Waveshare RP2040-PiZero: A Compact Raspberry Pi RP2040 Board in the Pi Zero Form Factor

The Waveshare RP2040-PiZero is a new board that adopts the form factor of the Raspberry Pi Zero while integrating the Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller instead of a Linux-capable application processor.

Resembling the Raspberry Pi Zero, the RP2040-PiZero board maintains a familiar layout with two USB Type-C ports, a mini HDMI/DVI connector, a microSD card slot, and a 40-pin GPIO header. However, it introduces additional features such as support for LiPo batteries via a 2-pin connector and an integrated charging circuit. This combination of form factor familiarity and enhanced functionality makes the RP2040-PiZero an intriguing option for various projects and applications.

Here are the specifications for the RP2040-PiZero:

• MCU: Raspberry Pi RP2040 dual-core Cortex M0+ microcontroller @ 133 MHz with 264 kB of embedded SRAM
• Storage: 16MB SPI flash, microSD card slot
• Video: Mini HDMI port that can output DVI signals
• USB: 1x USB Type-C port for data using PIO-USB host/device implementation
• Expansion: 40-pin color-coded header with 2x SPI, 2x I2C, 2x UART, 4x 12-bit ADC, 16x PWM, 8x Programmable I/O (PIO) state machines for custom peripheral support
• Misc: “Clock and timer on-chip”, temperature sensor
• Power Supply:
  • 5V via USB Type-C port
  • Support for Lithium battery via recharge/discharge header
  • Low-power sleep and dormant modes
• Dimensions: 65mm x 30mm

These specifications outline the features and capabilities of the RP2040-PiZero board, making it suitable for a wide range of projects and applications requiring compact yet powerful embedded systems.

Waveshare offers support for MicroPython, Arduino, and the C/C++ SDK for the RP2040-PiZero board. Leveraging existing projects for HDMI/DVI output (PicoDVI) and USB data (USB-PIO), they provide comprehensive instructions to get started, along with code samples and the PDF schematic in the wiki.

While this isn’t the first Raspberry Pi RP2040 board to adopt the Pi Zero form factor, it closely resembles it with features such as the “PIO-USB” and micro HDMI ports. In comparison to other similar boards like SB Components StackyPi, the RP2040-PiZero offers a closer match.

The Waveshare RP2040-PiZero is available for purchase on Aliexpress for approximately $15, inclusive of shipping. Alternatively, it can be bought directly from the company’s store for $9.99, with shipping costs being additional.

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