BMP280 vs BME280 vs BME680: Environmental Sensors Compared
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Choose the BMP280 for temperature and pressure only, the BME280 when you also need humidity, and the BME680 when you additionally want indoor air-quality (gas) sensing. These three Bosch sensors look almost identical and share wiring, but each adds one more measurement than the last.
What each sensor measures
The naming is logical once you know the pattern: more letters and a higher number means more sensing capability.
- BMP280: barometric Pressure + Temperature
- BME280: Pressure + Temperature + Humidity (the "E" adds environment/humidity)
- BME680: Pressure + Temperature + Humidity + Gas (VOC air quality)
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | BMP280 | BME280 | BME680 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pressure | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Humidity | No | Yes | Yes |
| Gas / air quality | No | No | Yes (VOC) |
| Altitude estimation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Interface | I2C / SPI | I2C / SPI | I2C / SPI |
| Cost | Lowest | Moderate | Highest |
A note on accuracy and air quality
All three give good pressure and temperature data and can estimate altitude. The BME680's gas sensor detects volatile organic compounds, which is great for an indoor air-quality index—but note it reports relative trends rather than a precise calibrated CO2 figure, and it needs a warm-up period.
Which should you choose?
If you are building an altimeter, a barometer, or a simple weather logger and do not care about humidity, the BMP280 is perfectly adequate and the cheapest. There is no need to pay more for sensing you will not use.
- Pick BMP280: altitude/pressure projects, drones, basic weather logging
- Pick BME280: full weather stations, room comfort monitoring, the all-rounder
- Pick BME680: indoor air-quality monitors, smart-home environment dashboards
For most weather-station and home-monitoring builds, the BME280 is the sweet spot—it covers temperature, humidity, and pressure in one tiny chip. Only step up to the BME680 if air quality is a genuine goal.
One caution when buying: some cheap "BME280" breakouts actually ship with a BMP280 chip, so buy from a trusted seller. See our weather & environment sensors, the wider sensors range, and matching modules, plus more buying advice in our guides.
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