The Heltec V4 and Heltec T096 can be configured as nearly identical complete Meshtastic nodes, but under the hood they’re very different devices. In this comparison I look at the ESP32-S3-based Heltec V4 and the nRF52840-based Heltec T096, including LoRa performance, GPS/GNSS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, displays, battery efficiency, expansion options, and overall day-to-day use.
👉 Complete T096: https://makernova.io/products/heltec-t096-complete-meshtastic-node?ref=TO
👉 Complete V4: https://makernova.io/products/heltec-v4-complete-meshtastic-node?ref=TO
👉 Or DIY: https://makernova.io/?ref=TO
👉 All with 10% off Discount using Code TO10
Both of my MakerNova Pocket Pro SMA units have GPS, 2000 mAh batteries, external antennas, and the same $94.99 price, so the decision really comes down to what you want to do with them. The T096 is the battery-sipping tracker, with an efficient nRF52840 and integrated dual-band GNSS. The V4 is the hacker-friendly platform, with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, an ESP32-S3, expansion options, and support for experimental firmware such as Bruce.
If you’re trying to decide Heltec T096 vs Heltec V4 for Meshtastic, this video should help you pick the right one for portable tracking, everyday mesh use, wardriving experiments, firmware hacking, or your next off-grid communications project.
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