Arduino Uno R4 WiFi and Minima: A New Era for Arduino
The Arduino Uno R4 series has arrived, featuring the Arduino Uno R4 WiFi and Minima. These boards mark the most significant update for the Arduino Uno since the R4 in 2023. Both boards are powered by an Arm CPU and share the same core features, with the basic Uno R4 priced at $20.
Arduinos have been a part of our lives, alongside the Raspberry Pi, for a decade. Through thick and thin, the Arduino IDE has remained a constant companion, from the Motorola 68K-powered Arduino on Windows XP to the present day. As we delve into the world of the new Arduino Uno R4 boards, we ask: are they worth the investment, or is a Raspberry Pi Pico W a better choice?
To find answers to these questions and more, we must subject both the Arduino Uno R4 WiFi and Minima to rigorous testing. Opening the box of a new Arduino is an unforgettable experience, and we are excited to see the improvements that the new Unos bring to the table.
Arduino Uno R4 Minima Specs
Arduino Uno R4 WiFi Specs
Inside the box of the Arduino Uno R4 WiFi, we find a neatly sleeved Shield and the Arduino Uno R4 WiFi board itself. The boards come pre-soldered and boast a dark blue color—darker than our Arduino Uno R2 board.
Arduino Uno R4 Minima Specs
Arduino Uno R4 WiFi Specs
Arduinos come pre-flashed with a simple test script. For the Minima, we have the classic “Blink” sketch, which causes an LED to flash on and off every second. On the R4 WiFi, we are greeted by a 12 x 8 LED matrix that dominates the board.
Making GPIO connections is incredibly easy. GPIO pin references are clearly marked on the female headers and the PCB. While this is consistent with other Arduino boards, the inclusion of a Qwiic connector sets the R4 WiFi apart.
Arduinos typically have a single I2C connection, but the R4 WiFi, thanks to the Qwiic connector, boasts two. This becomes relevant when using the Arduino IoT Cloud—an online service for creating IoT applications using an Arduino. It is important to note that this issue only applies to the Arduino Uno R4 WiFi, and it arises due to the inclusion of the Qwiic connector.
Reviewing the Arduino Uno R4
While we have yet to thoroughly test these new boards, our initial impressions are positive. Arduinos have been a staple of the maker community for a decade. They are affordable, easy to learn, and enjoy robust community support. The Arduino Uno R4 owes its existence to the community's efforts in developing alternative operating systems like Linux, which offer more advanced functionality than the standard Arduino IDE.
Arduinos will always hold a place in the Raspberry Pi family tree, particularly since the Raspberry Pi 40 now shares the same Arm CPU as the Arduino Uno R4.
