Choosing a microcontroller or processor

Answer six questions to find the kind of chip that fits your project, from small microcontrollers to Linux-class processors. You get a class, not a brand.

Answer six questions

The result is a type of chip, not a brand. Try different answers to compare.

0 of 6 answered

Does the device need a full operating system?

Linux brings ready-made software and networking, but needs external memory, starts slower and has a filesystem to look after.

How is it powered?

This decides whether sleep current or peak performance matters more.

Which wireless link must the device have?

A radio built into the chip saves a part. Using it inside a pre-certified module saves most of the radio certification work.

What is the heaviest work it does?

This sets how much processing power and memory the chip needs.

Must anything respond within microseconds, every time?

Motor control, power conversion and some protocols need a guaranteed response time, not just a fast average.

Does either of these apply?

Both narrow the choice to parts with extra documentation or a supply promise.

Your result appears here once all six questions are answered.

The six classes

Prices are single-unit listings from a named seller on the date shown. A chip's price is not a board's price, and neither is the cost of a finished product.

Before choosing, look beyond the specs. For a Linux part, check that its drivers are in the main Linux kernel, not only the vendor's own, so security updates stay easy. Check how long the vendor commits to making the part, often 10 or 15 years with conditions, and for a safety-critical product, whether it comes with safety documentation.

Microcontrollers

Everything on one chip. They run without an operating system or with a small RTOS, and can sleep on a battery.

General-purpose microcontrollerYour result A small, cheap, low-power chip that reads sensors, drives outputs and can run on a battery for years. Specs and 7 example partsHide details
General-purpose microcontroller: what is on the chip and around it General-purpose microcontroller. On the chip: CPU (1–2 cores, 8- or 32-bit); SRAM (2 KB to a few hundred KB); Flash or MRAM (on-chip on most parts); Peripherals; about 20 to 200 MHz. Runs bare metal or a small RTOS. Around it: Sensors and outputs (reads and drives them); Battery (microamps asleep). A strip below marks where the class sits among the six, from general microcontrollers to high-end application processors. On the chip about 20 to 200 MHz CPU 1–2 cores, 8- or 32-bit SRAM 2 KB to a few hundred KB Flash or MRAM on-chip on most parts Peripherals Runs bare metal or a small RTOS Around it Sensors and outputs reads and drives them Battery microamps asleep Microcontrollers Application processors General Wireless Fast MCU Entry Mainstream High-end

At a glance

CPUOne or two 8-bit or 32-bit cores (AVR, Cortex-M0+/M4/M33, RISC-V)
ClockAbout 20 MHz to 200 MHz
Memory2 KB to a few hundred KB of SRAM, a few low-power parts reach megabytes; flash (or MRAM) on-chip on most parts
SoftwareBare metal or a small RTOS
PowerMicroamps asleep; under a milliamp to a few tens of milliamps running, depending on clock
Good forWrong for
Sensor nodesAnything that needs Linux
Simple controllers and appliancesCamera processing
Learning embedded programmingRich graphical interfaces, apart from a few display-oriented parts

Example parts A to Z by vendor. Examples, not recommendations.

VendorPartTypeCoresAccelerators and radiosPrice seen in India
AmbiqApollo4 PlusIts 2 MB of non-volatile memory is MRAM, not flash. Ambiq's SPOT design runs transistors at sub-threshold voltage to cut active power; 96 MHz normally, 192 MHz in turboSPOT mode.Chip only1× Cortex-M4F at 192 MHzGPU: 2D/2.5D graphics accelerator with MIPI DSI display controller₹1,210DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
MicrochipAVR64DD32Chip only1× AVR (8-bit) at 24 MHzNone listed₹124DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
Raspberry PiRaspberry Pi Pico 2 WAn RP2350 board with a separate Infineon CYW43439 wireless chip: an example of adding a radio next to a general-purpose microcontroller.Board2× Cortex-M33 or Hazard3 (RV32), chosen per core at boot at 150 MHzWi-Fi 4 (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth 5.2₹716 – ₹8052 sellers, 6 October 2026qty 1, incl. GST, 2 listings
Raspberry PiRP2350Two core slots, each running an Arm Cortex-M33 or a Hazard3 RISC-V core (mixing allowed); only two cores run at once. Flash is external except on RP2354. Shipped on Pico 2 in 2024; bare chips on sale March 2025.Chip only2× Cortex-M33 or Hazard3 (RV32), chosen per core at boot at 150 MHzNone listed₹110DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
STMicroelectronicsSTM32U083Chip only1× Cortex-M0+ at 56 MHzNone listed₹393DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
Texas InstrumentsMSPM0L1306Chip only1× Cortex-M0+ at 32 MHzNone listed₹196DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
WCHCH32V003Included as an example of how cheap a capable 32-bit MCU has become.Chip only1× QingKe V2A (RV32EC) at 48 MHzNone listed₹34DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
Wireless microcontrollerYour result A microcontroller with the radio on the same chip: most often Bluetooth LE, Thread and Zigbee, or Wi-Fi; a few add sub-GHz LoRa or cellular. Specs and 5 example partsHide details
Wireless microcontroller: what is on the chip and around it Wireless microcontroller. On the chip: CPU (1–2 cores, 32-bit); Helper core (low-power, some parts); SRAM (tens to hundreds of KB); Radio (BLE, Thread/Zigbee, Wi-Fi); about 48 to 240 MHz. Runs a vendor SDK on FreeRTOS or Zephyr. Around it: Antenna; Battery (Wi-Fi peaks far above BLE). A strip below marks where the class sits among the six, from general microcontrollers to high-end application processors. On the chip about 48 to 240 MHz CPU 1–2 cores, 32-bit Helper core low-power, some parts SRAM tens to hundreds of KB Radio BLE, Thread/Zigbee, Wi-Fi Runs a vendor SDK on FreeRTOS or Zephyr Around it Antenna Battery Wi-Fi peaks far above BLE Microcontrollers Application processors General Wireless Fast MCU Entry Mainstream High-end

At a glance

CPUOne or two 32-bit cores (Cortex-M0+/M33, RISC-V, Xtensa), sometimes with a low-power helper core
ClockAbout 48 to 240 MHz
MemoryTens to hundreds of KB of SRAM
SoftwareVendor SDK on FreeRTOS or Zephyr
PowerMicroamps asleep; milliamps receiving; Wi-Fi transmit peaks are far higher than Bluetooth LE
Good forWrong for
Smart-home devicesHeavy local computation
Wearables and phone accessoriesWired-only designs, where the radio is wasted
Battery sensors that report over a radio

Example parts A to Z by vendor. Examples, not recommendations.

VendorPartTypeCoresAccelerators and radiosPrice seen in India
EspressifESP32-C6Chip only1× RV32 high-performance core at 160 MHz + 1× RV32 low-power core at 20 MHzWi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth LE 5, IEEE 802.15.4 (Thread, Zigbee)₹194DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
EspressifESP32-S3Includes vector instructions aimed at signal processing and small neural networks.Chip only2× Xtensa LX7 at 240 MHzWi-Fi 4 (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth LE 5₹177DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
Nordic SemiconductornRF54L15Non-volatile memory is RRAM rather than flash.Chip only1× Cortex-M33 at 128 MHz + 1× RISC-V coprocessor (VPR) at 128 MHzBluetooth LE (incl. Channel Sounding), IEEE 802.15.4 (Thread, Zigbee), Proprietary 2.4 GHz₹419DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
Silicon LabsEFR32MG24Chip only1× Cortex-M33 at 78 MHzNPU: Matrix Vector Processor (MVP) for ML inference; only on some ordering codes; Bluetooth LE 5.3, IEEE 802.15.4 (Thread, Zigbee), Proprietary 2.4 GHz₹922DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
Texas InstrumentsCC2340R564 KB SRAM on the CC2340R53, 36 KB on the CC2340R52; both have 512 KB flash.Chip only1× Cortex-M0+ at 48 MHzBluetooth LE 5.4, Zigbee, Thread, Proprietary 2.4 GHz₹340DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
High-performance microcontrollerYour result The simplicity of a microcontroller, with hundreds of MHz, megabytes of RAM and, increasingly, a small NPU or camera interface. Specs and 4 example partsHide details
High-performance microcontroller: what is on the chip and around it High-performance microcontroller. On the chip: Fast CPU (M7/M55/M85 or RISC-V); Second core (some parts); SRAM (about 0.75 to 4 MB); Accelerators (some: NPU, 2D GPU, ISP); about 400 MHz to 1 GHz. Runs bare metal or an RTOS, still no Linux. Around it: Flash (often external); Camera or display (screens, small vision). A strip below marks where the class sits among the six, from general microcontrollers to high-end application processors. On the chip about 400 MHz to 1 GHz Fast CPU M7/M55/M85 or RISC-V Second core some parts SRAM about 0.75 to 4 MB Accelerators some: NPU, 2D GPU, ISP Runs bare metal or an RTOS, still no Linux Around it Flash often external Camera or display screens, small vision Microcontrollers Application processors General Wireless Fast MCU Entry Mainstream High-end

At a glance

CPUCortex-M7/M55/M85 or RISC-V, sometimes with a second core
ClockAbout 400 MHz to 1 GHz
MemoryAbout 0.75 to 4 MB of SRAM; flash often external
SoftwareBare metal or RTOS, still no Linux
PowerTens to a few hundred milliwatts active, more with an NPU or GPU busy
AccelerationDSP or vector instructions; some parts add an NPU (hundreds of GOPS), a 2D GPU, a camera ISP or a video encoder
Good forWrong for
Touchscreen panels without LinuxCoin-cell battery life
Audio and vibration analysisSoftware that expects Linux
Small vision models such as person detection

Example parts A to Z by vendor. Examples, not recommendations.

VendorPartTypeCoresAccelerators and radiosPrice seen in India
EspressifESP32-P4Has no radio of its own; boards pair it with a separate wireless chip. 400 MHz needs chip revision v3.x (2026); earlier silicon runs at up to 360 MHz.Chip only2× RV32 high-performance core at 400 MHz + 1× RV32 low-power core at 40 MHzISP: Camera ISP and H.264 encoder (1080p30); GPU: 2D pixel-processing accelerator (PPA)No INR listing found
NXPi.MX RT11701 GHz on the M7 is for commercial-grade parts; industrial and automotive grades run it at up to 800 MHz. The orderable code priced here is marked not for new designs by DigiKey.Chip only1× Cortex-M7 at 1 GHz + 1× Cortex-M4 at 400 MHzGPU: 2D graphics (GPU2D, PXP)₹2,275DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
RenesasRA8M1Cortex-M85 includes Helium vector instructions for signal processing and ML. Flash is 1 or 2 MB depending on the part; the part priced here has 1 MB.Chip only1× Cortex-M85 at 480 MHzNone listed₹1,453DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
STMicroelectronicsSTM32N657Chip only1× Cortex-M55 at 800 MHzNPU: Neural-ART Accelerator, up to 600 GOPS at 1 GHz (288 MAC/cycle); precision not stated beside the figure; GPU: NeoChrom 2.5D GPU; ISP: Image signal processor for MIPI CSI-2 cameras, plus H.264 encoder (1080p30)₹2,556DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST

Application processors

They use external memory and run a full operating system such as Linux, at the cost of more power and complexity.

Entry application processorYour result The smallest chips that run Linux well: one or two efficient cores, often with a microcontroller core alongside. Specs and 6 example partsHide details
Entry application processor: what is on the chip and around it Entry application processor. On the chip: Application cores (1–2: A7/A35/A55, RISC-V); Cortex-M (companion, often); Small NPU (0.5–1.5 TOPS, some parts); about 0.8 to 1.7 GHz. Runs embedded Linux; an RTOS on the companion core. Around it: DRAM (external, 256 MB to 4 GB); Storage (external); Cooling (usually fanless). A strip below marks where the class sits among the six, from general microcontrollers to high-end application processors. On the chip about 0.8 to 1.7 GHz Application cores 1–2: A7/A35/A55, RISC-V Cortex-M companion, often Small NPU 0.5–1.5 TOPS, some parts Runs embedded Linux; an RTOS on the companion core Around it DRAM external, 256 MB to 4 GB Storage external Cooling usually fanless Microcontrollers Application processors General Wireless Fast MCU Entry Mainstream High-end

At a glance

CPU1 or 2 cores (Cortex-A7/A35/A55, RISC-V), often plus a Cortex-M
ClockAbout 0.8 to 1.7 GHz
MemoryExternal DRAM, 256 MB to 4 GB
SoftwareEmbedded Linux (Yocto, Buildroot); RTOS on the companion core
PowerThe lowest of the Linux-capable classes; usually fanless. Real figures depend on load, memory and peripherals, so measure your own board
AccelerationSome parts add a small NPU (around 0.5 to 1.5 TOPS)
Good forWrong for
Industrial HMIs and gatewaysYears on a small battery
Linux devices on a power budgetHeavy vision AI
Products that need Linux plus real-time control

Example parts A to Z by vendor. Examples, not recommendations.

VendorPartTypeCoresAccelerators and radiosPrice seen in India
MicrochipSAMA7G54Chip only1× Cortex-A7 at 1 GHzNone listed₹977DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
NXPi.MX 8ULPSome variants have one Cortex-A35 instead of two.Chip only2× Cortex-A35 at 800 MHz + 1× Cortex-M33 at 216 MHzDSP: Cadence HiFi 4 and Fusion DSP; GPU: 2D and 3D GPU (not on every variant)₹2,461DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
NXPi.MX 93Chip only2× Cortex-A55 at 1.7 GHz + 1× Cortex-M33 at 250 MHzNPU: Arm Ethos-U65 microNPU, 0.5 TOPS (precision not stated by NXP)₹2,635DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
RenesasRZ/FiveA single-core 64-bit RISC-V processor built for Linux gateways, with two Gigabit Ethernet ports.Chip only1× Andes AX45MP (RV64) at 1 GHzNone listed₹1,356DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
STMicroelectronicsSTM32MP157FChip only2× Cortex-A7 at 800 MHz + 1× Cortex-M4 at 209 MHzGPU: 3D GPU (Vivante, OpenGL ES 2.0)₹1,698DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
STMicroelectronicsSTM32MP257FChip only2× Cortex-A35 at 1.5 GHz + 1× Cortex-M33 at 400 MHz + 1× Cortex-M0+ at 200 MHzNPU: NPU up to 1.35 TOPS (precision not stated in the sources checked); GPU: 3D GPU; ISP: Camera ISP₹3,066DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
Mainstream application processorYour result Two- to four-core Linux processors that drive displays, run containers and act as gateways for many smaller devices. Specs and 8 example partsHide details
Mainstream application processor: what is on the chip and around it Mainstream application processor. On the chip: Application cores (2–4: A53/A55, RISC-V); 3D GPU (drives displays); NPU (1–2.3 TOPS, some parts); Cortex-M (companion, often); about 1 to 2 GHz. Runs Linux (Yocto, Debian-based) or Android. Around it: DRAM (external, 512 MB to 8 GB); Storage (external); Display. A strip below marks where the class sits among the six, from general microcontrollers to high-end application processors. On the chip about 1 to 2 GHz Application cores 2–4: A53/A55, RISC-V 3D GPU drives displays NPU 1–2.3 TOPS, some parts Cortex-M companion, often Runs Linux (Yocto, Debian-based) or Android Around it DRAM external, 512 MB to 8 GB Storage external Display Microcontrollers Application processors General Wireless Fast MCU Entry Mainstream High-end

At a glance

CPU2 to 4 cores (Cortex-A53/A55, RISC-V), often plus a Cortex-M
ClockAbout 1 to 2 GHz
MemoryExternal DRAM, 512 MB to 8 GB
SoftwareLinux (Yocto, Debian-based), Android
PowerHigher than the entry class; usually still fanless, and normally mains-powered
Acceleration3D GPU; some parts add a 1 to 2.3 TOPS NPU
Good forWrong for
IoT gateways and hubsDevices that must run for months on a battery
Touchscreen productsHard real-time control without a companion core
Learning Linux on real hardware

Example parts A to Z by vendor. Examples, not recommendations.

VendorPartTypeCoresAccelerators and radiosPrice seen in India
ArduinoArduino UNO QLinux runs on the QRB2210, while a separate STM32U585 microcontroller on the same board handles real-time control: the Linux-plus-real-time pattern built from two chips.Board4× Cortex-A53 (Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210) at 2 GHz + 1× Cortex-M33 (separate STM32U585 chip) at 160 MHzGPU: Adreno 3D GPU; ISP: two ISPs; Wi-Fi 5 (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.1₹5,637 – ₹7,548DigiKey India, 7 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST, 2 listings
NXPi.MX 8M PlusChip only4× Cortex-A53 at 1.8 GHz + 1× Cortex-M7 at 800 MHzNPU: Up to 2.3 TOPS (precision not stated by NXP); ISP: Dual camera ISP; DSP: HiFi 4 audio DSP₹5,248DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
Raspberry PiRaspberry Pi Zero 2 WBuilt around the RP3A0 system-in-package, which combines a BCM2710A1 processor with the RAM. The resellers' pages do not say whether their prices include GST.Board4× Cortex-A53 at 1 GHzWi-Fi 4 (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2 / BLE₹1,433 – ₹1,6993 sellers, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST, 3 listings
RenesasRZ/G2LChip only2× Cortex-A55 at 1.2 GHz + 1× Cortex-M33 at 200 MHzGPU: 3D GPU (Mali-G31)₹2,089DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
RockchipRK3568Chip only4× Cortex-A55 at 2 GHzNPU: 1 TOPS (precision not stated by Rockchip); GPU: Mali-G52 2EE 3D GPUNo INR listing found
StarFiveJH7110Chip only4× SiFive U74 (RV64) at 1.5 GHzGPU: 3D GPU (Imagination BXE-4-32)No INR listing found
StarFiveVisionFive 2Board4× SiFive U74 (RV64) at 1.5 GHzNone listed₹11,943 marketplaceHubtronics, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
Texas InstrumentsAM625Chip only4× Cortex-A53 at 1.4 GHz + 1× Cortex-M4F at 400 MHzGPU: 3D GPU₹3,403DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
High-performance application processorYour result Fast cores and powerful accelerators for vision, multiple cameras and on-device AI. Specs and 8 example partsHide details
High-performance application processor: what is on the chip and around it High-performance application processor. On the chip: 4 to 8 cores (A76/A78 class with A55s, or many A55s, or x86-64); NPU or GPU (about 2 to 67 TOPS); about 1.7 to 3.4 GHz peak. Runs Linux, Ubuntu, Android or Windows IoT. Around it: DRAM (external, 1 to 16 GB); Storage (external); Cameras (several, for vision); Heatsink or fan (plan it from the start). A strip below marks where the class sits among the six, from general microcontrollers to high-end application processors. On the chip about 1.7 to 3.4 GHz peak 4 to 8 cores A76/A78 class with A55s, or many A55s, or x86-64 NPU or GPU about 2 to 67 TOPS Runs Linux, Ubuntu, Android or Windows IoT Around it DRAM external, 1 to 16 GB Storage external Cameras several, for vision Heatsink or fan plan it from the start Microcontrollers Application processors General Wireless Fast MCU Entry Mainstream High-end

At a glance

CPU4 to 8 cores: Cortex-A76/A78 class, usually paired with A55s; or many A55s; or x86-64
ClockAbout 1.7 to 3.4 GHz peak
MemoryExternal DRAM, 1 to 16 GB; 4 GB or more for larger models
SoftwareLinux, Ubuntu, Android, Windows IoT
PowerSeveral watts to tens of watts under load; plan a heatsink or fan from the start
AccelerationNPU or GPU from about 2 to 67 TOPS. Vendors quote different precisions, and a sparse figure is about double the dense one
Good forWrong for
Multi-camera visionDevices on small batteries
Local inference on larger modelsCost-sensitive products
RoboticsFanless enclosures without thermal planning

Example parts A to Z by vendor. Examples, not recommendations.

VendorPartTypeCoresAccelerators and radiosPrice seen in India
BroadcomBCM2712Documented only as the processor in Raspberry Pi 5, Pi 500 and Compute Module 5. Distributors list those boards and modules, not the bare chip.Chip only4× Cortex-A76 at 2.4 GHzGPU: VideoCore VIINo INR listing found
IntelAtom x7425Ex86 chip for embedded use with a 12 W TDP; 3.4 GHz is single-core turbo (1.5 GHz base). Supports Intel Time Coordinated Computing and a TSN Ethernet port for real-time networking.Chip only4× Efficient-core (Alder Lake-N) at 3.4 GHzGPU: Intel UHD Graphics, 24 execution unitsNo INR listing found
MediaTekGenio 1200Chip only4× Cortex-A78 at 2.2 GHz + 4× Cortex-A55 at 2 GHzNPU: AI processor (2x MDLA + 2x VP6), 4.8 TOPS INT8 combined (3.9 + 0.85); GPU: Mali-G57 MC5; DSP: HiFi 4 audio DSP₹7,733DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
NVIDIAJetson Orin Nano 8GBCPU 1.7 GHz and 67 TOPS need Super mode (JetPack 6.2, 25 W or MAXN SUPER); it launched at 1.5 GHz. Price: seller shows ₹43,109 and ₹50,868.62 (x1.18) without saying which includes GST.System-on-module6× Cortex-A78AE at 1.7 GHzGPU: Ampere GPU, 1024 CUDA and 32 Tensor cores; 67 TOPS sparse / 33 TOPS dense INT8 in Super mode (originally 40 / 20)₹43,109 marketplaceTanna TechBiz, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
NXPi.MX 95Production launch May 2026 after a 2023 announcement. The A55s run at up to 2.0 GHz on commercial grade, 1.8 GHz on industrial. Cortex-M33 is 333 MHz in the datasheet, 250 MHz on NXP's product page.Chip only6× Cortex-A55 at 2 GHz + 1× Cortex-M7 at 800 MHz + 1× Cortex-M33 at 333 MHzNPU: eIQ Neutron NPU: 2 TOPS on NXP's product page; datasheet rev 8 states 8 eTOPS at 1 GHz; GPU: Arm Mali-G310 3D GPU, plus 2D GPU₹7,346DigiKey India, 6 October 2026qty 1, excl. GST
QualcommQCS6490Wi-Fi and Bluetooth come from a companion chip, not the SoC. Qualcomm quotes 6 to 9 W typical.Chip only1× Kryo 670 Gold Prime at 2.7 GHz + 3× Kryo 670 Gold at 2.4 GHz + 4× Kryo 670 Silver at 1.9 GHzNPU: Qualcomm AI Engine (Hexagon 770), 12 dense TOPS (precision not stated); GPU: Adreno 643No INR listing found
Raspberry PiRaspberry Pi 5The approved resellers' pages do not say whether their prices include GST; the DigiKey price excludes it.Board4× Cortex-A76 at 2.4 GHzWi-Fi 5 (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0 / BLE₹4,675 – ₹29,2253 sellers, 6 October 2026qty 1, GST not stated, 7 listings
RockchipRK3588Chip only4× Cortex-A76 at 2.4 GHz + 4× Cortex-A55NPU: 6 TOPS, three cores; supports INT4/INT8/INT16/FP16/BF16/TF32 (precision behind the 6 TOPS not stated); GPU: Mali-G610 MC4No INR listing found