⚙️ nRF52840
Bluetooth 5, USB, and Power Efficiency in One Tiny Package
The nRF52840 is one of the most popular ARM Cortex-M4-based microcontrollers for modern wireless development.
Built by Nordic Semiconductor, it’s designed for projects that demand Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), USB connectivity, and long battery life — all in one powerful and efficient chip.
You’ll find it at the heart of popular boards like the Arduino Nano 33 BLE, Adafruit Feather nRF52840, and Nordic’s own nRF52840 DK.
It’s a favorite among makers, IoT developers, and wearable designers for its versatility and rock-solid wireless performance.
🧠 What Makes the nRF52840 Special
The nRF52840 combines a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F core (with floating-point support) and integrated Bluetooth 5 radio — giving it both raw power and wireless capability.
It supports multiple wireless protocols, USB, and even Thread and Zigbee, making it a go-to choice for connected devices.
Key Features
- ARM Cortex-M4F core @ 64 MHz
- 1 MB Flash / 256 KB RAM
- Bluetooth 5.2 + BLE + ANT
- 2.4 GHz radio for custom protocols
- USB 2.0 full-speed device support
- NFC-A tag functionality built-in
- Multiple I/O interfaces (I²C, SPI, UART, PDM, PWM)
- Low-power modes ideal for wearables and IoT
The combination of wireless flexibility and onboard USB makes it an incredible foundation for both low-power and high-performance embedded systems.
⚙️ Boards That Use the nRF52840
| Board / Module | Manufacturer | Clock Speed | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arduino Nano 33 BLE | Arduino | 64 MHz | Bluetooth 5 + low-power operation |
| Adafruit Feather nRF52840 | Adafruit | 64 MHz | USB + LiPo charging + BLE |
| Nordic nRF52840 DK | Nordic Semiconductor | 64 MHz | Full development platform |
| Particle Xenon / Argon | Particle | 64 MHz | Mesh networking + IoT-ready |
These boards make the nRF52840 ideal for prototyping connected devices, wearables, and smart sensors that need both performance and ultra-low power consumption.
💡 Why Developers Choose the nRF52840
- Bluetooth 5 + long range support
- USB and NFC built right in
- Power-efficient ARM Cortex-M4F core
- Large memory for complex firmware and OTA updates
- Supported by Arduino, Zephyr RTOS, and Nordic SDK
- Rock-solid wireless stack and easy-to-use libraries
The nRF52840 is basically a Swiss Army knife for wireless microcontrollers — fast, flexible, and efficient.
🧩 Perfect Applications
- Bluetooth beacons and wearables
- IoT sensors and mesh networks
- USB-connected smart devices
- Home automation systems
- Portable wireless controllers
It’s an all-in-one solution that combines powerful processing with cutting-edge wireless communication, perfect for the next generation of connected devices.