Pimoroni, the renowned maker of Raspberry Pi accessories, has just announced an exciting new product that takes the recently released Raspberry Pi Pico 2 to the next level. The Pimoroni Pico Plus 2 W is a feature-packed microcontroller board that adds wireless connectivity and expanded capabilities to the popular Pico 2 platform.
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| Innovative design of the Pimoroni Pico Plus 2 W microcontroller board |
Key Features and Specifications
- Processor : RP2350B SoC with dual-core Arm Cortex M33 or RISC-V Hazard3 CPUs (up to 150MHz)
- Memory : 8MB PSRAM
- Storage : 16MB QSPI flash
- Wireless : 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth via Raspberry Pi RM2 module
- Connectivity : USB Type-C port
- Additional Features :
- Qwiic/STEMMA QT connector
- SWD debug port
- Reset button
- Programmable BOOT button
Wireless Capabilities
The standout feature of the Pico Plus 2 W is its wireless connectivity, provided by the mysterious Raspberry Pi RM2 module. This chip appears to be an early access component that could potentially be featured in a future official Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W. The RM2 module utilizes an Infineon CYW43439 chip, the same as found in the original Raspberry Pi Pico W, enabling both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionality.
Enhanced Storage and Memory
Compared to the standard Raspberry Pi Pico 2, the Pimoroni Pico Plus 2 W offers significantly expanded storage and memory capabilities:
- 16MB of QSPI flash storage (4x more than Pico 2)
- 8MB of PSRAM (not present in the original Pico 2)
These enhancements allow for more complex projects and applications that require additional memory and storage space.
Improved Connectivity and Debugging
Pimoroni has made several user-friendly additions to the board:
- USB Type-C port for power and data
- Qwiic/STEMMA QT connector for easy I2C sensor integration
- 3-pin SWD debug connector
- Clearly labeled GPIO pins
Pricing and Availability
The Pimoroni Pico Plus 2 W is priced at $18, offering a compelling value proposition for makers and developers looking for a wireless-enabled, high-performance microcontroller board.
Companion Product: Clipper LTE 4G
Alongside the Pico Plus 2 W, Pimoroni also announced the Clipper LTE 4G breakout board. This cellular modem add-on is compatible with various Raspberry Pi boards, including the new Pico Plus 2 W. Key features include:
- SIMCom A7683E 4G LTE module
- Up to 5Mbps upload and 10Mbps download speeds
- Starting price of $24 for the board, $29 for a kit
- Limited-time offer: Included SIM card with 100MB data (valid in 150 countries)
The Clipper LTE 4G opens up new possibilities for projects requiring cellular connectivity in areas without Wi-Fi access.
As Pimoroni continues to innovate in the Raspberry Pi ecosystem, the Pico Plus 2 W represents an exciting evolution of the Pico platform. With its enhanced wireless capabilities and expanded memory, it's poised to become a favorite among makers and IoT enthusiasts looking to push the boundaries of their projects.
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| Introducing the Clipper LTE 4G Breakout board for enhanced connectivity |