iLabs CPico RP2350 - A Powerful Upgrade to Raspberry Pi Pico 2

The iLabs CPico RP2350 is a compact and feature-rich alternative to the Raspberry Pi Pico 2, maintaining the same form factor while introducing key enhancements. Powered by the Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller, this development board incorporates a USB-C port, 8MB of onboard flash memory, 2MB of PSRAM, a Reset button, and BConnect I2C and debug ports.

Despite these improvements, the CPico RP2350 retains essential elements of the Raspberry Pi Pico 2, including the dual 20-pin GPIO headers and a BOOT button. It competes with other alternatives, such as the Waveshare RP2350-Plus, which adds battery support for extended applications.

Key Specifications of CPico RP2350

Processor

• Raspberry Pi RP2350 SoC
• Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 @ 150 MHz with Arm TrustZone and Secure Boot
• Dual-core RISC-V Hazard3 @ 150 MHz
• Supports up to two active cores simultaneously

Memory & Storage

• 520 KB on-chip SRAM
• 2MB PSRAM
• 8MB onboard QSPI flash storage

Security Features

• 8KB anti-fuse OTP for secure key storage
• Secure boot (Arm-based)
• SHA-256 hardware acceleration
• True Random Number Generator (TRNG)
• Fast glitch detection mechanism

Connectivity & Expansion

• USB Type-C 1.1 host/device connector for power and programming
• Two 20-pin headers including: -26 GPIO pins -2 UART interfaces -2 SPI controllers -2 I2C controllers -16 PWM channels -4 ADC channels -3 PIO blocks with a total of 12 PIO state machines
• BConnect I2C connector
• Debugging support via BConnect CMSIS/DAP/UART

Power & Dimensions

• Power input: 1.8V to 5.5V / 3A DC via USB-C
• Dimensions: 51mm x 21mm

Software & Compatibility

The CPico RP2350 supports various programming environments, including MicroPython, CircuitPython, the Raspberry Pi Pico SDK, and Arduino IDE. These options provide flexibility for firmware development while ensuring compatibility with Raspberry Pi Pico 2 projects.

Debugging & Development Tools

For advanced debugging, developers can utilize the BSWD iProbe, which is compatible with CMSIS/DAP. This enables smooth integration with OpenOCD, GDB, and other industry-standard debugging tools, enhancing the development experience.

The iLabs CPico RP2350 is available for $9.18 through iLabs' official online store. The BSWD iProbe, an essential debugging accessory, is priced separately at $13.30.

With its expanded memory, enhanced debugging features, and USB-C support, the CPico RP2350 offers an improved alternative to the Raspberry Pi Pico 2, making it a compelling choice for developers and hobbyists alike