ESP32 Forum

Hello,

I am trying to figure out how to classify popular IoT devices, including the ESP32. One of these classifications is MCU vs. MPU vs SoC, etc. It seems each of these terms refers to a completely different kind of device, e.g., MCUs are low-power ICs with a CPU, some memory, and some peripheral support; MPUs are more powerful, general-purpose MCUs; and a SoC contains multiple components on a single chip including CPU, network processor, GPU, crypto module, etc. But I have heard other definitions for these terms, and it seems that different people have different opinions on what exactly each term refers to.

I have heard the ESP32 referred to as both a MCU and a SoC. Is it possible for a device to be both? This seems unlikely to me, since, i.e., a SoC might incorporate an MCU. But I might be wrong. Hopefully someone here can clear about some of this confusion.

Thanks.

SoC is most appropriate because it has the wifi/bt baseband, analog rf stuff, and rtc/ulp. Otherwise dual core wifi/bt MCU would be next most appropriate.