Raspberry Pi Pico & RP2040

The Raspberry Pi Pico is a low-cost microcontroller board, closer to an Arduino than to a Raspberry Pi computer. It has no operating system and runs one program from the moment it powers up.

  • Inside: the RP2040 chip has two processor cores, plus programmable I/O (PIO) blocks that can generate or read custom signals without tying up the CPU.
  • Newer boards: these use the RP2350.
  • Pico W: adds Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, which is the only real difference from the standard Pico.

Programming:

  • You can program a Pico in MicroPython with the free Thonny editor, in C/C++, or in the Arduino IDE.
  • Flashing is easy. Hold the BOOTSEL button while plugging it in and the Pico appears as a USB drive, with no driver needed.

How to choose:

  • Pick a Pico for a single dedicated task: reading sensors, driving LEDs or motors, a USB macro keyboard.
  • Pick a Pico W when it must go online.
  • Pick a full Raspberry Pi when you need Linux, a desktop, a camera pipeline or a web server.

Like most modern boards, the Pico is a 3.3V device. Check 5V sensor outputs before connecting them.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Pico a Raspberry Pi computer?

No. It is a microcontroller with no operating system. A Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 is a full Linux computer.

Pico or Pico W?

The only real difference is wireless. Choose the Pico W if the project needs Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

How do I flash MicroPython?

Hold BOOTSEL while plugging in, copy the MicroPython firmware to the drive that appears, then use Thonny.

What is PIO?

Programmable I/O blocks in the RP2040 that handle custom signal timing in hardware, freeing the CPU cores.

Guides

Reference pages on soldr.ai

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