Adafruit Metro ESP32-P4 Hydra: Affordable development board features smart home compatibility

Adafruit is a well-known name among makers. Having previously covered several of the manufacturer's products, including an RP2040-powered Metro board, the company has now introduced the Adafruit Metro ESP32-P4 Hydra. As the name suggests, the board is powered by the ESP32-P4 chip, which operates at clock speeds of up to 360 MHz. While this offers high performance for a development board, it is primarily tailored toward processing sensor data rather than demanding 3D graphics rendering.

Measuring 72.3 x 53.3 x 14.7 mm, the board includes standard development interfaces such as I2C and SPI for connecting sensors and actuators. Notably, it also features MIPI DSI for displays and MIPI CSI for cameras, enabling compatibility with displays originally designed for the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. Adafruit’s integrated STEMMA QT connector simplifies peripheral hookups without requiring complex wiring.

A built-in microSD card slot allows for expanded storage, which is useful for logging large datasets or storing graphical assets for user interfaces. Wireless connectivity is handled by an onboard ESP32-C6 coprocessor, enabling Bluetooth 5.3 LE alongside support for Thread and Zigbee protocols. This opens up integration options for smart home environments. Additional features include integrated status LEDs and a programmable NeoPixel RGB LED. The Adafruit Metro ESP32-P4 Hydra is currently available directly from Adafruit's online store for $35.