP32-S3 microcontroller, the XIAO ESP32S3 Plus has Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0 and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. 11 through-hole GPIO pins, 9 castellated SMD GPIO pins, and 3 power pins make up its 23 pins. It is ideal for wearables, Internet of Things systems, and production-ready system-on-modules (SoMs) due to its ultra-low power consumption during deep sleep (only 14μA), integrated Li-ion battery charging, and compatibility with additional XIAO accessory add-ons. Additionally, the board can be programmed with the Arduino IDE, which opens up a world of software possibilities.
Specifications:
System on Chip (SoC):
- Model: Espressif ESP32-S3R8
- CPU: Dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller (Up to 240 MHz), Supports vector instructions for enhanced AI processing
Memory:
- 8MB PSRAM
- MicroSD card socket for external storage
Wireless Connectivity:
- WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE and support Mesh Connectivity
Storage
- 16MB SPI Flash storage
Antenna:
- IPEX1 antenna For Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
USB Interface:
- USB 2.0 Type-C for Power supply and console communication
Expansion Options:
- UART: 2x
- I2C (IIC): 1x
- I2S: 2x
- SPI: 1x (connects to SX1262)
- PWM-enabled GPIOs: 18x
- 23x GPIO :
- Standard Pins: 11x
- Castellation Pins: 9x (1.27mm pitch)
- power pins: 3x
- Analog: 9x ADC
Miscellaneous Features:
- Boot and Reset buttons
- B2B connector/expansion available
- User and Charge LEDs indicators
Power Supply:
- 5V @ 28mA Type-C Input Voltage
- 4.2V @ 35mA Battery Input Voltage
- 100mA Charging Battery Current
Physical Specifications:
- 21 x 17.8 mm dimensions
- -40°C to 65°C Operating Temperature Range
For more technical details and setup guides, Seeed Studio provides comprehensive resources on their Wiki page
XIAO nRF52840 Plus:
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The XIAO nRF52840 Plus is designed for ultra-low-power applications with its nRF52840 ARM Cortex-M4 processor running at 64 MHz. The board supports Bluetooth 5.0, BLE, NFC, and 802.15.4 connectivity, making it a strong candidate for wireless IoT applications. In deep sleep, it consumes just 5μA, ensuring longevity in battery-powered systems.
Like the ESP32S3 Plus, the XIAO nRF52840 Plus has 23 pins, including 11 through-hole GPIOs and 9 castellated SMD GPIOs and other 3 through-hole power pins. It features an onboard BQ25101 Li-ion battery charging chip for battery management and is compatible with various XIAO accessories like LoRa, RS-485, and additional sensors.
Specifications:
Microcontroller:
- Nordic nRF52840 Arm Cortex-M4F (up to 64 MHz)
Memory:
- 1 MB Flash
- 256 KB SRAM
Wireless Connectivity:
- Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE)
- 802.15.4
- NFC
Storage:
- 2 MB onboard Flash storage
I/O Interfaces:
- SPI: 2x
- UART: 2x
- I2C: 1x
- PWM: 20x
- I2S: 1x
- ADC: 6x
- 23x GPIO:
- Standard Pins: 11x
- Castellation Pins: 9x (1.27 mm pitch)
- Power Pins: 3x
Miscellaneous:
- RGB LED and Charging LED
- Reset Button
Power:
- 5V @ 28mA Type-C Input Voltage
- 4.2V @ 35mA Battery Input Voltage
- 100mA via BQ25101 Charging Battery Current
Dimensions:
- Size: 21 x 17.8 mm
While the operating temperature range is not specified for this model, the XIAO nRF52840 Plus can be programmed with Arduino, MicroPython, or CircuitPython, making it highly versatile for different software environments and supports Sensors, actuators, RS-485, CAN Bus, LoRa, and other expansion boards and accessories. You can get more information about the board on the Wiki page.
XIAO nRF52840 Sense Plus
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The XIAO nRF52840 Sense Plus takes the nRF52840 Plus to the next level by adding advanced features like a 6-axis IMU (motion sensing) and a PDM microphone for audio input. This board is perfect for advanced IoT, AIoT, and embedded machine learning projects where motion tracking, wearables, and audio sensing are critical.
The Sense Plus includes extra communication interfaces like 2x SPI, 2x UART, and 1x I2S, making it even more versatile for complex applications. Similar to the nRF52840 Plus, it operates with ultra-low power consumption (5μA deep sleep) and includes a Li-ion battery charging system.
Specifications:
Microcontroller
- Nordic nRF52840 Arm Cortex-M4F (up to 64 MHz)
Memory:
- 1 MB Flash
- 256 KB SRAM
Wireless Connectivity:
- Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE)
- 802.15.4
- NFC
Storage:
- 2 MB Onboard Flash storage
Sensors:
- 6 DOF IMU and PDM microphone sensors
I/O Interfaces:
- SPI: 2x
- UART: 2x
- I2C: 1x
- PWM: 20x
- I2S: 1x
- ADC: 6x
- 23x GPIO:
- Standard pins: 11x
- castellated pins: 9x (1.27 mm pitch)
- Power pins: 3x
Miscellaneous:
- RGB LED and Charging LED
- Reset button
Power Requirements:
- 5V @ 28mA Type-C Input Voltage:
- 4.2V @ 35mA Battery Input Voltage:
- 100mA (via BQ25101) Charging Battery Current
Physical Dimensions:
- 21 x 17.8 mm dimension
Like the XIAO nRF52840 Plus, the Sense Plus is compatible with Arduino, MicroPython, and CircuitPython. The added sensors make it a great choice for AI and motion-tracking projects. In addition, according to the company, the Sense Plus uses just 5 μA for deep sleep mode and has a built-in Li-ion battery charger.
The XIAO Plus series is available at affordable prices. On platforms like AliExpress, the XIAO nRF52840 Plus is priced at $10.32, the XIAO nRF52840 Sense Plus at $16.45, and the XIAO ESP32S3 Plus at $8.02. You can also purchase the boards directly from Seeed Studio's online store at the same prices.
With its improved I/O, low power consumption, and sophisticated wireless connection, the XIAO Plus series is a great choice for a variety of applications, ranging from wearables to intricate IoT systems.
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