On August 12, Open Home Foundation and Apollo Automation released the ESPHome Starter Kit — a $40 bundle (41 € in Europe) that doesn’t include a soldering iron, a breadboard, or the need to write code. The first demo was in April at State of the Open Home 2026; now the kit has made it to stores.
The main idea of the build method: the modules come on one board with breakaway jumpers. You snap off the needed piece by hand and connect it to the main board with an FPC ribbon. No resoldering, no “mother–daughter” wires that fall out of the breadboard on the third day.
Official photo of the Open Home Foundation, esphome.io
What’s inside
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Main board | Espressif ESP32-C6-MINI-1, USB-C 5 V power |
| Radio | Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth LE, Thread |
| Motion sensor | PIR MH-SR602, range 3.5 m |
| Temperature and humidity | AHT20F |
| Button | tactile, for triggering automations |
| Indicators | 10 independently controllable RGB LEDs in the ESPHome logo shape + piezo buzzer |
| Mechanics | stand, 3 FPC cables, USB-C cable |
| Conditions | −20…+70 °C, for indoor use only |
The kit is advertised as ready to run straight out of the box and autonomous — i.e., without the cloud and without mandatory binding to Home Assistant, although it does integrate with it, of course. Setup is via the redesigned ESPHome Device Builder (visual configuration tool) or the ESPHome desktop app; they come with a tutorial wiki that explains not only “what to press” but also “why.”
Who are Apollo Automation. This is the second commercial partner of Open Home Foundation — a non-profit behind Home Assistant and ESPHome. The partnership scheme means the hardware is made by the company, while the brand and openness are guaranteed by the Foundation. Co-founder Trevor Shirmer articulates the plan this way: “One of the key requirements for the kit was that, in the end, you’d have something useful … You can really build usable devices from it.”
How much it costs by component
To be honest here: $40 is not the price of the electronics. ESP32-C6 as a ready-made board costs a few dollars, MH-SR602 and AHT20 — a few dollars each. If you add everything up on any marketplace, you’ll spend noticeably less than that.
What you’re paying for is something else: that you don’t have to solder or select parts, for the case and stand, for a tested configuration and for documentation written for beginners. Plus part of the money goes into a fund that supports Home Assistant and ESPHome. It’s a sensible deal for someone starting from scratch or buying a gift, and a complete waste for someone who already has a pile of ESP boards in a drawer.
What to look at carefully before buying:
- PIR MH-SR602 with a range of 3.5 m — this is a desk, corridor, or cabinet sensor, not for a living room. Don’t expect it to cover a room confidently.
- Indoor use only and −20…+70 °C — outdoor scenarios (e.g., motion at the gate) are ruled out.
- Thread support in the chip is not the same as Thread support in your firmware. The ESP32-C6 has hardware Thread; what is available in the kit’s ESPHome configuration must be checked in its documentation, not just from the chip’s spec.
Where to buy
Several stores sell it; regional availability varies: Apollo Automation (USA, Canada, Europe, and international shipping), Ameridroid (USA only), Slim Huisje and Domo-supply (Europe), The Pi Hut (UK). Prices, as stated on the site, differ by region and by seller.
Who this really makes sense for: people who want to try local smart home without cloud and without soldering; parents looking for a meaningful tech gift; teachers who need an identical kit for a class. If you already have a bunch of ESP boards, the updated Device Builder — which is free and works with any hardware — is more interesting.
Sources
- The ESPHome Starter Kit is here — announcement on ESPHome’s official site, August 12, 2026
- esphome.io/starter-kit — kit contents, specs, price, and vendors list
What did you start with: a ready-made kit or straight with a pile of ESP32s and a soldering iron? And which was the first sensor you really adopted at home, and which one lasted a week and ended up in a drawer?