# ESPHome 2026.3.0: Performance overhaul and first-class RP2040

DevFeed: [ESPHome 2026.3.0: Performance overhaul and first-class RP2040](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/esphome-2026-3-0-performance-overhaul-and-first-class-rp2040-16707.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://esphome.io/blog/2026/03/18/esphome-2026-3/>)

Author: Jesse Hills

Published: 2026-03-18T00:00:00Z

Content type: release

Language: en

Sources: [ESPHome - Smart Home Made Simple - Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/esphome-smart-home-made-simple-blog.md>)

Topics: [esphome](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/esphome.md>), [Hardware](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/hardware.md>), [API](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/api.md>), [Bluetooth](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/bluetooth.md>)

Tags: [api](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/api.md>), [architecture](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/architecture.md>), [bluetooth](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bluetooth.md>), [bug](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/bug.md>), [crash](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/crash.md>), [hardware](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/hardware.md>), [performance](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/performance.md>), [release](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/release.md>), [releases](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/releases.md>)

## AI overview

ESPHome 2026.3.0 is a performance-focused release with substantial optimizations, first-class RP2040 and RP2350 support, a redesigned media player architecture, expanded hardware capabilities, crash diagnostics, and numerous correctness fixes.

## Source excerpt

ESPHome 2026.3.0 delivers deep performance work across the main loop, lights and API, first-class RP2040/RP2350 support, and a new media player architecture.