Raspberry Pi Pico vs. Arduino Nano: Which Is Best for Your Project?
In the exciting world of microcontrollers, finding the right balance between size and processing power for your embedded electronics project is a top priority. When looking for this match, Arduino Nano and Raspberry Pi Pico are two popular choices that often come to mind.
Unfortunately, the specific needs of your project may not be apparent to you until you’re knee-deep in the implementation process. Let’s go over some of the key differences and features to look for between these two rival boards to help you choose the right microcontroller for your project.
Hardware Comparison
Firstly, it’s worth noting that there are different options to choose from in both Arduino Nano and Pico ranges, not just their base models. Some are upgrades to the base model while others have dedicated features to suit certain applications. But this should stick: there is no “best” board for your project per se, only trade-offs.
Arduino Nano
The Arduino Nano, powered by the ATmega328, is a compact and breadboard-friendly board that offers similar functionality to the Arduino Duemilanove, but in a different form factor. It does not have a DC power jack and uses a Mini-B USB cable instead of a standard one.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Microcontroller | ATmega328 |
| Clock speed | 16MHz |
| SRAM | 2kB |
| Flash memory | 32kB |
| EEPROM | 1kB |
| GPIO pins | 22 |
| Analog in pins | 8 |
| PWM pins | 6 |
| I/O pins voltage | 5V |
| I/O pin current | 40mA |
| 3.3V pin current | 50mA |
| Power supply voltage | 7-12V |
| Dimensions | 18 x 45mm |
Raspberry Pi Pico
Although the Raspberry Pi Pico was only launched in 2021, it’s already a popular choice in the world of MCUs. At the heart of the Pico is an RP2040 microcontroller chip based on a dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ processor.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Microcontroller | RP2040 SoC with Arm Cortex-M0+ dual-core |
| Clock speed | 133MHz |
| On-chip RAM | 264kB |
| On-chip flash Memory | 2MB |
| Off-chip flash memory | Up to 16MB via dedicated QSPI bus |
| GPIO pins | 26 |
| Analog in channels | 3 |
| PWM channels | 16 |
| I/O pins voltage | 3.3V |
| Temperature sensor | Included |
| Power supply voltage | 5V |
| Dimensions | 51.3 x 21mm |
In terms of hardware capabilities, the Raspberry Pi Pico clearly has an edge over the standard Arduino Nano, with a faster processor, more flash memory, more GPIO pins, and extensive control over PWM signals. Also, the dual-core processor present on the Pico is good for multithreaded programs.
However, the Raspberry Pi Pico lacks EEPROM, often essential for microcontroller-based projects. In addition, you won’t be able to run your project off a 9V battery without a voltage regulator.
Read More: Raspberry Pi Pico vs. Arduino Nano: Which Is Best for Your Project? – MakeUseOf
