The Invector Labs Challenger RP2040 WiFi is a Feather-format, third-party RP2040 development board with an ESP8285 Wi-Fi modem, USB-C, and a LiPo connector with onboard charging. It is not a Raspberry Pi Pico: it uses the same RP2040 chip, but adds different board features. For a new design, note that Espressif marks the ESP8285 “NOT RECOMMENDED FOR NEW DESIGNS” (NRND 2025.11).
What the Challenger RP2040 WiFi includes
The board pairs an RP2040 as its main microcontroller with a separate ESP8285 for Wi-Fi. Invector Labs says the chips communicate over UART, with the ESP8285 controlled through an AT-command interpreter. The manufacturer describes it as a Feather-format board and lists Arduino and CircuitPython support.
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Invector Labs specifies 8 MB of flash for the board. Raspberry Pi’s RP2040 datasheet lists dual Cortex-M0+ cores running at up to 133 MHz and 264 kB of on-chip SRAM; those are RP2040 chip specifications, not a measurement of the complete board. See the Invector Labs board documentation and Raspberry Pi RP2040 datasheet.
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| Feature | Specification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Main microcontroller | RP2040; dual Cortex-M0+ cores up to 133 MHz, with 264 kB on-chip SRAM | Raspberry Pi RP2040 datasheet |
| Board flash | 8 MB | Invector Labs |
| Wi-Fi modem | ESP8285, 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi; UART link to RP2040 and AT-command support described by the maker | Invector Labs; Espressif ESP8285 datasheet |
| Battery | Standard LiPo connector and onboard charger; CircuitPython board page specifies a 250 mA charging current | CircuitPython board page |
| USB connector | USB-C | Invector Labs; CircuitPython |
| Form factor and software | Feather format; Arduino and CircuitPython support | Invector Labs; CircuitPython |
What Wi-Fi and the ESP8285 mean for a design
The wireless function comes from the ESP8285, not the RP2040 itself. The maker’s UART-and-AT-command description means connected projects rely on the two chips communicating through that interface rather than treating the ESP8285 as built-in RP2040 Wi-Fi capability. Espressif’s ESP8285 datasheet identifies the device as a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi chip and marks it NRND 2025.11. That lifecycle status is an important consideration when selecting parts for a new product; it does not by itself establish whether an existing board can be purchased or supported.
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- ESP32 C3 Development Board Modules Mini Wifi BT Bluetooth Module Processor RISC-V ESP32-C3 SuperMini 4M flash Type-C
- High-Performance ESP32 C3 Chip :The ESP32 C3 SuperMini Development Board is powered by the high-performance ESP32 C3 chip, ensuring efficient and reliable operation for your projects.
- Compatible with Arduino :Designed to be compatible with Arduino, this development board provides a versatile platform for programming and prototyping various electronics projects.The compact and portable design of the ESP32-C3 WiFi Bluetooth Module makes it easy to carry and deploy in various environments.
- Expansion Board：This expansion board is an expansion board specially designed for ESP32 C3 Supermini development board, it makes up for many shortcomings of ESP32 C3Super mini development board, the use of the expansion board can be connected to a 3.7V lithium battery, support to charge the lithium battery through USB, charging when the green indicator lights up. When the green light goes off, the lithium battery is fully charged, and the expansion leads out all the 10 ports, facilitating the user to connect a variety of sensors.
- It is equipped with a wealth of interfaces, with 11 digital I / 0s that can be used as PWM pins and 4 analog 1/0s that can be used as ADC pins.It supports four serial interfaces: UART, 12C and SPI. The board also has a small reset button and a boot loader mode button.
Battery charging and compatibility
The LiPo connector and charger are useful when a prototype needs battery power without adding a separate charging board. CircuitPython’s board page lists the charging current as 250 mA. The available documentation cited here does not establish a specific compatible battery model, its connector polarity, capacity, or physical fit. Verify those details against the board schematic or manufacturer before connecting or purchasing a battery; do not assume that any battery with a LiPo connector is suitable.
Do not confuse it with the Challenger NB RP2040 WiFi
The similarly named Challenger NB RP2040 WiFi is the version without the battery connector and LiPo charger. If onboard charging is a requirement, check the exact model name before buying. CircuitPython lists both variants on its board page.
Rank #2
- The ESP32-C3 is a 32-bit RISC-V CPU that contains the FPU (floating point unit) for 32-bit single-precision operations with powerful computing power. It has excellent RF performance and supports IEEE 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 5(LE) protocols.
- It is equipped with a wealth of interfaces, with 11 digital I / 0s that can be used as PWM pins and 4 analog 1/0s that can be used as ADC pins.
- It supports four serial interfaces: UART, 12C and SPI. The board also has a small reset button and a boot loader mode button.
- The ESP32C3 supermini is positioned as a high-performance, low-power, cost-effective iot mini development board for low-power iot applications and wireless wearable applications
- ESP32C3supermini is a loT mini development board based on the ESP32-C3 WiFi/Bluetooth dual-mode chip, ESP32-C3 32-bit RISC-V single-core processor,running up to 160 MHz
Who should consider this board?
It is a candidate for connected prototypes where an RP2040, Feather format, USB-C, and integrated LiPo charging are useful, particularly for projects using Arduino or CircuitPython. It is a third-party RP2040 board, not a Raspberry Pi Pico, and the cited sources do not establish compatibility with every Pico accessory or project. If choosing a board for a new design, weigh the ESP8285 NRND marking against your product’s lifecycle needs and evaluate the actual pin, peripheral, and software requirements rather than assuming Pico equivalence.
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Best Value
- The ESP32-C3 is a 32-bit RISC-V CPU that contains the FPU (floating point unit) for 32-bit single-precision operations with powerful computing power. It has excellent RF performance and supports IEEE 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 5(LE) protocols
- It is equipped with a wealth of interfaces, with 11 digital I / 0s that can be used as PWM pins and 4 analog 1/0s that can be used as ADC pins
- It supports four serial interfaces: UART, 12C and SPI. The board also has a small reset button and a boot loader mode button
- ESP32C3SuperMini is a loT mini development board based on the ESP32-C3 WiFi/Bluetooth dual-mode chip, ESP32-C3 32-bit RISC-V single-core processor,running up to 160 MHz
- The ESP32C3SuperMini is positioned as a high-performance, low-power, cost-effective iot mini development board for low-power iot applications and wireless wearable applications
Rank #4
- The ESP32-C3 is a 32-bit RISC-V CPU that contains the FPU (floating point unit) for 32-bit single-precision operations with powerful computing power. It has excellent RF performance and supports IEEE 802.11b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth 5(LE) protocols.
- It is equipped with a wealth of interfaces, with 11 digital I / 0s that can be used as PWM pins and 4 analog 1/0s that can be used as ADC pins.
- It supports four serial interfaces: UART, 12C and SPI. The board also has a small reset button and a boot loader mode button.
- The ESP32C3SuperMini is positioned as a high-performance, low-power, cost-effective iot mini development board for low-power iot applications and wireless wearable applications
- ESP32C3SuperMini is a loT mini development board based on the ESP32-C3 WiFi/Bluetooth dual-mode chip, ESP32-C3 32-bit RISC-V single-core processor,running up to 160 MHz
Rank #3
- 2.4GHz Dual Mode WiFi + Bluetooth Development Board
- Support LWIP protocol, Freertos;ESP32 is a safe, reliable, and scalable to a variety of applications
- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
- Ultra-Low power consumption, Compatible with Arduino IDE
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