The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is the Raspberry Pi Foundation's latest enhancement to its renowned RP2040-based Pico board, now powered by the advanced RP2350 microcontroller. Featuring a higher core clock speed, 512KB of on-chip SRAM (double the original), 4MB of on-board flash memory (also doubled), upgraded Arm M33 cores, enhanced security, low-power features, and expanded interfacing capabilities, the Pico 2 offers a substantial improvement in performance and functionality while maintaining compatibility with previous Pico models.
The RP2350 introduces a unique dual-core, dual-architecture design, enabling users to switch between two Arm Cortex-M33 cores and two open-hardware Hazard3 RISC-V cores. This flexibility allows developers to explore RISC-V development on an accessible platform packed with robust peripherals. The M33 cores, featuring an FPU, deliver nearly double the speed of the RP2040’s M0+ cores based on performance testing.
The Pico 2 doubles its predecessor’s performance and memory resources, offering 520KB of SRAM compared to 264KB and 4MB of flash memory versus 2MB. This expanded capacity significantly enhances its suitability for CircuitPython applications, where on-board memory is critical for file storage. Additionally, the board features three PIO blocks (up from two), allowing for more simultaneous pin manipulations. Developers requiring high-frequency output signals, such as DVI, can utilize the new HSTX (High-Speed Transmission) peripheral for efficient signal generation.
For applications demanding secure microcontrollers, the RP2350 integrates a comprehensive security framework. Built around Arm TrustZone for Cortex-M, it includes signed boot support, 8KB of antifuse OTP for key storage, SHA-256 acceleration, a hardware TRNG, and glitch detection. These features, along with a transparent and extensively documented secure boot ROM, empower professional users to confidently integrate the RP2350 and Pico 2 into their products, offering a stark contrast to the “security through obscurity” approach of legacy vendors.
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is programmable in C/C++ and CircuitPython/MicroPython, supported by detailed documentation. It provides an ideal solution for both enthusiasts and professionals, delivering a significant upgrade to the RP2040 while maintaining backward compatibility.
Important Note: The Pico 2 features the A2 version of the RP2350, which is subject to the E9 erratum. This issue impacts certain GPIO and PIO functionalities, including high-impedance inputs and internal pulldowns. Users may need to use resistors of 8.2K or smaller for pull-down requirements. As of September 9, 2024, no alternative version of the RP2350 is available.