IoT Reviews

Honest and detailed reviews of IoT hardware and devices — from development boards to sensors and smart modules. Discover what’s worth using for your next home automation or embedded project.

Arduino AI Assistant vs ChatGPT: Which AI Is Better at Writing Arduino Code?

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Arduino AI Assistant vs ChatGPT: Which AI Is Better at Writing Arduino Code?

Can an AI assistant write working firmware for your next Arduino project? That’s the question I asked myself after seeing the new Arduino AI Assistant launch inside Arduino Cloud. I’ve used ChatGPT successfully in dozens of projects—from BLE to Wi-Fi automation—but how would Arduino’s own AI stack up? To find out, I gave both tools … Read more

Best Displays for IoT & Arduino Projects: A Practical Guide with Real Examples

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Best Displays for IoT & Arduino Projects: A Practical Guide with Real Examples

Introduction

If you’ve ever built an IoT or Arduino project and wanted to display sensor data, show system status, or just avoid plugging in a serial monitor every time, you’ve probably looked into adding a screen. But with so many display modules out there — OLED, LCD, e-paper, TFT — choosing the right one can feel overwhelming.

I’ve tested a bunch of these screens in real projects, from ultra-low-power sensors to full-on smart displays. This guide isn’t just a spec sheet — I’ll walk you through the most common types of screens used in IoT and microcontroller projects, how they perform in real-world use, and where each one makes sense.

Whether you’re working with an ESP32, Arduino Uno, or even an ESP8266, this article will help you pick the right screen for your next build — with examples and real trade-offs you should know upfront.

Let’s dive in.

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Zephyr RTOS Review: The Best Open Source OS for IoT?

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Zephyr RTOS Review: The Best Open Source OS for IoT?

When building IoT devices that just work — without relying on third-party APIs, proprietary cloud platforms, or black-box firmware — the choice of operating system matters more than ever.

That’s where Zephyr RTOS enters the conversation.

Zephyr is a lightweight, open-source real-time operating system (RTOS) designed specifically for embedded and IoT devices. Backed by the Linux Foundation and supported by major players like Intel, Nordic, and NXP, Zephyr is quickly becoming a go-to choice for developers who value control, modularity, and local-first design.

Personally, I stumbled onto Zephyr while searching for a more transparent alternative to FreeRTOS for a home-grown smart sensor project. What I found was not just an OS, but a well-structured ecosystem that balances flexibility with long-term maintainability.

In this review, we’ll look at what makes Zephyr so appealing for modern IoT projects, how it compares with other open-source RTOS options, and whether it deserves a place in your development toolbox.

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ESP-NOW: The Ultimate Guide to Fast, Low-Power Communication with ESP32 & ESP8266

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ESP-NOW: The Ultimate Guide to Fast, Low-Power Communication with ESP32 & ESP8266

If you’ve ever worked with the ESP32 or ESP8266, you probably know they’re absolute powerhouses for DIY IoT projects. But did you know they can talk to each other without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth? That’s where ESP-NOW comes in—and it’s honestly one of the coolest features I’ve come across.

ESP-NOW is a fast, low-power, and connectionless communication protocol developed by Espressif. It’s perfect for scenarios where you want ESP boards to exchange small bits of data directly—think sensor networks, remote controls, or smart home devices that just need to “say something” and move on.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything I’ve learned about ESP-NOW, from how it works, to setting it up, to writing your own sender/receiver code. If you’re building a project where power efficiency and low-latency comms are critical, you’re going to love what ESP-NOW can do.

Let’s dive in!

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ESP32 C3, C5, S2, S3 – What’s the Difference and Which One to Choose?

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ESP32 C3, C5, S2, S3 – What’s the Difference and Which One to Choose?

If you’ve spent any time building DIY electronics projects, chances are you’ve bumped into the mighty ESP32—a tiny yet powerful chip that’s become a go-to for makers everywhere. But if you’ve ever tried to pick one up for a project, you’ve probably noticed something: there’s not just one ESP32. There’s the C3, C5, S2, S3, the original… and at first glance, they all look kinda the same.

I remember the first time I ordered an ESP32 board online, thinking “Yeah, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth—perfect for my smart light controller.” What showed up was an ESP32-S2, which I later learned had no Bluetooth support at all. Oops.

That’s when I realized: not all ESP32s are created equal.

So in this post, I’m breaking down the different ESP32 variants in plain English—no datasheet diving required. I’ll walk you through the differences, what each one is good at, and which version you should grab for your next IoT, smart home, or wearable gadget idea.

Let’s dive in and demystify the ESP32 lineup!

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Ultimate ESP8266 Arduino Tutorial & Review: The Wi-Fi Module That Changed DIY Forever

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ESP8266 Arduino WiFi module tutorial and review

Technology keeps advancing at an exponential pace — whether we like it or not. Engineers are constantly working to make electronic devices smaller, more efficient, and cleaner in design by eliminating unnecessary wiring. If you look back just 20 years, a device was considered portable if you could lift it with both arms and carry … Read more

DHT22 vs DS18B20: Which Arduino Temperature Sensor Is Right for Your Project?

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TiNKERIOT | DHT22 vs DS18B20: Which Arduino Temperature Sensor Is Right for Your Project?

Monitoring temperature and humidity through IoT (Internet of Things) is one of the most popular and practical DIY projects for the home — and for good reason. Whether you’re tracking the temperature in your child’s room or managing a self-regulating indoor heating system, these projects almost always start with a reliable temperature sensor.

There are plenty of sensors available on the market that are fully compatible with Arduino and other development platforms. Choosing the right one can make a huge difference, especially when accuracy matters.

Temperature sensors are widely accessible and affordable — you can find models ranging from $0.50 to $10, both on major Asian e-commerce sites and at your local electronics store. But not all sensors are created equal, so understanding their technical specs and limitations is key before starting your project.

 

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ESP32 Development Board Review: Why It’s My Go-To for Serious DIY Projects

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A few years ago, I was deep into building sensor nodes, displays, and web-connected gadgets with the good old ESP8266. And it worked. But as my projects grew — more sensors, faster data, Bluetooth requirements — I started hitting limits.

Then I picked up my first ESP32 development board… and everything changed.

The ESP32 isn’t just an upgrade — it’s a whole different level of capability, without losing the simplicity that makes ESP-based boards so appealing. If you’re working on anything from a smart home controller to a wearable device, or even a connected robot, the ESP32 has probably already crossed your radar.

In this article, I’ll walk you through what makes the ESP32 special, why I use it, what to expect from it, and a few quirks you should know upfront. This is hands-on, from a maker’s perspective — not a datasheet dump.

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ESP8266 NodeMCU: Still the Best Starter Board for DIY IoT in 2025

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If you’re just starting out with DIY electronics or building your tenth smart home gadget, chances are you’ve used — or at least heard of — the ESP8266 NodeMCU development board.

It’s been around for years, but this board hasn’t lost its place on my desk. And there’s a good reason for that.

The NodeMCU is cheap, flexible, easy to work with, and still incredibly relevant for Wi-Fi-based Arduino projects in 2025. Whether you’re building a smart sensor, weather station, alarm system, or something completely wild, this board can probably do the job.

This article is my take — after years of working with the ESP8266 — on what makes the NodeMCU such a solid choice, what you need to watch out for, and why it still holds its own against newer alternatives.

ESP8266 NodeMCU: Still the Best Starter Board for DIY IoT in 2025

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