⚙️ Portenta H7
Dual-Core Performance for Professional IoT and AI
The Arduino Portenta H7 is a powerhouse of embedded computing — featuring a dual-core architecture that combines a high-speed ARM Cortex-M7 and a low-power Cortex-M4 in a single microcontroller.
This design gives developers the freedom to run real-time control and high-level applications simultaneously — all on one compact, industrial-grade board.
It’s the brain behind advanced projects in edge computing, machine vision, and connected robotics.
🧠 What Makes the Portenta H7 Special
The Portenta H7’s strength lies in its dual-core STM32H747 processor, capable of running both cores in parallel or independently.
You can assign one core to manage time-critical I/O (like a traditional Arduino) and the other to handle AI tasks, networking, or data processing.
Key Features
- Dual-core MCU: ARM Cortex-M7 @ 480 MHz + Cortex-M4 @ 240 MHz
- 2 MB Flash, 1 MB RAM
- Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.0 module (Murata)
- USB-C with DisplayPort support
- Ethernet and CAN bus connectivity
- Camera and SD card interfaces
- Compatible with Arduino, MicroPython, and Mbed OS
This combination makes it one of the most powerful and flexible development boards ever released by Arduino.
⚙️ Portenta H7 Architecture Overview
| Core | Purpose | Clock Speed | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cortex-M7 | High performance | 480 MHz | AI, data handling, user applications |
| Cortex-M4 | Low power | 240 MHz | Real-time control, I/O tasks |
The two cores communicate through shared memory, allowing smooth data transfer between real-time and high-level processes — just like an MCU and MPU working side by side.
💡 Why Developers Love the Portenta H7
- Run real-time and high-level code together.
- Mbed OS + Arduino IDE + MicroPython support for multi-language flexibility.
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet built-in.
- Display and camera interfaces for visual or UI-driven projects.
- Compatible with Portenta Vision Shield and Machine Control expansions.
- Perfect for industrial and AI-focused IoT projects.
The Portenta H7 turns the Arduino platform into a professional-grade tool — ready for factory floors, laboratories, and smart devices.
🧩 Perfect Applications
- Edge AI and image processing
- Industrial control systems
- Robotics and mechatronics
- IoT data hubs and automation gateways
- Human–machine interfaces (HMI)
With dual cores, hardware-level communication, and broad connectivity, the Portenta H7 can multitask at a level most microcontrollers can only dream of.