Raspberry Pi Pico W Microcontroller – 2.4GHz WiFi/Bluetooth

Raspberry Pi’s powerful boards have rocketed the brand into fame among all tinkerers, offering an impressive range of low-cost micro-computer boards with fully functional features. However, what if we don’t need so much power at our disposal. A simple Microcontrollers like Arduino Boards can bring just the right amount of power – no more, no less, to cater to small to intermediate projects that add fun, functionality or convenience to our lives. The Raspberry Pi Foundation has finally made a more focused approach to microcontrollers, with the Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 Microcontroller being the first MCU that The Pi Foundation has brought to the market. And now, the Raspberry Pi Pico W version opens even more functionality with included WiFi and Bluetooth.

What’s New on the Raspberry Pi Pico W Microcontroller?

The Raspberry Pi Pico W compact microcontroller takes the versatility of the Pico to the next level! While the original Pico made a splash, the Pico W amps up the game with its 2.4GHz wireless interface, featuring WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.2 with an onboard antenna. This wireless capability opens doors to a range of applications, making it perfect for IoT projects, remote monitoring, or anything where connectivity is key.

Packing the same power and flair as its predecessor, the Pico W maintains the core features we love – MicroPython and CircuitPython support out of the box, 133MHz dual-core Cortex M0+ processor, 26 multi-function GPIO pins, PWM support, and three 12-bit ADC pins for intricate input/output tasks. The built-in USB1.1 Host/Device with PHY support makes interfacing easy as Pi, and dual interfaces for UART, SPI and I2C to ensure that the Pico can communicate with an exceptionally wide range of protocols. Plus, with Arduino IDE extending its open arms to the Pico architecture, transitioning between microcontrollers is a breeze.

Not just a wireless wonder, the Pico W stays true to its roots with low power consumption and a broad operating range between 1.8V to 5.5V. Enjoy significant flexibility in powering the unit from various sources, such as a single lithium-ion cell, or three AA cells in series. Battery chargers are also easily integrated with the Pico W powerchain. While the Raspberry Pi Pico is far more similar to an Arduino than it is to a Raspberry Pi Board, the unique nuances of it also differentiate it from many other Microcontrollers that are available to Makers. And while it may not quite have the same speed as ESP32 or the same level of interfacing than the STM32 Black Pill, the unique blend that it does offer makes it an incredible choice in terms of both functionality and cost-effectiveness. So, if you’re a fan of Raspberry Pi but hate the fact that Raspberry Pi Boards are very expensive to use for basic and simple projects, or if you’re a microcontroller fan who’s looking for a fresh new board to sink your teeth into and test the capabilities of, the Raspberry Pi Pico W is an excellent choice for all kinds of awesome applications.

Additional Resources:

• If you want to find out more about the Raspberry Pi Pico W, with all of the key features, pin mapping and other documentation that you might need as a Maker, be sure to browse through the official Raspberry Pi Pico Getting Started Page.
• Next up, for a more use-case focused review and explanation of the Raspberry Pi Pico W, check out this Raspberry Pi Pico: Tutorials, Pinout, What You Need to Know article on Tom’s Hardware, which covers all of the juicy details that we Makers love to know about, as well as some basic instructions and help on getting started with your fresh new Pi Microcontroller.
• If you’re wondering what the important differences or the Pico and Pico W microcontrollers are, then this video from Core Electronics gives a fantastic feature deep dive: