⚙️ nRF5340
Dual-Core Power for the Next Generation of Wireless Devices
The nRF5340 is Nordic Semiconductor’s flagship wireless SoC, built around two ARM Cortex-M33 cores — one optimized for performance, and one for efficiency.
It’s designed for demanding IoT, wearable, and industrial applications where you need high-speed wireless connectivity and serious processing power.
If the nRF52840 was the all-in-one Bluetooth powerhouse, the nRF5340 takes things further — adding dual-core architecture, more memory, and support for Bluetooth 5.3, LE Audio, Thread, and Matter.
🧠 What Makes the nRF5340 Special
The nRF5340 is based on the ARM Cortex-M33 architecture, bringing improved performance, power efficiency, and enhanced security compared to its predecessors.
It features two fully programmable cores:
- Application core (128 MHz) – runs your main logic, AI, or protocol stack.
- Network core (64 MHz) – handles wireless communication and background tasks efficiently.
Key Features
- Dual ARM Cortex-M33 cores (128 MHz + 64 MHz)
- 1 MB Flash / 512 KB RAM
- Bluetooth 5.3, LE Audio, Thread, Zigbee, Matter support
- USB, QSPI, PDM, PWM, I²C, SPI, UART, and I²S interfaces
- Arm TrustZone + Secure Boot for hardware security
- Advanced power management for ultra-low-power IoT devices
- Supports Zephyr RTOS, Nordic SDK, and Arduino-compatible frameworks
This dual-core design lets you balance real-time radio control and application logic without compromise — perfect for next-gen connected products.
⚙️ Boards That Use the nRF5340
| Board / Module | Manufacturer | Clock Speed | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| nRF5340 DK | Nordic Semiconductor | 128 MHz + 64 MHz | Dual-core development kit |
| Thingy:53 | Nordic Semiconductor | 128 MHz + 64 MHz | Sensor-packed IoT platform |
| Adafruit Feather nRF5340 Express | Adafruit | 128 MHz + 64 MHz | Dual-core BLE + USB board |
| Arduino Pro IoT Concepts (custom) | Arduino | 128 MHz + 64 MHz | Prototype-level support |
These boards make the nRF5340 ideal for complex wireless products — from smart home devices and wearables to industrial sensors and edge AI nodes.
💡 Why Developers Choose the nRF5340
- Dual-core flexibility — split logic between application and network tasks.
- Bluetooth 5.3 + LE Audio for modern wireless communication.
- Matter-ready for next-generation smart home devices.
- Secure by design with Arm TrustZone technology.
- Large memory and strong processing power.
- Supported by Zephyr RTOS, nRF Connect SDK, and Arduino tools.
The nRF5340 isn’t just a microcontroller — it’s a mini computing platform for connected devices.
🧩 Perfect Applications
- Advanced IoT hubs and edge gateways
- Smart home and Matter-enabled devices
- Industrial automation and sensors
- Wearables and health monitors
- Audio and LE Audio-enabled products
The nRF5340 gives developers the freedom to innovate — combining top-tier wireless performance with dual-core efficiency and advanced security.