Recently, Raspberry Pi launched the Raspberry Pi Pico 2.
Yesterday, Raspberry Pi officially announced the launch of the wireless version of the Pico 2 – the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W. It is also built on the brand new RP2350 microcontroller and is priced at $7, which is $2 higher than the previous Pico.
Before our friends get their hands on the Pico 2 W, let’s take a look at the overseas KOL – Tom’s Hardware’s early review.
Tom’s Hardware Review
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W is a direct replacement for the Raspberry Pi Pico W, providing a higher specification microcontroller for projects that require more powerful performance while maintaining the same form factor.
Pros:
-
Same form factor as Pico -
Low cost -
Faster processing speed -
More memory -
Wi-Fi connectivity
Cons:
-
Still uses Micro USB interface
Overview of Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
In 2021, the launch of the Raspberry Pi Pico undoubtedly shocked the maker community. This $4 microcontroller marked Raspberry Pi’s first foray into autonomous chip manufacturing (strictly speaking, the RP1 of Raspberry Pi 5 was the first, but it was released after the Pico), making the Raspberry Pi Pico and its RP2040 chip popular products. The Raspberry Pi Pico W, released in 2022, brought Wi-Fi functionality to this product line, and it wasn’t until 2024 that we saw the successor to the Raspberry Pi Pico – the $5 Raspberry Pi Pico 2.
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 brings a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and flash storage. It also offers security features through Arm TrustZone and secure boot. However, it did not have Wi-Fi functionality until now.
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W is essentially a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 equipped with the same Wi-Fi module as the original Raspberry Pi Pico W and uses the same RM2 package as the Pimoroni Pico Plus 2 W. So, what can we get for $7 (priced at £6.80 in the UK)? Let’s take a look!
Technical Specifications of Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
| Feature | Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W | Raspberry Pi Pico |
|---|---|---|
| SoC | RP2350A, Dual-core Arm Cortex M33 or Dual-core RISC-V Hazard3, Maximum clock speed 150 MHz | RP2040, Dual-core Arm Cortex M0+, Maximum clock speed 133 MHz |
| SRAM | 520 KB | 264 KB |
| Flash Storage | 4MB QSPI | 2MB QSPI |
| Security Features | Arm TrustZone, 8KB OTP, Secure Boot | None |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Wi-Fi b/g/n and Bluetooth supported via CYW43439 | None (Pico W has this feature) |
| Programming Language Support | MicroPython, CircuitPython, C, C++ | MicroPython, CircuitPython, C, C++ |
| USB Interface | USB 1.1 Device and Host | USB 1.1 Device and Host |
| GPIO Logic Level | 3.3V | 3.3V |
| GPIO | 26 Digital IO, 4 12-bit ADC (Analog Pins), 2 UART, 2 I2C, 2 SPI, 24 PWM | 26 Digital IO, 3 12-bit ADC (Analog Pins), 2 UART, 2 I2C, 2 SPI, 16 PWM |
| Programmable IO | 12 PIO State Machines | 8 PIO State Machines |
| Onboard LED | GPIO 25 | GPIO 25 |
| Power Supply | 1.8 to 5.5V via Micro USB or VSYS | 1.8 to 5.5V via Micro USB or VSYS |
| MCU Sleep Mode Power Consumption | <10uA | 100uA |
| Dimensions | 21 x 51mm | 21 x 51mm |
| Price | $7 | $4 |
Design of Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
At first glance, the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W looks almost identical to the original Raspberry Pi Pico W, with the main differences being the branding text, the layout of the surface-mounted components, and the FCC/ID reference number. Other than that, they are identical, including having only one BOOTSEL button.
However, we really hope that the Raspberry Pi team can add a reset button to the Pico!
The silver square at the bottom of the Pico 2 W is the same CYW43439 wireless module as the Raspberry Pi Pico W, meaning it can be used like the Pico W, which we will discuss later. Power and data connections are made via the micro USB interface. While we prefer the USB Type-C interface on the Pimoroni Pico Plus 2 W, the micro USB interface is still usable considering the $10 price difference.
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W retains the well-reviewed castle-shaped edge design, allowing it to be directly surface-mounted onto projects without modifying the receiving PCB. The method of soldering GPIO pins is the same as the previous Raspberry Pi Pico, with solder flowing well between the pins and the Pico’s GPIO.
Programming the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
As part of the Raspberry Pi Pico series, the Pico 2 W can be programmed using various languages such as MicroPython, CircuitPython, Arduino, etc.
In short, the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W can be programmed using the same languages and software you are already familiar with. Just wait for the maintainers to update to support Wi-Fi functionality.
In our review, Raspberry Pi provided the latest version of MicroPython, which ran directly on our Pico 2 W. I tested a script that downloaded all the JSON data of the astronauts currently on the International Space Station, parsed the data to generate a list, and printed it to the Python shell.
For CircuitPython enthusiasts (I am one of them), we tested a pre-release firmware, and everything worked well! Wi-Fi connectivity was easily established, and we were able to download JSON data directly to the Pico 2 W.
We used the third-party Arduino-Pico board library developed by Earle F. Philhower, III, and quickly established serial communication. We also believe that Wi-Fi functionality will soon be added to the Arduino board library, as the Pico 2 W uses the same wireless module as the Pico W.
Accessories for Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
Yes, we can use Raspberry Pi Pico accessories and additional devices with the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W! Typically, if a device can run on the old Raspberry Pi Pico, it can also run on the Pico 2 W. Of course, you may encounter some incompatible additional devices, but once developers get their hands on the Pico 2 W for testing, these issues will be resolved.
For example, we tested the Pimoroni Pico Display 2.0 and Display 2.8 with Pimoroni’s pre-release version of MicroPython, and confirmed that both worked properly. We quickly implemented a series of animated balls bouncing on the screen like a DVD screensaver.
Who is Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W for?
Compared to the RP2040, the RP2350 is a more powerful chip. While most microcontroller projects do not require a lot of processing power, the extra performance can provide significant advantages in certain applications. For example, in fields like emulation, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and computer vision.
The Pico 2 W provides stable Wi-Fi connectivity on top of this. Now, our data is no longer limited to the immediate environment. We can retrieve data from remote sources and send raw or processed data to remote locations, making the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W very suitable for low-power data science applications, robotics, and basic machine learning.
Conclusion
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W combines the powerful performance of the RP2350 with wireless connectivity while maintaining the same form factor as the Raspberry Pi Pico, making it likely to become the core of many projects. If you don’t need Wi-Fi functionality, you can choose the Raspberry Pi Pico 2.
But if you are looking for more powerful performance and Wi-Fi functionality in a microcontroller, the Pico 2 W is the best choice. We now have the same high-quality Raspberry Pi board, allowing for easy migration to this Pico 2 W with existing projects and knowledge bases.
Appendix
Original author: Tom’s Hardware
Translation first published in: DF Maker Community
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