Mid-Range Devices
Mid-Range Devices
Mid-range devices ($25 - $50) add useful features: GPS, better displays, higher transmit power, lower power consumption, or more robust form factors. (Prices below are as of 2026-06-08 and shift over time.)
Heltec V4 - $25 - $35 (as of 2026-06-08)
A direct upgrade over the V3. The V4 adds a solar charging interface, making it well-suited for small solar-powered repeater builds. It uses the same ESP32-S3 family + SX1262 as the V3, though the V4 differs in memory (V3 = ESP32-S3FN8 with 8 MB integrated flash; V4 = ESP32-S3R2 with 2 MB PSRAM + 16 MB external flash). Its LoRa output is the SX1262's native level (~21-22 dBm) unless an integrated PA is confirmed on Heltec's spec sheet.
- TX power: ~22 dBm (SX1262 native; confirm against Heltec's current spec - the often-repeated "28 dBm" figure is not documented in Heltec's datasheet and would require an external PA)
- Solar input: Yes (dedicated solar charging circuit)
- Display: OLED
LilyGo T-Beam - $35 - $45 (as of 2026-06-08)
A full-featured ESP32 board with GPS built in and an 18650 battery holder. The T-Beam is one of the most popular mobile nodes because position reporting works out of the box. The 18650 form factor means you can use widely available rechargeable cells.
- MCU: ESP32
- GPS: Built-in (the older v1.1 uses a u-blox NEO-6M; current revisions ship newer u-blox modules such as the M8N/M10) - specify by revision when it matters
- Battery: 18650 holder (cell not included)
- Connector: SMA antenna
Heltec T114 - $30 - $45 (as of 2026-06-08)
Uses an nRF52840 rather than ESP32, which draws significantly less power. The 1.14" TFT colour display is a step up from OLED. Solar-ready. Best choice for a low-power personal node that also has a decent screen.
- MCU: nRF52840
- GPS: Optional (offered with or without an onboard GPS module depending on variant)
- Display: 1.14" TFT colour
- Power: Lower than ESP32 equivalents
- Flashing: DFU (double-tap reset)
Wio Tracker L1 - $29.90 (as of 2026-06-08)
Bare board with a 1.3" OLED display and GPS (L76K). nRF52840-based. Good value if you plan to build it into a custom enclosure.
Wio Tracker L1 Lite - $27.90 (as of 2026-06-08)
The most affordable Wio option. A bare board with LoRa and an onboard L76K GPS - the difference versus the standard L1 is that the Lite drops the OLED screen (and ships without a case or battery), not GPS. Good choice if you want position reporting at the lowest price and don't need the built-in screen.
SenseCAP T1000-E - $35 - $45 (as of 2026-06-08)
Credit-card sized device with IP65 weather resistance, GPS, and nRF52840. One of the most compact GPS-capable options available. Ships pre-assembled in a rugged housing - no enclosure work needed.
- Form factor: 85 × 55 × 6.5mm (credit card size)
- IP rating: IP65
- GPS: Yes
- MCU: nRF52840
Mid-Range Summary
| Device | Price | MCU | GPS | Display | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heltec V4 | $25 - $35 | ESP32-S3 | No | OLED | Yes |
| LilyGo T-Beam | $35 - $45 | ESP32 | Yes | OLED | No |
| Heltec T114 | $30 - $45 | nRF52840 | Optional | TFT 1.14" | Yes |
| Wio Tracker L1 | $29.90 | nRF52840 | Yes | OLED | No |
| Wio Tracker L1 Lite | $27.90 | nRF52840 | Yes | - | No |
| SenseCAP T1000-E | $35 - $45 | nRF52840 | Yes | None | No |
Prices in this table are as of 2026-06-08.