These are two LoRa development boards and both are good for Meshtastic networks.
LilyGo:
Heltec T3 V2:
Key Takeaways
- Heltec V3 is a better choice if you need better power efficiency and are working on battery-powered IoT applications because the SX1262 LoRa chip consumes less power than the SX1276.
- LilyGO LoRa32 V2.1 is a good option for projects that don’t need extreme power efficiency but want to use a well-supported and reliable LoRa chip like the SX1276.
- Both boards offer similar OLED display capabilities using I2C, but the GPIO pin assignments differ, so check compatibility when switching between them.
A very quick reference chart for two LoRa modules, the Heltec V2 and LilyGo T V2 (T is with the OLED already mounted).
| Feature | Heltec V3 | LilyGO LoRa32 V2.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Microcontroller | ESP32 (dual-core, 240 MHz) | ESP32 (dual-core, 240 MHz) |
| Flash Memory | 8MB | 4MB |
| OLED Display | Yes (0.96 inch, 128x64 pixels, I2C) | Yes (0.96 inch, 128x64 pixels, I2C) |
| OLED SDA (I2C) | GPIO 4 | GPIO 21 |
| OLED SCL (I2C) | GPIO 15 | GPIO 22 |
| LoRa Chip | SX1262 | SX1276 |
| LoRa Frequency Bands | 868MHz / 915MHz | 868MHz / 915MHz |
| LoRa SPI MISO | GPIO 19 | GPIO 19 |
| LoRa SPI MOSI | GPIO 27 | GPIO 27 |
| LoRa SPI SCK | GPIO 5 | GPIO 5 |
| LoRa SPI CS | GPIO 18 | GPIO 18 |
| LoRa RESET | GPIO 14 | GPIO 23 |
| LoRa DIO0 | GPIO 26 | GPIO 26 |
| LoRa DIO1 | GPIO 35 | GPIO 33 |
| Power Management | Better low-power modes with SX1262 | Good, but SX1276 consumes more power |
| Antenna | U.FL connector for external antenna | Spring-type antenna (can be replaced) |
