Which is better: ESP32 or other?

[Sem_Moris]

Hi everyone!
I’m completely new to microcontrollers and planning to start a simple project, maybe something like a motion sensor for my garage or home. I’ve been looking into ESP32 but I’m not sure. Do you have another option you'd suggest?
I’d like something that’s easy to learn, has lots of tutorials online, and maybe has Wi-Fi or Bluetooth so I can expand the project later on.
Thanks!

[Andrew Neil]

Welcome to the forum.

It is ST's forum - so not really the place to ask about ESP32!

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@Sem_Moris wrote:

Do you have another option you'd suggest

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You're on the ST forum - so the obvious answer here is going to be, STM32 !

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@Sem_Moris wrote:

I’d like something that ... has lots of tutorials online, and maybe has Wi-Fi or Bluetooth 

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STM32 certainly covers that!

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@Sem_Moris wrote:

I’d like something that’s easy to learn!

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That's really down to your experience & aptitude - different makes are not fundamentally different.

https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-products/for-better-learning-stm32-programming-and-debugging/m-p/719468/highlight/true#M260690

https://community.st.com/t5/stm32-mcus-products/for-better-learning-stm32-programming-and-debugging/m-p/719485/highlight/true#M260696 

[mƎALLEm]

Hello,

That depends on your expectation either now our in the future.

If you want to learn the embedded system in general : Hardware and software; I suggest MCU world where you can learn a plenty of things but you need more efforts in learning.

If you need something easy to build and you don't care about the details and you look for high level application. Go ahead with ESP or similar. That's is my point of view.

[Andrew Neil]

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@mƎALLEm wrote:

If you need something easy to build and you don't care about the details and you look for high level application. 

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@Sem_Moris If that's where you're looking, then Arduino is probably the way to go.

Arduino largely isolates you from the details of different makes & models of microcontroller.

You can even get Arduino on the STM32:

https://docs.arduino.cc/libraries/stm32duino-examples/

https://www.stm32duino.com/

https://github.com/stm32duino

[Sem_Moris]

You're right! I was actually hoping to get some advice on alternatives to the ESP32 but I didn’t word it very clearly. Thanks a lot for your reply!

[Sem_Moris]

Thanks! I’d like to learn more even if it’s a bit harder.

[Andrew Neil]

Integrated WiFi is a key feature of ESP32.

There aren't any STM32s with built-in WiFi; a few have BLE, but none has WiFi.

So, if integrated WiFi is key for you, then you'll need to be looking elsewhere for ESP alternatives ...

(of course, external WiFi can be added to any microcontroller).

PS:

Are you actually looking at just the microcontroller itself, or are you really after (small) boards/modules - like this:

[TDK]

ESP32 would be more suited to hobby projects like you describe in terms of ease of use with wifi connectivity.