A new Micro:bit hardware version

The big and exciting news in the Micro:bit world is that a new and improved version will soon be available to buy for the same low price as the v1.

In this article we will look at the new version and also compare the differences between the hardware.

First lets look at images of the new hardware

Micro:bit v2 image

microbit v2 images
microbit v2 images

Micro:bit v1 and v2 comparison

In the table below you can see a comparison between the v1 and v2 hardware

 

Description

v1

v2

Processor Nordic Semiconductor nRF51822 Nordic Semiconductor nRF52833
Memory 256kB Flash, 16kB RAM 512kB Flash, 128kB RAM
Interface NXP KL26Z, 16kB RAM NXP KL27Z, 32kB RAM
Microphone N/A MEMS microphone and LED indicator
Speaker N/A On board speaker
Touch N/A touch sensitive logo pin
Connector 25 Pin,3 dedicated GPIO, PWM, I2C, SPI and ext. power. 3 ring pins for connecting crocodile clips/banana plugs. 25 Pin,4 dedicated GPIO, PWM, I2C, SPI and ext. power. 3 ring pins for connecting crocodile clips/banana plugs. Notched for easier connection.
I2C Shared Dedicated
Communications 2.4Ghz Micro: bit Radio/BLE Bluetooth 4.0 2.4Ghz Micro: bit Radio/BLE Bluetooth 5.0
Motion Sensor ST LSM303 ST LSM303
Power Availability 90mA available for accessories 200mA available for accessories
Software Support C++, Make Code, Python, Scratch C++, Make Code, Python, Scratch
Power 5V via Micro USB port, 3V via edge connector or battery pack. 5V via Micro USB port, 3V via edge connector or battery pack. LED power indicator,Power off(push and hold power button)

 

The new version features a much faster processor the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52833 which is actually a bout 4 times faster than the Nordic Semiconductor nRF51822 which is in the v1.

You get twice as much flash memory and an extra 112kB RAM

The communications are still Bluetooth but in the v2 they have been upgraded from Bluetooth 4 to Bluetooth 5

You now get a microphone, on board speaker and touch sensitive logo on the v2 as new features.

There is now 200mA available for accessories rather than 90mA and there is also a power indicator and a much needed power button.

Summary

I will be buying one of these boards, in fact I have one on order

I will test the board and see if there are benchmarking test that I can do to compare the hardware.

As the board is the same size and has the same edge connector then all expansion boards should work OK with the v2 hardware. It is notched to make it easier to connect.

Looking at the Arduino core at https://github.com/sandeepmistry/arduino-nRF5 it appears that the Microbit v2 should hopefully work or at least be supported very quickly

Links

https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Low-power-short-range-wireless/nRF52833

https://microbit.org/new-microbit/

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