However, you can easily connect a microSD card module to the Freenove because it comes with several available GPIOs. If you intend to use a microSD card in your projects, maybe the ESP32-CAM is a better idea. This means that when you’re not using the camera, you have more GPIOs to use, almost as in a regular ESP32 board. The Freenove comes with more accessible GPIOs than the Ai-Thinker, including GPIOs being used by the camera. The ESP32-CAM Ai-Thinker comes with a built-in microSD card slot, while the Freenove doesn’t. This means that most projects for the ESP32 Ai-Thinker will also work with the Freenove board and vice-versa by just changing the pin assignment in the code. They both have the same camera model, an OV2640 camera. Both chips are similar in terms of performance. The AI-Thinker boards usually come with the ESP32-S chip, and the Freenove brand comes with the ESP32-Wrover-E. Which one is better? The ESP32-CAM AI-Thinker of the Freenove ESP32-Wrover Cam? It will depend on your project requirements, let’s compare those boards.īoth the ESP32-CAM Ai-Thinker and the Freenove ESP32 Camera come with an ESP32 chip. Freenove ESP32-Wrover CAM vs ESP32-CAM Ai-Thinker The examples that use a microSD card, should also be compatible if using an external microSD card module and adjusting the pin definition on the code. #define PWDN_GPIO_NUM -1īecause this board uses the same camera used in the ESP32-CAM board, the examples for the ESP32-CAM (that don’t use microSD card) should also work with the Freenove ESP32 Camera board by changing the pin definition. The pin definition for the ESP32-Wrover CAM board (Freenove brand) in your Arduino sketches should be as follows (in some of the Arduino examples, this pin definition is under the CAMERA_MODEL_WROVER_KIT definition). When you’re not using the camera, you can use this ESP32 board as a “regular” ESP32 and you can use the camera pins for other purposes. Otherwise, the camera won’t work properly. Note that when you’re using the camera, you can’t connect peripherals to the GPIOs used by the camera.

Here’s a table with the connections between the ESP32 and the camera: OV2640 Camera Freenove ESP32-Wrover CAM Board – Camera Pin Definition You can clearly see which pins are being used by the camera, the power pins, PWM pins, ADC pins, etc. There are labels indicating the features of each pin.

Download esp32 cam pinout for free