STM32WB50 Value Line wireless microcontrollers (MCUs) from STMicroelectronics are a full and pin-compatible derivative of the STM32WB55 System-on-Chip, created to serve cost-sensitive connected devices that need to support Bluetooth 5.0, ZigBee 3.0, or OpenThread. The devices offer a good link budget from 100dB in Bluetooth 5.0 mode up to 104dB in 802.15.4 mode.
With the Arm Cortex-M4 to handle the user-application software and a Cortex-M0+ to run the radio subsystem including radio stack and security, the STM32WB50 is the best fit for developers seeking radio and application isolation for security reasons or real-time application constraints.
The STM32WB50 combines strong security with Value Line affordability. An AES-256, as well as other basic security features, are on board to ensure application robustness. The device has 1MByte of Flash and 128Kbyte of RAM and allows Over-The-Air (OTA) updates for the radio stack. The STM32WB50 also benefits from the power-saving modes of the STM32WB55, thus making it ideal for energy-saving applications.
By integrating balun circuitry, the new STM32WB50 devices save BOM cost and simplify PCB layout. To further reduce BOM cost, the STM32WB50 package allows a very simple PCB with a maximum of two layers.
As a full derivative of the STM32WB55, the STM32WB50 is integrated in the same market-proven STM32Cube ecosystem. As such, it comes with Bluetooth 5.0, BLE Mesh, ZigBee 3.0, or OpenThread certified stacks, distributed free of charge in the STM32CubeWB MCU Package, as well as a comprehensive toolset including STM32CubeMonRF dedicated to radio performance evaluation and the STM32CubeProg programmer that provides features including secure programming of the RF stacks.
STM32WB50 MCUs are in production now and available in volume for $1.89 in QFN48 package.
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