There are many microcontrollers available in the market at different price points, and the cheapest microcontroller will depend on the specific requirements of your project. However, some commonly used low-cost microcontrollers are:
- Atmel AVR: Atmel AVR microcontrollers are widely used in embedded systems and are known for their low power consumption, high-performance, and low cost. These microcontrollers are available in different variants, and some of the commonly used variants are ATtiny and ATmega.
- Microchip PIC: Microchip PIC microcontrollers are another popular choice for low-cost embedded systems. These microcontrollers offer a wide range of features and are available in different variants, including PIC16, PIC18, and PIC32.
- STMicroelectronics STM8: STMicroelectronics STM8 microcontrollers are low-cost microcontrollers that offer excellent performance and low power consumption. These microcontrollers are suitable for a wide range of applications, including automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics.
- Espressif ESP8266: Espressif ESP8266 is a low-cost Wi-Fi microcontroller that offers excellent performance and connectivity features. This microcontroller is widely used in Internet of Things (IoT) applications and can be programmed using the Arduino IDE.
- Raspberry Pi Pico: Raspberry Pi Pico is a low-cost microcontroller board that offers excellent performance and features. This microcontroller board is based on the RP2040 microcontroller and is suitable for a wide range of applications, including robotics, automation, and IoT.
Overall, there are many low-cost microcontrollers available in the market that offer excellent performance and features. By choosing the right microcontroller for your project, you can develop efficient and cost-effective solutions.
It is difficult to determine the weakest microcontrollers, as different microcontrollers have different features and are designed for different purposes. However, some microcontrollers may have limited capabilities compared to others, and these may be considered weaker in terms of their performance and features.
Some examples of microcontrollers that may be considered weaker compared to others include:
- 8-bit microcontrollers: 8-bit microcontrollers are older technology and have limited processing power and memory compared to newer microcontrollers. They are generally used for simple applications that do not require high processing power.
- Microcontrollers with low clock speeds: Microcontrollers with low clock speeds may have limited processing power and may not be suitable for applications that require high processing speed.
- Microcontrollers with limited memory: Microcontrollers with limited memory may not be suitable for applications that require large data storage or complex algorithms.
- Microcontrollers with limited peripherals: Microcontrollers with limited peripherals may not be suitable for applications that require advanced communication protocols or extensive input/output capabilities.
Overall, the weakest microcontroller will depend on the specific requirements of your project. Before choosing a microcontroller, it is important to carefully evaluate your requirements and choose a microcontroller that can meet your project needs.
Medium performance microcontrollers are those that offer a balance between processing power, memory, and cost. They are suitable for applications that require moderate processing power and memory, and can offer a good price-to-performance ratio. Some examples of medium performance microcontrollers include:
- ARM Cortex-M3: The ARM Cortex-M3 is a 32-bit microcontroller that offers a good balance of processing power and energy efficiency. It is commonly used in industrial control, automotive, and consumer electronics applications.
- Atmel SAM3X: The Atmel SAM3X is a 32-bit microcontroller that offers high processing power and a wide range of peripherals, including USB and Ethernet interfaces. It is commonly used in industrial automation, robotics, and control applications.
- Microchip PIC32: The Microchip PIC32 is a 32-bit microcontroller that offers a balance of processing power and low power consumption. It is commonly used in automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial control applications.
- Renesas RX: The Renesas RX is a 32-bit microcontroller that offers high performance and a wide range of peripherals, including Ethernet and USB interfaces. It is commonly used in automotive, industrial control, and consumer electronics applications.
- NXP LPC1768: The NXP LPC1768 is a 32-bit microcontroller that offers a balance of performance and low power consumption. It is commonly used in industrial control, robotics, and consumer electronics applications.
Overall, medium performance microcontrollers are a good choice for applications that require a balance of processing power, memory, and cost. By choosing the right microcontroller for your project, you can develop efficient and cost-effective solutions.
The best performing microcontrollers are those that offer high processing power, large memory capacity, and a wide range of advanced features and peripherals. Some examples of microcontrollers that are known for their high performance include:
- ARM Cortex-M7: The ARM Cortex-M7 is a 32-bit microcontroller that offers the highest processing power in the Cortex-M series, with clock speeds of up to 600 MHz. It also features a large memory capacity and advanced features such as a floating-point unit, digital signal processing (DSP), and graphics acceleration. It is commonly used in high-performance applications such as automotive, aerospace, and industrial control.
- Renesas RH850: The Renesas RH850 is a 32-bit microcontroller that offers high processing power and a wide range of advanced features, including Ethernet and CAN interfaces, hardware security modules, and motor control peripherals. It is commonly used in automotive and industrial control applications.
- Texas Instruments Sitara AM6x: The Texas Instruments Sitara AM6x is a 32-bit microcontroller that offers high processing power and a wide range of advanced features, including multiple Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, high-speed USB, and advanced security features. It is commonly used in industrial automation and networking applications.
- NXP i.MX 8: The NXP i.MX 8 is a 64-bit microcontroller that offers high processing power and advanced multimedia features, including support for 4K video playback and advanced graphics acceleration. It is commonly used in automotive, consumer electronics, and industrial control applications.
- Microchip SAM V71: The Microchip SAM V71 is a 32-bit microcontroller that offers high processing power and advanced features such as Ethernet and USB interfaces, hardware security modules, and motor control peripherals. It is commonly used in industrial automation and control applications.
Overall, the best performing microcontrollers offer a combination of high processing power, large memory capacity, and advanced features and peripherals. By choosing the right microcontroller for your project, you can develop high-performance solutions that meet your requirements.
The price of microcontrollers can vary widely depending on their features, performance, and brand. Generally speaking, the cheapest microcontrollers on the market cost just a few cents per unit, while more advanced microcontrollers with high processing power and advanced features can cost several dollars or more.
For example, some of the cheapest microcontrollers available include the Atmel AVR ATTiny10, which costs around $0.20 per unit, and the Microchip PIC10F200, which costs around $0.25 per unit. These microcontrollers are typically used in low-power, low-cost applications that require basic functionality.
On the other end of the spectrum, some of the most advanced microcontrollers can cost hundreds of dollars or more, depending on their performance and features. These microcontrollers are typically used in high-performance applications such as automotive, aerospace, and multimedia.
However, it’s important to note that the price of a microcontroller is just one factor to consider when choosing a microcontroller for your project. Other factors such as processing power, memory capacity, I/O interfaces, and software development tools should also be taken into account when selecting a microcontroller that best meets your project requirements.
Midle price:
The price range for mid-performance microcontrollers varies depending on the brand and specific model of the microcontroller. Generally, mid-performance microcontrollers have more features and capabilities than the cheapest microcontrollers, but they are also more expensive.
Some mid-performance microcontrollers can cost around $1 to $2 per unit. For example, the Microchip PIC18F45K22 microcontroller costs around $1.50 per unit and has 32 KB of program memory, 2 KB of RAM, and a 12-bit ADC. Similarly, the STMicroelectronics STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller costs around $2 per unit and has 64 KB of program memory, 20 KB of RAM, and multiple communication interfaces such as SPI, I2C, and USART.
However, some mid-performance microcontrollers with more advanced features can cost more, such as the Atmel SAM3X8E ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller, which costs around $8 per unit and has 512 KB of flash memory, 96 KB of RAM, and multiple communication interfaces.
It’s important to keep in mind that the price of a microcontroller is just one factor to consider when selecting a microcontroller for your project. You should also consider the processing power, memory capacity, I/O interfaces, and software development tools when choosing a microcontroller that best meets your project requirements.
High price:
The price range for high-performance microcontrollers varies widely depending on the brand, specific model, and features of the microcontroller. Generally, high-performance microcontrollers have advanced features, faster processing speeds, and larger memory capacity, which makes them more expensive than mid-performance or low-performance microcontrollers.
Some high-performance microcontrollers can cost around $5 to $10 per unit. For example, the STMicroelectronics STM32H743ZI microcontroller costs around $8 per unit and has 2 MB of flash memory, 1 MB of RAM, and a 480 MHz ARM Cortex-M7 processor. Similarly, the Texas Instruments TMS320F28379D microcontroller costs around $10 per unit and has 1.5 MB of flash memory, 320 KB of RAM, and a 200 MHz C28x CPU.
However, some high-performance microcontrollers with even more advanced features can cost much more, such as the Renesas RX72N Group microcontroller, which costs around $100 per unit and has 4 MB of flash memory, 1 MB of RAM, and a 240 MHz RXv3 CPU.
It’s important to keep in mind that the price of a microcontroller is just one factor to consider when selecting a microcontroller for your project. You should also consider the processing power, memory capacity, I/O interfaces, and software development tools when choosing a microcontroller that best meets your project requirements.