Fans of compact microcontroller boards should be especially careful when buying ESP32-C3 Super Mini modules. According to information shared in a recent video, many of these boards ship with ESP32-C3 variants that lack built‑in flash memory for storing programs.
The most problematic is the plain ESP32-C3 version without any extra suffix, which, as it turns out, comes without the required flash memory. While other variants such as FH4 and FH4X include 4 MB of onboard flash, some of these options have already been discontinued or marked as “not recommended for new designs.”
Buyers will find it hard to tell exactly which version they’re getting unless the seller provides detailed specifications. The markings on the third line of the chip can help, but relying solely on product photos in online stores is unwise. If you do end up with a no‑flash version, it is technically possible to add an external flash chip, but that is clearly not the configuration the manufacturer intended.
In this situation, it’s crucial to thoroughly verify the specifications before purchasing. This issue may affect the microcontroller market and create extra challenges for competitors who are trying to offer more reliable and fully featured solutions.
