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If you're planning your next embedded systems, robotics, or IoT project, one of the first questions you'll encounter is whether to choose the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 or the Raspberry Pi Pico W.
Although these two development boards look very similar, they are designed with different goals in mind. The Raspberry Pi Pico W focuses on wireless connectivity with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy, making it ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The Raspberry Pi Pico 2, on the other hand, introduces the new RP2350 microcontroller, delivering higher performance, increased memory, enhanced security, and support for both Arm Cortex-M33 and Hazard3 RISC-V architectures.
This guide compares both boards to help makers, students, engineers, and embedded developers choose the right platform for their next project.
Hardware OverviewThe Raspberry Pi Pico W is powered by the RP2040 dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ processor and includes onboard 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity.
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is built around the more powerful RP2350 microcontroller, running at up to 150MHz with increased SRAM and Flash memory. It also introduces improved security features and support for multiple CPU architectures while maintaining compatibility with the original Pico ecosystem.
The biggest improvement in the Pico 2 is the new RP2350 processor.
Compared with the RP2040, it provides:
- Higher processing performance
- More SRAM
- Larger Flash memory
- Enhanced security
- Dual Arm Cortex-M33 cores
- Dual Hazard3 RISC-V cores
- Better performance for robotics and embedded control
Meanwhile, the RP2040 remains an excellent processor for education, general electronics, and IoT projects where built-in wireless connectivity is more important than raw processing power.
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is designed for applications that require higher processing performance.
Examples include:
- Robotics
- CNC control
- Industrial automation
- Motor control
- Signal processing
- Data logging
- Edge computing
The Raspberry Pi Pico W is designed for connected applications.
Typical projects include:
- Smart home devices
- IoT sensors
- Weather stations
- MQTT communication
- Home Assistant
- Cloud dashboards
- Remote monitoring
Both boards support the same software ecosystem.
You can program either board using:
- MicroPython
- C/C++
- Arduino IDE
- CircuitPython
Below is a simple MicroPython LED blink example.
from machine import Pin
from time import sleep
led = Pin("LED", Pin.OUT)
while True:
led.toggle()
sleep(1)
from machine import Pin
from time import sleep
led = Pin("LED", Pin.OUT)
while True:
led.toggle()
sleep(1)The Raspberry Pi Pico W additionally supports wireless networking through the MicroPython network library, making it easy to build Wi-Fi-enabled applications.
Choose the Pico 2 for:
- Robotics
- Industrial control
- Embedded systems
- Motor drivers
- AI edge devices
- High-speed applications
Choose the Pico W for:
- IoT devices
- Smart homes
- Wireless sensors
- Web servers
- MQTT projects
- Remote monitoring
If your project requires built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Raspberry Pi Pico W is the better option.
If you need higher processing power, increased memory, improved security, and better real-time performance, the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is the stronger choice.
Both boards share excellent software support, GPIO compatibility, and a large ecosystem of sensors, displays, and expansion boards, making either a solid choice depending on your application.
The Raspberry Pi Pico W remains one of the best entry-level wireless development boards for IoT and smart home projects. The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 builds on that foundation with a faster RP2350 processor, more memory, enhanced security, and greater flexibility for advanced embedded applications.
Understanding the strengths of each board will help you choose the right hardware for your next electronics project and build more capable, reliable, and future-ready embedded systems.
Learn MoreFor the complete comparison with detailed specifications, images, and buying recommendations, visit the original article on Chip.pk:
https://www.chip.pk/blogs/chip-pk-knowledge-hub/raspberry-pi-pico-2-vs-pico-w
This format is ideal for Hackster because it's educational, includes practical information, leaves clear placeholders for your images, and naturally links back to your original Chip.pk article for readers who want more detail.
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