Choose Your Platform
Not sure which board to start with? Pick based on your project type, skill level, and what you want to build.
π¦ Arduinoβ
Skill: Beginner
Arduino is the easiest way into electronics. Massive community, endless tutorials, and a beginner-friendly IDE. Perfect for learning sensors, motors, and basic control.
Best for: Learning electronics, simple sensors, motor control, education
Not for: WiFi/BLE projects (without add-on shields), AI/ML, complex GUIs
| Board | Price | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Uno R4 Minima | ~$20 | GPIO learning |
| Uno R4 WiFi | ~$27 | WiFi + LED matrix |
| Nano | ~$5 | Breadboard projects |
π Raspberry Piβ
Skill: Intermediate
A full Linux computer the size of a credit card. Runs Python, Node.js, Docker, and AI models. Use it when you need an OS, not just a microcontroller.
Best for: Edge computing, home servers, AI/ML, camera projects, desktop apps
Not for: Battery-powered projects (power-hungry), real-time control, simple sensor reading
| Board | RAM | Price | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pi 5 (4GB) | 4 GB | ~$60 | All-rounder |
| Pi 5 (8GB) | 8 GB | ~$80 | AI, servers |
| Pi Zero 2 W | 512 MB | ~$15 | Lightweight, portable |
πΆ ESP32β
Skill: BeginnerβIntermediate
Low-cost microcontroller with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. The Swiss Army knife for IoT β runs on battery for months, costs under $5, and has a huge ecosystem.
Best for: IoT sensor nodes, LoRa gateways, smart home, Meshtastic, BLE beacons
Not for: AI/ML (no GPU), high-bandwidth video, desktop apps
| Board | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|
| ESP32-WROOM | Classic, most tutorials | ~$4 |
| ESP32-S3 | AI acceleration, USB-OTG | ~$6 |
| ESP32-C3 | RISC-V, ultra-low-cost | ~$3 |
π€ NVIDIA Jetsonβ
Skill: Advanced
Embedded AI computer with GPU. Run object detection, SLAM, LLMs, and computer vision at the edge. Ten to a hundred times faster AI inference than a Raspberry Pi.
Best for: Edge AI, object detection, SLAM, LLM inference, computer vision
Not for: Simple GPIO projects, battery-powered, budget builds
| Model | AI TOPS | RAM | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orin Nano | 40 | 4/8 GB | ~$250 |
| Orin NX | 100 | 16 GB | ~$600 |
| AGX Orin | 275 | 64 GB | ~$2,000 |
𧱠M5Stackβ
Skill: Beginner
Modular ESP32-based prototyping system. Stackable hardware blocks, drag-and-drop programming with UiFlow, and a color display built into every core. The fastest path from idea to working gadget.
Best for: Rapid prototyping, IoT MVPs, education, wearable gadgets
Not for: High-volume production (expensive per unit), Linux workloads
| Core | Display | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Core2 | 2.0" TFT touch | ~$45 |
| CoreS3 | 2.0" TFT touch + AI | ~$55 |
| StickC Plus2 | 1.14" TFT | ~$20 |
β‘ STM32β
Skill: Advanced
32-bit ARM Cortex-M for professional embedded systems. Real-time control, CAN bus, precision timing, and industrial reliability. Not a hobbyist board β it is what runs your car ECU and factory robots.
Best for: Motor control, industrial automation, real-time DSP, CAN bus, safety-critical
Not for: Quick weekend projects, beginners wanting simplicity, WiFi/BLE (without external module)
| Board | Core | Speed | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Pill (F103) | Cortex-M3 | 72 MHz | ~$3 |
| Black Pill (F407) | Cortex-M4F | 168 MHz | ~$12 |
| Nucleo-F446 | Cortex-M4 | 180 MHz | ~$15 |
Still Not Sure?β
Use this quick decision flowchart:
Need WiFi/BLE wireless?
βββ Yes β ESP32 (or M5Stack for fast prototyping)
βββ No β continue β
Need a full Linux OS?
βββ Yes β Raspberry Pi (or Jetson for AI workloads)
βββ No β continue β
Need real-time control / industrial?
βββ Yes β STM32
βββ No β Arduino (best for learning)
See the Quick Start Guide to get going in 5 minutes.