In August, Raspberry Pi Plc introduced the RP2350 microcontroller and the accompanying Pico 2 development board. Building on this, the company has now unveiled the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W, which adds Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality. As with its predecessor, the Pico W, the wireless capabilities are powered by the Infineon Airoc CYW43439 chip, connected to the RP2350 via SPI.
Affordable Pricing and Availability
The Pico 2 W is priced at $7, but in European markets, it is expected to cost slightly more, likely exceeding €8 initially. For comparison, the earlier Pico W, featuring the RP2040 microcontroller, is available for under €7.
Enhanced Performance with the RP2350
The RP2350 microcontroller significantly outperforms its predecessor, the RP2040. While the RP2040 features two ARM Cortex-M0+ cores and 264 KB of SRAM, the RP2350 boasts two ARM Cortex-M33 cores with DSP and SIMD instructions. Additionally, it includes two alternative RISC-V cores and 520 KB of SRAM, which can be expanded with up to 16 MB of external PSRAM for more demanding applications.
Professional-Grade Certification
The Pico 2 W’s wireless module has received FCC certification, listed under FCC-ID 2ABCB-PICO2W. This certification simplifies integration for commercial users looking to incorporate the Pico 2 W into their own products. The module operates exclusively in the 2.4 GHz band and supports Bluetooth 5.2 and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) through the BTstack library provided by BlueKitchen, enabling developers to leverage advanced wireless connectivity features.
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W stands as a powerful, affordable tool for both hobbyists and professionals seeking advanced connectivity and performance in compact development projects.
