ST Launches STM32WB Dual‑Core Wireless MCUs: Ultra‑Low‑Power, Real‑Time Performance for IoT

STMicroelectronics has unveiled the STM32WBx5 family of dual‑core wireless microcontrollers, merging Bluetooth 5, OpenThread, and Zigbee 3.0 connectivity with a proven ultra‑low‑power architecture.

The core of the STM32WBx5 is a powerful Cortex‑M4 that inherits the STM32L4’s energy‑efficient design, paired with a dedicated Cortex‑M0+ that manages the on‑chip radio. Together they deliver real‑time performance while enabling concurrent wireless‑protocol handling, making the MCU ideal for remote sensors, wearable trackers, building‑automation, peripherals, drones, and a wide range of IoT applications.

Security is baked into the design. The MCU incorporates Customer Key Storage (CKS), Public Key Authorization (PKA), and hardware encryption engines for both the radio MAC and higher‑layer protocols. The Cortex‑M0+ also provides OTA‑secure firmware updates for the application and radio stack, safeguarding device integrity and intellectual property while simplifying product management.

With up to 1 MB of on‑chip Flash and a Quad‑SPI interface, developers can keep BOM costs low and maintain a small footprint. Additional peripherals include a crystal‑less Full‑Speed USB port, a 32 MHz RF oscillator with trimming capacitors, a touch‑sense controller, an LCD controller, analog peripherals, and multiple timers and watchdogs. The on‑chip balun ensures a clean antenna connection.

Power efficiency is a cornerstone of the STM32WBx5. The MCU supports multiple low‑power modes, including a 13 nA shutdown state, adaptive voltage scaling, and an adaptive real‑time ART accelerator. These features translate into extended battery life for self‑powered devices.

The integrated radio delivers high RF performance with minimal consumption. Programmable output power up to +6 dBm in 1 dB steps, 5.2 mA current draw at 0 dB transmit power, and –96 dBm receive sensitivity at 1 Mbps BLE rate enable robust links over a 102 dB budget. External power amplifiers are also supported for longer ranges.

ST’s STM32Cube ecosystem simplifies development. The STM32CubeWB package provides peripheral drivers, middleware, and connectivity libraries, while the STM32WB55 Nucleo (P‑NUCLEO‑WB55) board accelerates prototyping. The new STM32CubeMon‑RF tool offers RF testing and custom scripting, further shortening time‑to‑market.

The STM32WBx5 is available in a range of packages, from UFQFPN48 to UFBGA129, giving designers flexibility to balance cost, size, and I/O requirements.