ESPHome 2026.4.0 is Here! ESP32 Runs 33% Faster with Big New Features
Ever felt like your ESP32 was dragging its feet running ESPHome? The new version fixes that!
ESPHome 2026.4.0 just dropped with major performance improvements, especially for ESP32, ESP32-S2, ESP32-S3, and ESP32-C5 — now running at 240MHz instead of the old 160MHz. That is 33% more speed, for free!
What is New?
- 33% faster CPU — your ESP32 can handle heavier workloads
- API encryption handshake 29% faster (90ms → 64ms)
- BLE proxy protobuf encoding 34% faster
- Original ESP32 gets extra 40KB IRAM — this is huge for code memory!
- Signed OTA updates — secure updates, no more tampering worries
- Custom partition tables — manage flash space your way
- New crash handler for ESP8266
- LVGL upgraded to v9 — popular GUI library update
Heads Up!
Changing CPU frequency means higher power consumption. If you are on battery or running cool, you can set cpu_frequency: 160MHZ to revert.
And that extra 40KB IRAM? It only works with bootloader v5.1 or newer. Enable it without the right bootloader and you will brick your device!
Try It Now!
Already running ESPHome? Upgrade today:
esphome upgrade
You will feel the difference immediately.
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