Top Microcontroller Boards of 2021 – Expert Picks & Features

Like single‑board computers, microcontroller production has felt the pandemic’s ripple, tightening supply chains. While shortages are projected to ease in the coming months, manufacturers have already rolled out new models and revisions. Below is a curated look at the most noteworthy microcontroller boards of 2021, selected for performance, versatility, and developer support.

1. Groboards Giant Board

(Image credit: Groboards)

Built on the popular Adafruit Feather form factor, the Giant Board packs a Microchip SAMA5D2 ARM Cortex‑A5 processor, 128 MB DDR2 RAM, and a micro‑SD slot for expandable storage. It offers six 12‑bit ADC channels (3.3 V reference), four 16‑bit PWM outputs, and full I²C, SPI, and UART support. Powered via USB and LiPo, the board can run a complete Debian distribution and take advantage of Adafruit’s Blinka library for CircuitPython on Linux.

2. Seeeduino XIAO

(Image credit: Seeed Studio)

The XIAO is one of the smallest boards that fully supports the Arduino ecosystem. Powered by an ATSAMD21G18 (ARM Cortex‑M0+), it offers 32 KB SRAM, 256 KB Flash, 14 GPIO pins (11 analog, 11 digital), and a single DAC output. A USB‑Type C port handles power and programming, while onboard LEDs provide status and programming feedback. The board also includes two reset buttons and is 100 % compatible with the Arduino IDE.

3. BBC micro:bit V2

(Image credit: micro:bit)

Designed for education and rapid prototyping, the micro:bit V2 features a Nordic nRF52833, 512 KB Flash, 32 KB RAM, and an NXP KL27Z interface chip. Its compact form includes a 5×5 LED matrix, status LEDs, MEMS microphone/speaker, touch‑sensitive logo, and two programmable buttons. Connectivity is handled via 2.4 GHz RF and Bluetooth 5.1/BLE. Additional I/O includes a 25‑pin edge connector, four GPIOs, PWM, I²C, SPI, and ring pins for easy external connections. Onboard sensors cover acceleration, temperature, and magnetism.

4. Adafruit Gemma M0

(Image credit: Adafruit Industries)

The Gemma M0 is a quarter‑size wearable platform powered by an ATSAMD21E18 (Cortex‑M0+). With 256 KB Flash and 32 KB RAM, it supports a DotStar RGB LED, 12‑bit analog inputs, and capacitive touch sensing on all I/O pads. Its large sew‑holes allow for conductive thread or alligator‑clip connections, making it ideal for cosplay, biomonitoring, and IoT prototypes. The board can drive over 8,000 NeoPixels or DotStars thanks to its ample memory.

5. Arduino Uno Rev3

(Image credit: Arduino)

The Arduino Uno Rev3 remains a cornerstone for hobbyists and educators. It hosts an ATMega328P, 32 KB Flash, 2 KB SRAM, and 1 KB EEPROM. The board offers 14 digital I/O pins (six PWM), six analog inputs, a 16 MHz ceramic resonator, and both USB and power jack inputs. An ICSP header and reset button provide easy firmware updates. Its robust ecosystem ensures seamless connectivity to PCs, batteries, or AC adapters.

Next page: The Best Microcontrollers Available #6-10

>> Continue reading the rest of this list on page two of this article originally published on our sister site, EE Times.

Related Contents:

• Raspberry Pi designs its own MCU along with $4 board
• Dev boards speed IoT development
• Secure microcontroller builds on PUF technology
• Low-cost dev kits speed LoRaWAN development
• ST launches next gen power‑saving microcontrollers
• Arduino board targets industrial IoT

For more Embedded, subscribe to Embedded’s weekly email newsletter.