ESP32-S3 vs ESP32-S2 — USB boards compared

Both chips have native USB, which is why people compare them: either can act as a keyboard, mouse, MIDI device or USB drive with no extra chip. Beyond that, the S3 is the bigger, newer chip. Figures are from Espressif’s ESP32-S2 and ESP32-S3 datasheets; prices are indicative.

Pick the S3 for almost everything new

• Two cores — Wi-Fi runs on one while your code runs on the other.
• Bluetooth LE 5 — the S2 has no Bluetooth at all.
• More RAM, and boards with 8 MB PSRAM for cameras, displays and audio buffers.
• Vector instructions speed up machine-learning and DSP code.
• USB Serial/JTAG as well as OTG, so uploading and debugging work even when your sketch is using USB for something else.

The ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1 hub covers setup and pins.

When the S2 still makes sense

• Budget USB gadgets. A LOLIN S2 Mini costs roughly half an S3 DevKit and is small enough for a macro pad or HID project.
• You need a DAC. The S2 kept the classic ESP32’s two 8-bit DAC outputs; the S3 dropped them.
• Single-core is enough — a USB device with Wi-Fi that does one job.

USB quirks on both

Because USB is inside the chip, the USB port disappears and reappears when the board resets or your sketch crashes. If the IDE loses the port:

1. Hold the BOOT (GPIO 0) button, tap RESET, release BOOT — the chip enters download mode.
2. Select the new port and upload.
3. For Serial over USB, set Tools → USB CDC On Boot → Enabled.

Verdict

For the low-cost end of the family, see ESP32-S3 vs ESP32-C3.