ESP32-P4-PC Board From Olimex Offers HDMI and MIPI Support

Key Takeaways

• ESP32‑P4‑PC adds HDMI and MIPI to RISC‑V board.
• Dual‑core 400 MHz RISC‑V CPU with 768 KB RAM.
• Includes Ethernet, USB host, POE, and LiPo power.
• Open‑source hardware files available on GitHub.
• Priced at €24.95, shipping starts Feb 23 2026.

Summary

Olimex has released the ESP32‑P4‑PC development board, built around Espressif’s ESP32‑P4 RISC‑V SoC. The 90 × 60 mm board adds native HDMI output, MIPI CSI and DSI interfaces, Ethernet, four USB host ports, and Power‑over‑Ethernet support. It ships with a dual‑core 400 MHz processor, 768 KB internal RAM, 32 MB external PSRAM, 16 MB flash and a microSD slot, all exposed via standard GPIO and a UEXT connector. Priced at €24.95, pre‑orders begin now with shipments slated for 23 February 2026.

Pulse Analysis

The ESP32‑P4‑PC arrives at a moment when RISC‑V is transitioning from niche hobbyist cores to mainstream embedded processors. Espressif’s ESP32‑P4 SoC combines a 400 MHz dual‑core RISC‑V CPU with ample on‑chip memory, positioning it as a direct competitor to ARM Cortex‑M series devices. By integrating HDMI and MIPI CSI/DSI interfaces, Olimex eliminates the need for external bridge chips, reducing bill‑of‑materials and simplifying board layouts for developers targeting video streaming, digital signage, or camera‑centric edge AI applications.

From a hardware perspective, the board’s feature set is unusually rich for its price point. Ethernet with optional PoE, four USB host ports, and a USB‑C power/programming connector provide robust connectivity options for industrial IoT gateways or smart‑home hubs. The inclusion of a 20‑pin GPIO header and a UEXT connector means legacy peripherals—sensors, relays, GPS modules—can be added without custom wiring. Coupled with 32 MB external PSRAM and a microSD slot, the platform can handle moderate‑size neural‑network inference or high‑resolution video buffering, expanding the scope of projects that previously required more expensive SBCs.

Commercially, the €24.95 price tags the ESP32‑P4‑PC as one of the most cost‑effective multimedia‑capable boards on the market. Olimex’s decision to release full schematics and KiCad sources under an open‑source license encourages community‑driven enhancements and rapid prototyping. Early adopters in the maker space and small‑scale OEMs can therefore accelerate time‑to‑market for products such as AI‑enabled cameras, portable media players, or interactive kiosks, while benefiting from Espressif’s mature ESP‑IDF development ecosystem. This combination of affordability, open hardware, and advanced I/O is likely to boost RISC‑V’s foothold in the embedded video and IoT segments.