When comparing the performance of Arduino and STM32, which one is more powerful? Many electronics enthusiasts face a dilemma when deciding between Arduino and STM32, unsure of how to choose. Arduino has always been popular, but does STM32, with its numerous interfaces, stronger performance, and faster speed, offer a better option?

Features of Arduino and STM32

Arduino:

Arduino is more focused on creativity, simplifying hardware operations. Its functions and syntax are very simple and very “user-friendly.” Most Arduino boards use AVR microcontrollers. Arduino’s advantages include high code encapsulation, fewer required statements, and reduced software development difficulty. Arduino is relatively easy to get started with; as long as you understand a little hardware and C++, you can develop applications. Most functions on Arduino have well-prepared libraries, making it simple to use, but it has poorer controllability for slightly more complex functionalities. STM32:

For applications requiring computation or control, STM32 is a better choice. If you buy a development board for STM32, you need to start learning from the hardware level and master its various details. STM32 focuses more on practical engineering; in fact, many simple instruments in factories, such as temperature controllers, ordinary motor controllers, low-end PLCs, and some consumer toys, game controllers, wired keyboards and mice, and POS machines in university cafeterias are widely used. STM32 is mainly designed for professional developers, requiring a certain level of expertise, but writing code to achieve functionality is relatively complex. For example, outputting a simple string via serial communication might take only 10 lines of code in Arduino, but using STM32 development tools like Keil could require hundreds of lines of code or more.Comparison of Arduino and STM32

Arduino has many versions with inconsistent features. Taking the most common Arduino UNO R3 as an example, its controller is the AVR 138 microcontroller, which does not perform at the same level as STM32. This model is somewhat comparable to the STC12 series from Holtek in terms of computing (only in calculations). Arduino MEGA 2560 is considered the leader among Arduino MCUs, with rich interfaces, likely comparable to the STM32F1 series, but it has higher power consumption, and the chip heats up noticeably, while the similarly packaged STM32F1ZET6 remains only slightly warm, sometimes barely perceptible in low ambient temperatures. Based on the different characteristics of both, we can compare them according to different applications: in terms of ease of learning, Arduino is much easier than STM32. In terms of required basic programming concepts: Arduino uses an object-oriented class based on C++ and Java, while STM32 primarily uses standard C as its main development language. In terms of knowledge gained after learning: Arduino is weaker than STM32, as Arduino encapsulates many low-level operations. Unless you attempt to write libraries for Arduino and its accompanying circuit modules, you will only remain at a basic programming level.

In terms of open-source capability: things made with STM32 can be open-sourced whenever desired, or kept completely private. In terms of ease of building peripheral circuits: Arduino is much easier than STM32. In terms of expandability: Arduino and STM32 are comparable; Arduino essentially exposes most of the controller’s pins.

In terms of cost, assuming both produce devices with the same functionality: Arduino is more expensive than STM32.

Summary

If you’re still unsure how to choose, here are some recommendations:

• If you are a regular student with limited knowledge of programming languages, it’s advisable to start with Arduino.

• If your C foundation is weak, jumping straight into STM32 may lead to quick frustration.

• If you’re learning just for employment, definitely go for STM32 microcontrollers.

• If you’re learning just for fun, and you don’t come from an electronics background, it’s recommended to start with Arduino.

• If you have strong programming skills, go for STM32. Once you master it, you can see how easily you can achieve what the Arduino open-source community has created using STM32.

• Of course, if you have the capability, try both; generally, you can grasp the basic features of Arduino in less than a week, and later, if needed, you can easily port Arduino code to STM32 and other MCU platforms.

In fact, these two platforms target slightly different directions: Arduino is generally chosen by electronics enthusiasts and DIYers, while STM32 is often used for actual product development and manufacturing. However, the Arduino series now also supports STM32 chips, allowing you to use the Arduino development environment for programming after downloading the Arduino firmware. It’s crucial to choose what suits your project type and needs.