It’s been a couple of banner weeks for open-source enthusiasts, as new organizations have released several MCU boards using the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s RP2350 microcontroller. Each of these new boards sports its own unique specs and features, giving hobbyists and engineers alike access to new and improved processing power.
This all comes not long after the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 was released on August 8 and sets a great precedent for future developments with the RP2350 MCU. This article takes a look at four newly released boards using the RP2350 and breaks down how manufacturers have used the improved specs of the MCU to make their own unique boards.
SparkFun Pro Micro
Up first, SparkFun has announced the newest version of its Pro Micro MCU series: the Pro Micro – RP2350. As its name suggests, the SparkFun board uses the RP2350 MCU as its central processor, but includes several unique features that give designers access to more tools.
A SparkFun spokesperson goes over the features of the new SparkFun Pro Micro RP2350 module. YouTube video by SparkFun Electronics
Much like previous generations, the new Pro Micro uses the same form factor as is expected from the Pro Micro series, allowing easy migration to the new and improved board. In addition to the MCU, SparkFun has upgraded the Pico 2 design with boot and reset buttons, external memory up to 16 MB of flash and 8 MB SRAM, a USB-C connection, and an addressable RGB LED.
The SparkFun Pro Micro – RP2350 adds some well-received peripherals to the RP2350, giving users additional flexibility for a variety of applications. Image used courtesy of SparkFun.
SparkFun has also included a Qwiic connector, making it trivial for hobbyists to use any of the vast offerings in the SparkFun Qwiic portfolio without needing to resort to soldering. The Pro Micro – RP2350 is available now from SparkFun.
Seeed Studio XIAO RP2350
Up next, Seeed Studio has released its XIAO RP2350, expanding its XIAO ecosystem and adding another tool for designers to leverage when developing with the RP2350. In terms of MCU performance, the XIAO board contains 19 GPIO pins, a USB-C connector, MicroPython support, and much more.
The XIAO and Grove ecosystem allows the XIAO RP2350 to be easily expanded to tackle a wide range of tasks. Image used courtesy of Seeed Studio. (Click image to enlarge)
One of the distinguishing features of the XIAO board is its size, coming in at just 21 × 17.8 mm. Compared to other boards like the Pico 2, the XIAO allows designers to incorporate the power of the RP2350 in much smaller environments. In addition, compatibility with the XIAO ecosystem and access to the Grove series of add-ons makes the XIAO RP2350 a powerful tool for designers needing a good tradeoff between space and functionality.
WIZnet Ethernet Pico Boards
Adding networking abilities to the mix, WIZnet has released two RP2350-based boards that combine processing power with PHYs to add networking potential. The two boards each use a different TCP/IP chip (the EVB-Pico2-W5500 and EVB-Pico2-W5100), allowing designers to select the board to best suit their needs.
On the EVB-Pico2 boards, the addition of a TCP/IP chip gives users the ability to use Ethernet with the RP2350, opening the door for new projects using the board. Image used courtesy of WIZnet. (Click image to enlarge)
Using the boards, designers can now support up to 8 independent hardware sockets, which we learned from the LinuxGizmos article that alerted us to this product. In addition, users have access to up to 32 KB of internal memory, providing plenty of room for TX/RX buffers without occupying space on the RP2350.
Pimoroni Pico Tools
Finishing up this roundup, Pimoroni has released several RP2350-based tools for developers. These included several offerings, according to the LinuxGizmos article that alerted us to this news. We can’t cover all of them (like the hilariously oversized Pico Jumbo), but we will key in on a couple of standouts.
The Pimoroni Explorer Kit packs a ton of functionality in a single board, allowing users to learn without outgrowing their starter device. Image used courtesy of Pimoroni.
One of these standouts is the Pimoroni Explorer Kit, which aims to unify all that students may need to learn how the RP2350 can be used. In addition to the MCU, the Explorer Kit contains an LCD screen, a breadboard, buttons, GPIOs, and much more. As a result, it makes a great candidate for those who want as much functionality as possible in a single device.
In addition, Pimoroni has released the Pimoroni Pico Plus 2, aiming to combine the familiar form factor of the Pico 2 with some additional quality of life features. These features include a USB-C connector and different connectors to make interfacing simpler, all the while maintaining the same Pico form factor.
A Thriving Ecosystem
Raspberry Pi hardware isn’t technically open source. Full open source means that their design and schematics are made available to all. And that’s not the case with Raspberry Pi. But Raspberry Pi does indeed embody the philosophy of the open source movement thanks in part by its widespread adoption. There are widely available sources of documentation available to enable designers to craft Raspberry Pi compatible boards.
While none of these boards can be considered a “one-size-fits-all” solution, the beauty of the Raspberry Pi ecosystem is not in the utility of the original devices, but rather the open-source nature that allows hobbyists, engineers, and companies to solve unique problems in their own way. This is exemplified in this roundup by the sheer breadth of potential applications and is sure to make life much easier for those looking to use the RP2350 in their next project.
