The Arduino Uno R4 WiFi and Minima: Competing with Raspberry Pi Pico W
The Arduino Uno R4 WiFi and Arduino Uno R4 Minima are new offerings from the popular maker community. These boards aim to outperform the Raspberry Pi Pico W in several ways, while still maintaining an attractive price point. In this article, we will take a closer look at these boards and their potential.
The Arduino Uno R4 WiFi is equipped with onboard Wi-Fi capabilities, thanks to the ESP32-S3 co-processor. This additional feature provides the Uno R4 WiFi with enhanced versatility, allowing users to display images and scroll text using the 12 x 8 LED matrix. Although smaller in size, this LED matrix is comparable to the one found on the micro:bit.
On the other hand, the Uno R4 Minima retains the same Arm Cortex M4 processor as the R4 WiFi but does not include the ESP32-S3. As a result, it lacks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and features a different pinout that excludes the Qwiic connector found on the Uno R4 WiFi. These changes make the Minima a more affordable option, priced at $20. However, for users who require wireless capabilities, these omissions may be deal-breakers.
Both the Uno R4 WiFi and Minima boast an Arduino Uno layout, complete with a reset button and micro USB port. The Uno R4 WiFi is priced at $27, which is equivalent to the Raspberry Pi Pico W.
Specifications:
Arduino Uno R4 WiFi:
- ESP32-S3 co-processor for Wi-Fi capabilities - 12 x 8 LED matrix for image display and text scrolling - Arduino Uno layout with reset button and micro USB portArduino Uno R4 Minima:
- Arm Cortex M4 processor - Different pinout compared to the R4 WiFi - More affordable option at $20The Uno R4 WiFi and Minima are now available for purchase from the official Arduino store. Additionally, there are also Uno R3 WiFi and Minima equivalents priced at $20 and $16 respectively, offering a more budget-friendly choice.
These new offerings cater to different project needs, and Arduino continues to provide options for makers and developers. It is noteworthy that these Arduino boards manage to offer additional capabilities while undercutting the price of the Raspberry Pi models.
With their potential to outperform Raspberry Pi models in terms of performance and features, all while maintaining lower prices, the Arduino Uno R4 WiFi and Minima could be the ideal development boards. Stay tuned for our upcoming review, where we will thoroughly test all four boards and provide a comprehensive analysis.
