Bluetooth allows for short range wireless connectivity between other Bluetooth devices. You can even use your BLE enabled smart phone with the free BLE Connect App to connect and control your board.
This page contains nearly all of the Bluetooth enabled CircuitPython compatible boards and a bit about the features of each one. You know you want Bluetooth, now to figure out what other features will work best for you!
CircuitPython BLE support on ESP32-S3 based boards is not yet complete, as of CircuitPython 9.x. For best compatibility, stick with nRF52840 based boards.
Provides BLE connectivity via the nRF52840 processor.

The Circuit Playground Bluefruit, running an nRF52840, is an all-in-one board designed to get you started with programming an electronics. It's loaded with all kinds of LEDs, sensors and inputs, including an accelerometer, light, temperature, and sound sensors, touch pads, buttons, switch, NeoPixel LEDs, speaker, and more. Additional capabilities can be added via the alligator clip friendly pads.
This is an excellent beginner choice that does not require any soldering. In addition to CircuitPython and Arduino, there is some MakeCode support as well.
Provides BLE connectivity via the nRF52840 processor.

The Adafruit Feather nRF52840 is a Bluetooth Low Energy enabled board in the Feather form-factor. This means you can add Bluetooth to any of the many FeatherWings available. You can power it with and charge a lipoly battery.
This is a good choice if you want BLE connectivity in the Feather form factor.
Provides BLE connectivity via the nRF52840 processor.

The Adafruit Feather nRF52840 Sense is a BLE enabled board packed with sensors including light/proximity/color, 9-DoF motion, sound, humidity, and pressure/temperature sensors. Since it's a Feather, you can add BLE and these sensors to any of the many FeatherWings available. You can power it with and charge a lipoly battery.
It's kind of like a CLUE but without the screen, buttons, buzzer or micro:bit connector. On the other hand, its a lot smaller and has lipoly charging built in.
This is a good choice if you want BLE connectivity in the Feather form factor - plus some built in sensors.
Provides BLE connectivity via the nRF52840 processor.

The Adafruit ItsyBitsy nRF52840 makes it easy to add Bluetooth to smaller projects or projects with smaller spaces. It includes special Vhigh output pin to give you the higher voltage from power, for driving NeoPixels, servos, and other 5V-logic devices directly.
This is a good choice if you want BLE connectivity in a small form factor.
Provides BLE connectivity via the nRF52840 processor.

The Adafruit CLUE is a Bluetooth Low Energy enabled board in the micro:bit form factor with a built-in 1.3″ 240×240 Color IPS TFT display. It includes two buttons, and light/proximity/color, 9-DoF motion, sound, humidity, and pressure/temperature sensors. There is a STEMMA QT connector to make it super simple to connect many other sensors and breakouts to your project with no soldering necessary.
It's perfect when you want all the sensors and a screen + two buttons built in. The micro:bit formfactor is excellent when you want to plug in various accessories
This is an excellent beginner choice that does not require any soldering, and has just about every sensor.
The ESP32-S3 provides WiFi and Bluetooth LE radios along with a dual core processor. Various ESP32-S3 boards combine different quantities of PSRAM and Flash memory. They can also come with STEMMA QT add-on connectors and tiny OLED displays onboard.
CircuitPython BLE support on ESP32-S3 is not yet complete, as of CircuitPython 9.x.





ESP32-S3 is a great choice if you would like a dual core processor along with a STEMMA QT expansion connector for sensors and displays. Feather has compatibility with many dozens of FeatherWing add-ons.
QT Py ESP32-S3 Boards
The Espressif ESP32-S3 has native WiFi capabilities and dual processor cores like the ESP32, while supporting both WiFi and Bluetooth. It is well supported by CircuitPython.
CircuitPython BLE support on ESP32-S3 is not yet complete, as of CircuitPython 9.x.


The smallest form factor Bluetooth boards which also have dual core processors.
CircuitPython BLE support on ESP32-S3 is not yet complete, as of CircuitPython 9.x.

The MEMENTO Camera is a development board with everything you need to create programmable camera and vision projects: with a camera module, TFT preview screen, buttons, microSD card slot and driven by a powerful ESP32-S3 with 2 MB of PSRAM for buffering 5 MegaPixel camera images. WiFi and Bluetooth LE capable.
Perfect for storage of images.
CircuitPython BLE support on ESP32-S3 is not yet complete, as of CircuitPython 9.x.

The ESP32-S3 provides WiFi and Bluetooth LE radios natively along with a dual core processor. 8MB Flash and 2MB SRAM provides lots of storage. It also has a STEMMA QT add-on connector.
This is a good option if you want to easily display things on a RGB matrix, whether that something comes from the Internet or not or want Bluetooth capability.
Qualia ESP32-S3 for TTL RGB-666 Displays
Drive larger displays with an ESP32-S3 that is WiFi and Bluetooth capable.
CircuitPython BLE support on ESP32-S3 is not yet complete, as of CircuitPython 9.x.

The ESP32-S3 is the first low-cost microcontroller that has a built in peripheral that can drive TTL displays, and can come with enough PSRAM to buffer those large images. 16MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM. Resolutions include 480x272, 800x480, 800x600, 720x720 and 930x320 RGB-666 type displays. A Stemma QT I2C port helps with connectivity/expandability. The ESP32-S3 supports WiFi and Bluetooth.
Page last edited April 03, 2024
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