Raspberry Pi Pico 2 vs Pico W: Complete Comparison Guide
The Raspberry Pi Pico family has become one of the most popular choices for embedded systems, robotics, and Internet of Things (IoT) development. With the introduction of the Raspberry Pi Pico 2, developers now have two excellent options: the new RP2350-powered Pico 2 and the wireless-enabled Pico W.
Although both boards look almost identical, they target different applications. This guide compares their hardware, performance, programming support, and real-world use cases to help you decide which board is right for your next project.
Raspberry Pi Pico W Overview
The Raspberry Pi Pico W is powered by the RP2040 dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ processor and includes built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support.
It is an excellent choice for:
- IoT devices
- Smart home automation
- MQTT projects
- Web servers
- Cloud-connected sensors
- Weather stations
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 Overview
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is built around the new RP2350 microcontroller.
Key improvements include:
- Up to 150MHz CPU
- 520KB SRAM
- 4MB Flash memory
- Arm Cortex-M33 support
- Hazard3 RISC-V support
- Enhanced security
- Better real-time performance
It is designed for robotics, industrial automation, embedded systems, and high-performance applications.
Hardware Comparison
| Feature | Pico 2 | Pico W |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | RP2350 | RP2040 |
| Clock Speed | Up to 150MHz | Up to 133MHz |
| SRAM | 520KB | 264KB |
| Flash | 4MB | 2MB |
| Wi-Fi | External Module Required | Built-in |
| Bluetooth LE | External Module Required | Built-in |
| GPIO | 26 | 26 |
MicroPython Example
python
from machine import Pin
from time import sleep
led = Pin("LED", Pin.OUT)
while True:
led.toggle()
sleep(1)
The same development environment works on both boards, making it easy to migrate projects.
This article is a condensed version of the complete guide.
[👉 Original article on Chip.pk](https://www.chip.pk/blogs/chip-pk-knowledge-hub/raspberry-pi-pico-2-vs-pico-w)
[You can also explore Raspberry Pi boards and accessories here](https://www.chip.pk/collections/raspberry-pi-boards)
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