00:00If you've been searching for the best ESP8266 NodeMCU vs NRF24L01 transceiver setup, here's the thing nobody tells you, the
00:08NRF24L01 isn't an ESP8266 board at all, it's a separate 2.4GHz radio module you bolt onto one.
00:16And the board everyone actually grabs to drive it is the ESP8266.
00:22So before you buy anything, let me show you 5 deals on that exact board that are moving fast right
00:26now, the cheapest one under 3 bucks.
00:30First up, the ESP8266 NodeMCU-LU ACH340 ESP12E development board with 4M flash and a Type-C USB port.
00:38This is the budget king, plain and simple.
00:42For megabytes of flash means room for real projects, the CH340 chip plays nice with basically every computer out there,
00:48and Type-C means you're not hunting for an old micro cable.
00:52It's $2.09, it's sold over 4,700 times, and it holds a 4.8 rating.
00:58For 2 bucks you get Wi-Fi, a full Arduino-compatible dev board, and zero excuses not to start.
01:05Next, the D1 Mini with the ESP12F and CH340V2 chip, available in Type-C or micro USB, pins already soldered
01:13on.
01:14This one's my pick if you care about size, because the D1 Mini is about half the footprint of a
01:19full-node MCU while keeping every pin you need.
01:22Perfect for squeezing into a small enclosure next to that NRF24L01 radio.
01:28Price is $3.95, over 4,400 sold, and a perfect 5-star rating.
01:34Slightly more than the NodeMCU, but you're paying for compact size and clean soldering.
01:39Third, the Multipack D1 Mini from XZG, ESP12F, 3.3-volt, Type-C or micro, pins included, and it comes
01:47in 1, 2, or up to 10 pieces.
01:50Here's the real value, buying a few of these at once drops your per-board cost and saves you shipping
01:55on the second and third build.
01:57$4.31 for the single, but the bundle math gets better the more you take.
02:06If you're planning more than one project, or you want spares, this is the smart move.
02:12Fourth, the NodeMCU V3 with the ESP12E, CH340G chip, micro USB port, and pre-soldered pin headers.
02:20This is the classic, the one you'll find in every tutorial video, and the V3 layout finally fixed the pin
02:26-spacing mess of the older versions so it drops straight into a breadboard.
02:30$4.64, over 4,000 sold, 4.9 rating.
02:35If you want the board that every guide, every wiring diagram, and every forum post assumes you own, this is
02:40it, and the pre-soldered headers mean it works the second it arrives.
02:44Fifth, another D1 Mini, same ESP12F and CH340V2 combo, Type-C or micro USB, pins included.
02:53Basically the same board as number 2 on this list, just a slightly different seller and price point at $4
02:58.41.
03:004,049 sold, 4.9 stars.
03:04Worth mentioning because stock and shipping speed vary between sellers, so if the cheaper one is out or shipping slow
03:09to your country, this one is your backup without losing any specs.
03:13All 5 of these are linked in the description below, so check the current prices in stock before they change,
03:19because these deals move quick.
03:21If this helped you decide, drop a like and hit subscribe, and I'll keep digging up the cheap boards that
03:26actually work.
