Caveat: Only 2 cores can be used at once, but can be 2x ARM, 2x RISC-V, or one of each
Onboard QSPI increase from 2MB to 4MB
520kB of on-chip static RAM (SRAM), almost twice that of the RP2040
QSPI PSRAM is supported. It works for reads and writes and has a cache
GPIO
4x ADC compatible
PIO state machines increased from 8 to 12
5V tolerant (with VDDIO=3.3V), stated in electrical section of data sheet
Enhanced DMA
Footprint compatibility with RP2040 (yes, it has USB micro - no USB-C)
Wireless version, the Pi Pico 2 W, due later this year with an Infineon 43439 modem.
Hackster’s take
Review from Dmitry Grinberg, who has been working with Pico 2 prototypes for a year. He developed the firmware for DEFCON 32 badge with the Pico 2. See below for details on DEFCON 32 badge kerfuffle.
Yup, I have one of those as well. The rpi folks also gave me 5 of the rp2350b’s off their reel so I’m currently working through designing a breakout board (there’s already an example one but why not build my own) for it.
Thats…a very very hard chip to lay out xD
80 pins in a tiny form factor.
Couple friends and I have laid out the 2040 and similar chips, and they aren’t exactly fun. An easier variation would be to make a custom Arduino or something.
I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s a “fun” part to do the layout on.
As an advanced class? Yes, it would be perfect, but I’d want some folks who had done at least a couple boards in kicad first because there’s a lot of “you should use this if you don’t it won’t work” in the layout reference.
