Raspberry Pi Announced Pico 2 W built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2

 Today marks an exciting development in the Raspberry Pi lineup with the introduction of the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W—a wireless version of the popular Pico 2. At an affordable price of just $7, this updated board combines improved performance with wireless capabilities, making it an ideal choice for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Equipped with the new RP2350 microcontroller, it also includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, offering enhanced connectivity options for your projects.

Whether you're a professional engineer, a hobbyist, or an IoT enthusiast, the Pico 2 W presents a powerful yet cost-effective platform for creating connected devices and prototypes. Let's explore the key features that make this new release stand out and why it's an excellent addition to any IoT toolkit.

What’s New with the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W?

The Pico 2 W takes the foundation of the original Pico W and elevates it with the advanced RP2350 microcontroller. This upgraded chip brings notable improvements in processing speed, memory capacity, connectivity, and security features. Here’s a closer look at the key upgrades:

Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W - Technical Specifications

• System on Chip (SoC): Raspberry Pi RP2350
• Processor:
• Dual-core ARM Cortex-M33 running at 150 MHz with Arm TrustZone and Secure Boot
• Dual-core RISC-V Hazard3 running at 150 MHz (Note: Only two cores can be active simultaneously)
• Memory:
• 520 KB of on-chip SRAM
• Security Features:
• 8 KB of one-time programmable (OTP) anti-fuse memory for secure key storage
• Secure Boot (only for ARM cores)
• Hardware acceleration for SHA-256 cryptographic operations
• Built-in Hardware True Random Number Generator (TRNG)
• Glitch detection mechanisms for enhanced security
• Package Type:
• QFN-60 (60-pin Quad Flat No-lead)
• Storage Capacity:
• 4 MB of onboard QSPI Flash memory
• Wireless Connectivity:
• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
• Bluetooth 5.2
• USB Interface:
• Micro USB 1.1 host/device port for power and programming
• I/O Expansion:
• 26-pin GPIO header with support for:
• 2x UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter)
• 2x SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) controllers
• 2x I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) controllers
• 24x PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) channels
• 4x ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converters)
• 3x PIO (Programmable I/O) blocks with 12 state machines
• Debugging Interface:
• SWD (Serial Wire Debug) interface
• Power Supply Requirements:
• Input voltage range: 1.8V to 5.5V DC
• Physical Dimensions:
• 51 mm x 21 mm
• Operating Temperature Range:
• -20°C to +85°C
• MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures):
• Ground Benign: 182,000 hours
• Ground Mobile: 11,000 hours

The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W is supported by a range of tools and libraries that make it easy to start building your project. Whether you’re using MicroPython or C/C++, you’ll find a wealth of resources, tutorials, and community support to guide you.

Order the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W today and start exploring the possibilities!