Adafruit Raspberry Pi Pico W

The Raspberry Pi Pico W is a microcontroller that revolutionizes IoT projects with its low-cost, WiFi-enabled design. Equipped with the RP2040 chip, it retains full pin compatibility with its predecessor while adding single-band 2.4GHz wireless interfaces via the Infineon CYW43439.

With features like Wireless (802.11n) and Bluetooth Low Energy hardware capability, the Pico W connects easily to networks and allows seamless IoT applications. Its footprint of 51mm × 21mm × 1mm suits compact spaces, supporting breadboard or PCB attachments. The board offers 25 GPIO pins, 3 of which accommodate analog inputs, and caters to a range of projects with multiple integrated technologies.

For optimal wireless performance, maintain free space around the antenna to enhance bandwidth. The RP2040 chip's robust capabilities extend with dual ARM Cortex-M0+ cores at 133MHz, 264kB SRAM, and rich peripheral support for I2C, SPI, UART, PWM, and more. While the Pico W doesn’t have built-in FLASH memory, its external 2MB QSPI flash chip provides sufficient space.

Program firmware via the USB UF2 bootloader by holding the BOOTSEL button and connecting the device to a USB. Extensive support for C/C++, MicroPython, and CircuitPython ensures an easy start, with a multitude of tutorials and drivers available for expansive project potential. The unique PIO state machine system delivers custom hardware logic processing, elevating tasks like NeoPixels and LED matrix displays.