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Raspberry Pi Pico Series RP2040 Development Board - Pico, Pico H, Pico W and Pico WH
Raspberry Pi Pico Product Overview
When selecting a microcontroller development board for embedded learning, teaching labs, or IoT prototyping, designers typically focus on three things: whether the chip architecture is flexible enough, whether onboard resources directly support project needs, and whether different models transition smoothly. The Raspberry Pi Pico series is the RP2040-based family designed for exactly that requirement.
The series is built around Raspberry Pi's in-house RP2040 microcontroller, featuring a dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ processor with a flexible clock up to 133MHz, 264KB SRAM, and 2MB onboard QSPI Flash. The RP2040's standout Programmable I/O (PIO) subsystem provides 8 state machines capable of emulating custom peripheral protocols at the hardware level, significantly offloading the CPU. Four versions are available: Pico (base, no wireless, no headers), Pico H (base + pre-soldered headers and 3-pin JTAG), Pico W (adds Infineon CYW43439 for 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, no headers), and Pico WH (Pico W + pre-soldered headers). All versions share the same 21mm × 51mm compact footprint and 40-pin GPIO layout, with fully interchangeable software and hardware ecosystems.
The Pico series supports three mainstream development approaches: MicroPython, the C/C++ SDK, and the Arduino IDE, with drag-and-drop programming via USB mass storage requiring no dedicated programmer. It exposes 26 multifunction GPIOs (including 3 × 12-bit ADC, 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, and 16 × PWM), operates from 1.8V to 5.5V, and is suitable for the full journey from beginner learning to product prototyping.
Key Specifications
| Item | Pico / Pico H | Pico W / Pico WH |
|---|---|---|
| Core Chip | RP2040 (Dual-Core Arm Cortex-M0+ @133MHz) | RP2040 (Dual-Core Arm Cortex-M0+ @133MHz) |
| SRAM | 264 KB | 264 KB |
| Flash | 2 MB QSPI | 2 MB QSPI |
| Wireless | None | Infineon CYW43439, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz Wi-Fi) |
| USB Interface | Micro-USB | Micro-USB |
| GPIO | 26 multifunction GPIOs (incl. 3 × ADC) | 26 multifunction GPIOs (incl. 3 × ADC) |
| Peripheral Interfaces | 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 16 × PWM | 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 16 × PWM |
| Special Features | 8 × PIO State Machines, 1 × Temperature Sensor | 8 × PIO State Machines, 1 × Temperature Sensor |
| Headers | None (Pico H: pre-soldered 40-pin + 3-pin JTAG) | None (Pico WH: pre-soldered 40-pin + 3-pin JTAG) |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8V ~ 5.5V (VSYS) / 5V (VBUS) | 1.8V ~ 5.5V (VSYS) / 5V (VBUS) |
| GPIO Level | 3.3V | 3.3V |
| Operating Current | ≤ 300 mA | ≤ 300 mA |
| Operating Temperature | -20℃ ~ +80℃ | -20℃ ~ +80℃ |
| ADC Resolution | 12-bit, 500 KSPS | 12-bit, 500 KSPS |
| Development | MicroPython, C/C++ SDK, Arduino IDE | MicroPython, C/C++ SDK, Arduino IDE |
| Programming | USB Mass Storage Drag-and-Drop | USB Mass Storage Drag-and-Drop |
| Dimensions | 21 × 51.3 × 3.9 mm (H version: 12.9 mm height) | 21 × 51.3 × 3.9 mm (WH version: 12.9 mm height) |
| Weight | Pico 3g / Pico H 6g | Pico W 4g / Pico WH 6g |
Typical Applications
Embedded systems and C/C++/MicroPython programming education
IoT sensor nodes and wireless data acquisition (Pico W/WH)
Custom peripheral and protocol emulation (via PIO state machines)
Small robotics, motor control, and LED lighting installations
Wearables and compact portable projects
Core control board for product prototype validation
FAQ
Q: What wireless capabilities do Pico W and Pico WH support?
A: Both carry the Infineon CYW43439 chip supporting IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. The chip is hardware-compatible with Bluetooth 5.2, but Raspberry Pi's official firmware currently focuses on Wi-Fi; Bluetooth availability depends on future software updates. Pico W and Pico WH differ only in whether headers are pre-soldered.
Q: What are the practical benefits of pre-soldered headers on Pico H and Pico WH?
A: Pico H and Pico WH ship with 40-pin headers (2.54mm pitch) and a 3-pin JTAG debug interface already soldered, allowing immediate use on breadboards or expansion boards without DIY soldering and avoiding cold-joint risks—ideal for teaching, rapid prototyping, and frequent plugging.
Q: What programming methods are supported?
A: Three mainstream approaches: MicroPython (via Thonny or similar IDE), the C/C++ SDK (official SDK with VS Code or Eclipse), and the Arduino IDE (via the Arduino-Pico core). To program, hold BOOTSEL while connecting USB; the board appears as a mass storage device, and dragging a firmware file onto it completes the flash—no dedicated programmer needed.
Q: What is PIO (Programmable I/O) and how does it help development?
A: PIO provides 8 programmable state machines inside RP2040 that handle custom digital protocols (e.g., WS2812 timing, DVI output, extra UARTs) independently of the CPU. For projects needing precise timing or non-standard interfaces, PIO offers hardware-level flexibility and determinism without external logic chips.
Q: What are the power and GPIO voltage characteristics?
A: VSYS accepts 1.8V to 5.5V, powered via Micro-USB 5V (VBUS) or an external battery. GPIO levels are fixed at 3.3V; interfacing with 5V devices requires level matching or shifting. The onboard 3.3V LDO can supply small external sensors.
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- Series:
- Raspberry Pi Pico
- Models number:
- Pico / Pico H / Pico W / Pico WH
- Core Chip:
- RP2040
- SRAM:
- 264 KB
- Flash:
- 2 MB QSPI
- Wireless (W/WH):
- CYW43439,IEEE 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz)
- USB Interface:
- Micro-USB
- Peripheral Interfaces:
- 2 × SPI、2 × I2C、2 × UART、16 × PWM
- Supply Voltage:
- 1.8V ~ 5.5V (VSYS) / 5V (VBUS)
- Development:
- MicroPython、C/C++ SDK、Arduino IDE
