Recommended Hardware (2025)
Best choices right now
| Use Case | Board / Device & Purchase Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solar / low-power king | LilyGo T-Echo (nRF52) | Built-in BME680 sensor, great case, extremely low sleep current |
| Solar + modular | RAK4631 + RAK19007 base | Ethernet, built-in solar charger, WisBlock ecosystem, NRF |
| General purpose / mobile | LilyGo T-Beam (ESP32) | GPS built-in, very common |
| Display and Keypad all-in-one | Lily Go T-Deck (ESP32) | GNSS, WiFi, and Bluetooth capability |
| Wi-Fi + Bluetooth needed | Heltec LoRa 32 v4 | Built in Solar Panel |
| LoRa Node RAK19007 / RAK 4631 | NRF, Solar Panel | |
| ESP32 with 2.8" touch screen display | does not contain LoRa for Mesh use | |
| Wi-Fi + Bluetooth needed | Heltec LoRa 32 v3 | Avoid v2.1 (uses older SX127x instead of SX1262) |
Pro tip for solar: Stick with nRF52-based boards (T-Echo, RAK4631). ESP32 boards draw ~80–120 mA idle — too much for small panels.