ESP32-C6 vs EFR32MG24

Overview

The ESP32-C6 and EFR32MG24 are both premium multiprotocol Thread/Wi-Fi." data-category="Protocols & Profiles">Matter-capable SoCs, making this one of the most directly competitive comparisons in the BLE chip landscape. Espressif's ESP32-C6 brings Wi-Fi 6 + BLE 5.3 + Thread + Zigbee + Matter on a dual-core RISC-V at ~$2.50. Silicon Labs' EFR32MG24 brings BLE 5.3 + Thread + Zigbee + Matter (no Wi-Fi) on an ARM Cortex-M33 at 78 MHz, adds a hardware AI/ML accelerator (MVP—Matrix Vector Processor), implements Secure Vault High (the highest security tier in SiLabs' portfolio), and offers up to 1536 KB flash and 256 KB RAM—all at ~$4–6.

Key Differences

• Wi-Fi: ESP32-C6 includes Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax); EFR32MG24 has no Wi-Fi radio—decisive for Matter border router or combined Wi-Fi+Thread device roles.
• BLE version: Both support BLE 5.3—equal.
• Thread/Zigbee/Matter: Both support Thread, Zigbee, and Matter; EFR32MG24's 802.15.4 radio is certified with SiLabs' production-proven stacks.
• AI/ML: EFR32MG24 integrates a hardware Matrix Vector Processor (MVP) for on-device neural network inference; ESP32-C6 has no dedicated AI acceleration.
• Security: EFR32MG24 implements Secure Vault High—PUF-based key storage, anti-tamper hardware, secure debug with attestation, supply chain attack mitigation; ESP32-C6 implements flash encryption, secure boot, and Digital Signature but no equivalent Secure Vault High.
• Memory: EFR32MG24 offers up to 1536 KB flash and 256 KB RAM; ESP32-C6 has 512 KB SRAM + 4 MB flash (external)—different memory architectures.
• Power: EFR32MG24 achieves ~1.2 µA deep sleep; ESP32-C6's LP core enables good connected-standby power for Wi-Fi+BLE.
• Cost: ESP32-C6 is ~$2.50; EFR32MG24 is ~$4–6—the C6 is significantly more cost-effective.

Use Cases

Choose ESP32-C6 when: - Wi-Fi 6 + Thread + BLE 5.3 + Zigbee + Matter on one chip for a border router or combined access point/Thread coordinator. - Cost is a primary constraint. - ESP-IDF and open-source Matter stack are preferred.

Choose EFR32MG24 when: - On-chip AI/ML inference (MVP accelerator) for gesture, keyword spotting, or anomaly detection alongside Thread/Zigbee/BLE. - Secure Vault High hardware security is required (medical devices, security-critical smart home). - Larger flash (up to 1536 KB) for complex multiprotocol stacks is needed. - Silicon Labs' certified Matter, Thread, and Zigbee stacks with SiLabs production history are preferred.

Verdict

This is the closest competition in the batch. Both support Matter/Thread/Zigbee/BLE 5.3; the ESP32-C6 adds Wi-Fi 6 and costs less; the EFR32MG24 adds AI/ML hardware, Secure Vault High, and larger flash. For cost-sensitive designs needing Wi-Fi+Thread+BLE, the ESP32-C6 is superior. For premium applications requiring on-chip ML inference, the highest security tier, and SiLabs' production-grade certified stacks without Wi-Fi, the EFR32MG24 is the better choice. New design teams on Espressif will often prefer the C6; teams on Silicon Labs evaluating premium smart home or industrial IoT should consider the MG24.