Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W: A Tiny Powerhouse for Scalable Hardware Projects

The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W, priced at just $7, is the latest addition to Raspberry Pi's lineup of microcontrollers. Built around the RP2350 microcontroller, this small yet powerful board is tailored for hardware enthusiasts and industrial applications, offering robust features for creating scalable, embedded projects.

What is a Microcontroller?

Unlike general-purpose Raspberry Pi computers, microcontrollers are specialized devices designed to interface with other electronic components. They are compact, energy-efficient, and built for specific control tasks. The Pico 2 W’s dozens of input/output pins make it ideal for connecting with external components, and its support for breadboard setups simplifies prototyping.

Microcontrollers like the Pico 2 W don’t run a full operating system. Instead, they execute code directly on the chip, supporting C, C++, and MicroPython, a Python-inspired language tailored for microcontrollers.

Key Features of the Pico 2 W

• Dual-Core Processor: Offers two architectures — Arm Cortex-M33 cores and Hazard 3 RISC-V cores. Developers can switch between the two, enabling versatile project development without committing to a specific core during purchase.
• On-Board Memory: Includes 4 MB of flash memory and 520 KB of SRAM, suitable for embedded applications.
• Wireless Connectivity: Features Wi-Fi 4 (2.4GHz 802.11n) and Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless communication, although 5GHz Wi-Fi is not supported in this iteration.
• Affordability and Variants: For projects that don’t require wireless capabilities, a $5 version without wireless functionality is also available.

Why the Pico 2 W Matters

The Pico 2 W provides a versatile platform for hobbyists and professionals alike. Its compatibility with earlier Raspberry Pi boards ensures smooth integration with existing projects, while its dual-core architecture offers flexibility for cutting-edge designs.

Moreover, Raspberry Pi’s increasing use in industrial and embedded systems—a market that now constitutes 72% of its sales—underscores the Pico 2 W's potential for scaling in commercial applications.

Whether you’re building smart devices, experimenting with robotics, or creating IoT systems, the Pico 2 W offers an accessible and powerful tool to bring your ideas to life.