The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W is a microcontroller from a different family than the ESP32. It is built on the RP2350 chip from Raspberry Pi, carries Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and has one trick the ESP32 does not: programmable I/O, a small block of hardware that handles exact, repeatable timing on its own. It is a favorite for learning with MicroPython and for builds where timing has to be precise, like driving motors, reading odd sensors, or speaking a fussy protocol.
What it is.
Like the ESP32 and the ESP8266, the Pico is a microcontroller: one chip, no operating system, running a single program from power-on. It reads sensors and switches outputs the same way. Two things make it distinct. First, each of its two cores can run as an Arm Cortex-M33 or, if you prefer, as an open RISC-V core. Second, and more useful day to day, it has programmable I/O. The wireless version, the Pico 2 W, adds Wi-Fi and Bluetooth through a companion radio chip.
The thing it does that the ESP32 cannot.
Programmable I/O, or PIO, is a set of tiny independent state machines built into the chip. You give one a short program, and it drives or reads pins with exact, clock-perfect timing while the main cores get on with other work. That matters when timing has to be precise and steady: generating clean pulses for stepper motors and servos, reading addressable LED strips, or speaking a protocol the chip has no dedicated hardware for. An ESP32 can often do these jobs too, but the Pico does the timing-critical ones more cleanly. It is the reason to choose this board.
On its own, or part of a system.
On its own, the Pico is a strong standalone controller, and MicroPython makes it especially quick to put to work: write a few lines, run them on the board, watch a pin move. It reads its sensors and drives its outputs with no network at all if that is what the job needs.
As part of a system, the Pico 2 W can join your Wi-Fi and report into something larger, such as an MQTT broker or a service you run. For Home Assistant specifically, the system we embrace, ESPHome supports the Pico W line, though the ESP32 is still the most mature and best-documented path into Home Assistant. If Home Assistant is your goal, reach for an ESP32. If exact timing is your goal, reach for the Pico.
Pico or ESP32.
Neither one wins outright; they are good at different things. The ESP32 has the deeper wireless and Home-Assistant story and a larger community for connected sensors. The Pico is the one to reach for when timing has to be exact, when you want the Arm-or-RISC-V choice, or when you are learning with MicroPython.
| Spec | Pico 2 W | ESP32-C3 | ESP32-S3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maker | Raspberry Pi | Espressif | Espressif |
| Chip | RP2350 | ESP32-C3 | ESP32-S3 |
| CPU | Arm M33 or RISC-V | RISC-V | Xtensa LX7 |
| Cores × clock | 2 × 150 | 1 × 160 | 2 × 240 |
| SRAM (KB) | 520 | 400 | 512 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 4 | Wi-Fi 4 | Wi-Fi 4 |
| Bluetooth | BLE 5.2 | BLE 5 | BLE 5 |
| Programmable I/O | Yes (PIO) | No | No |
| Native USB | Yes | Serial / JTAG | OTG |
| Usable GPIO | 26 | ≈22 | ≈45 |
| Best at | Exact timing, PIO, MicroPython | Cheap Wi-Fi nodes | Camera, display, AI |
Clocks are in MHz. The Pico’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth come from a companion radio chip rather than the main processor; the ESP32 puts the radio on the same die.
What’s inside.
The same blocks as any microcontroller, plus the two that make the Pico itself: cores you can run as Arm or RISC-V, and the PIO block for exact timing.
Where it fits, and where it doesn’t.
Where it fits
- Exact, repeatable timing: steppers, servos, LED strips.
- Speaking an unusual protocol through PIO.
- Learning and prototyping fast in MicroPython.
- Projects that want the Arm-or-RISC-V choice.
Where it doesn’t
- A smooth Home Assistant path. The ESP32 is more mature there.
- The cheapest possible Wi-Fi sensor. An ESP32-C3 is simpler and well-trodden.
- Running an operating system or heavy software. Use a Raspberry Pi.
- 5 V signals. Its pins are 3.3 V and not 5 V tolerant.
How you program it.
- MicroPython: the Pico’s strongest story. Drag a file onto the board and write Python directly. The fastest way to learn.
- C/C++ SDK: Raspberry Pi’s official toolkit, with full access to PIO.
- Arduino (arduino-pico): program it in the Arduino IDE like an ESP32.
- CircuitPython: a beginner-friendly Python flavor with a large library set.
Buying and gotchas.
- Get the “2 W” for wireless. A plain Pico 2 has no radio. The Pico 2 W adds Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The names differ by one letter.
- 3.3 V logic. The pins are not 5 V tolerant, the same caution as the ESP32.
- Three analog inputs. Fewer than an ESP32, and like all cheap microcontroller ADCs, the readings benefit from averaging.
- Home Assistant support is newer here. ESPHome covers the Pico W line, but if Home Assistant is the point, an ESP32 is the smoother road today.
- Wireless is a companion chip. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth come from a separate radio chip on the board, not the main processor. It works well; it is just worth knowing.
Official resources.
These open in a new tab:
Raspberry Pi: Pico 2 product page Pico documentation The RP2350 chip
Frequently asked questions.
What is the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W?
It is a microcontroller board built on Raspberry Pi’s RP2350 chip, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It runs a single program with no operating system, the same as an ESP32, and stands out for its programmable I/O and its strong MicroPython support.
Is the Raspberry Pi Pico the same as a Raspberry Pi?
No. The Pico is a microcontroller, like an ESP32. A Raspberry Pi is a full Linux computer. They share a brand and not much else, and they do different jobs.
Should I use a Pico or an ESP32?
Choose the Pico for exact timing, programmable I/O, or learning with MicroPython. Choose the ESP32 for Wi-Fi sensors and for the smoothest path into Home Assistant. Both are capable; they are good at different things.
Does the Pico 2 W work with Home Assistant?
It can. ESPHome supports the Pico W line, so the board can report into Home Assistant. That said, the ESP32 is the more mature and better-documented choice if Home Assistant is your main goal.
What is PIO on the Pico?
PIO, or programmable I/O, is a block of small state machines that drive or read pins with exact, clock-perfect timing while the main cores do other work. It is useful for stepper motors, addressable LEDs, and protocols the chip has no dedicated hardware for.
What is the difference between the Pico 2 and the Pico 2 W?
The Pico 2 has no radio. The Pico 2 W adds Wi-Fi and Bluetooth through a companion chip. For a connected sensor, buy the 2 W.