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[DOC] Hardware Comparison


Feature LilyGO T3-S3 SX1262 Seeed XIAO + Wio-SX1262 RAK WisBlock (RAK4631 + Base)
MCU ESP32-S3 (240 MHz dual-core, Wi-Fi/BLE) nRF52840 (64 MHz, BLE only) nRF52840 (64 MHz, BLE only)
LoRa Radio Semtech SX1262 (915 MHz, +22 dBm PA, –148 dBm RX) Semtech SX1262 (915 MHz, +22 dBm PA, –148 dBm RX) Semtech SX1262 (915 MHz, +22 dBm PA, –148 dBm RX)
Antenna Connector SMA-female (50 Ω) U.FL (50 Ω) U.FL on module (via Base board breakout)
RF Shielding ❌ No metal can ✅ Metal RF can over SX1262 ✅ Metal RF can over SX1262
Frequency Reference Standard crystal (XO) TCXO TCXO
TX/RX Switch Passive LC network or discrete FET (auto via DIO2) SPDT RF switch IC (controlled by RF_SW/DIO2) SPDT RF switch IC (controlled by DIO2)
Matching & Filtering On-board LC network + low-pass filter On-module LC network + low-pass filter On-module LC network + low-pass filter
External LNA ❌ No ❌ No ❌ No
Power Regulation (3.3 V) Single LDO (from USB or LiPo) 5 V→3.3 V regulator + internal DC-DC for PA 5 V→3.3 V regulator + internal DC-DC for PA
PA Supply Path 3.3 V LDO → PA pins 3.3 V regulator → SX1262 DC-DC → PA pins 3.3 V regulator → SX1262 DC-DC → PA pins
Battery Input LiPo connector (powers 3.3 V rail) LiPo connector (powers 3.3 V rail) LiPo connector (powers 3.3 V rail)
USB-Only Full TX Power ✅ Yes ✅ Yes ✅ Yes
Low-Voltage Boost ❌ No (LDO needs ≥~3.8 V in) ✅ SX1262 DC-DC can run down to ~3.3 V input ✅ SX1262 DC-DC can run down to ~3.3 V input
USB and Battery Power Feed Both battery & USB feed the same 3.3 V LDO input USB feeds regulator and charger; LiPo auto-switchover USB feeds Base’s regulator & charger; LiPo auto-switchover
MCU Wireless Wi-Fi + BLE + LoRa BLE + LoRa BLE + LoRa
On-board Display ✅ 0.96″ OLED ❌ No ❌ No
Typical Board Size ~67 × 29 mm ~21 × 18 mm (XIAO) + 11 × 6 mm module Base ~60 × 24 mm + module ~27 × 15 mm

Legend/Notes:

  • RF shielding can: a metal can over the RF module to reduce EMI.

  • XO vs. TCXO: crystal oscillators; TCXO provides better frequency stability over temperature.

  • DC-DC for PA: SX1262’s internal switching regulator mode, drawing less current from the 3.3 V rail.

  • Low-Voltage Boost: ability to run the PA at full power even when the board’s supply dips near 3.3 V (via DC-DC), versus an LDO which cuts out below its dropout voltage.

  • Auto-switchover: the charger/regulator circuitry automatically selects USB or battery as needed.

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