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The Invector Labs Challenger RP2040 WiFi is a Feather-format development board built around the RP2040, with a separate ESP8285 Wi-Fi modem, USB-C, and a LiPo connector with onboard charging. It is an RP2040-based third-party board—not a Raspberry Pi Pico—and its Wi-Fi chip carries an important caveat for new designs: Espressif marks the ESP8285 “NOT RECOMMENDED FOR NEW DESIGNS” (NRND 2025.11).
What the Challenger RP2040 WiFi includes
Invector Labs describes the board as a Feather-format design compatible with Arduino and CircuitPython. Its main controller is the RP2040; Wi-Fi is handled by a separate ESP8285 modem. The manufacturer says the chips communicate over UART and that the ESP8285 supports an AT-command interpreter. Invector Labs calls it “The WiFi modem is an ESP8285 WiFi chip.” (Invector Labs project documentation.)
The board documentation specifies 8 MB of flash. That is a board-level specification from Invector Labs, not a figure from the RP2040 chip datasheet. Raspberry Pi’s datasheet specifies the RP2040’s dual Cortex-M0+ cores, running at up to 133 MHz, and 264 kB of on-chip SRAM. (Raspberry Pi RP2040 Datasheet.)
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →| Feature | What is specified | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Main microcontroller | RP2040; dual Cortex-M0+ cores up to 133 MHz; 264 kB on-chip SRAM | Raspberry Pi RP2040 Datasheet |
| Board flash | 8 MB | Invector Labs project documentation |
| Wi-Fi modem | ESP8285; 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi; UART link to the RP2040 and AT-command support described by the manufacturer | Invector Labs project documentation; Espressif ESP8285 Datasheet |
| Battery | Standard LiPo connector and charger; CircuitPython board page specifies 250 mA charging current | CircuitPython board page |
| Board format and software | Feather format; Arduino and CircuitPython support; USB-C connector | Invector Labs project documentation; CircuitPython board page |
How its Wi-Fi and microcontroller work together
The RP2040 is the board’s main microcontroller, while the ESP8285 provides the wireless connection as a separate modem. According to Invector Labs, the chips communicate over UART, and the ESP8285 accepts AT commands. That arrangement means the Wi-Fi capability is not an integrated feature of the RP2040 itself; it depends on the separate modem and the board’s firmware and software support.
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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.
Espressif documents the ESP8285 as a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi chip. More importantly for product planning, its datasheet version 2.6 marks the part “NOT RECOMMENDED FOR NEW DESIGNS” with the notation NRND 2025.11. That status does not erase the board’s documented capabilities, but it is a material consideration if you are choosing hardware for a new product or a design expected to remain in production. (Espressif ESP8285 Datasheet.)
LiPo charging: useful, but verify the battery first
The standard LiPo connector and charger make the board suitable for projects that need a rechargeable battery connection without adding a separate charger board. CircuitPython’s board page lists a charging current of 250 mA. This figure describes the listed board charging current; it does not identify a specific compatible battery or establish a battery’s runtime.
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
The available board information does not establish a verified battery model. Before connecting a cell, confirm connector type, polarity, voltage, capacity requirements, and physical fit against the board schematic or manufacturer guidance. Do not select a battery based on connector appearance alone.
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The similarly named Challenger NB RP2040 WiFi is a different variant: CircuitPython’s board page says the NB model omits the battery connector and LiPo charger. If battery charging is essential, make sure you are looking at the standard Challenger RP2040 WiFi rather than the NB version. (CircuitPython board page.)
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- 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
- 1PCS 30Pin ESP32 Development Board 2.4GHz WiFi Dual Cores Microcontroller Integrated with Antenna RF Low Noise Amplifiers Filters
Is this board a fit for your project?
The Challenger RP2040 WiFi is worth considering when a project needs an RP2040, a separate Wi-Fi modem, Feather format, USB-C, and onboard LiPo charging together. Arduino and CircuitPython are documented options, and CircuitPython provides board-specific firmware. If you are evaluating it for a new design, weigh the ESP8285’s NRND status alongside the board’s hardware features.
- Potential fit: connected prototypes where Feather format, a LiPo connector, and charging are useful.
- Check before adopting: whether the board’s pinout and peripherals suit your project; Feather format alone does not establish compatibility with every Feather accessory.
- For a new product: consider the ESP8285 lifecycle designation when assessing long-term sourcing and design risk.
The manufacturer’s published flash capacity and RP2040 specifications do not by themselves establish compatibility with every Raspberry Pi Pico project or accessory. Treat it as its own RP2040-based board and check the project’s pin, firmware, and peripheral requirements rather than assuming it is interchangeable with a Pico.
Quick Recap
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
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