The RP2350 Raspberry Pi Pico 2 features represent a significant upgrade over the original RP2040 — dual-core ARM Cortex-M33 with Armv8-M security extensions, optional RISC-V cores, twice the SRAM, and improved peripherals. This guide covers everything new about RP2350 and whether Indian Pico users should upgrade.
Table of Contents
- CPU Architecture: Cortex-M33 vs M0+
- RISC-V Core Option
- Memory Improvements
- Security Features
- New Peripheral Capabilities
- Migrating from RP2040
- Frequently Asked Questions
CPU Architecture: Cortex-M33 vs M0+
RP2350 replaces RP2040’s dual ARM Cortex-M0+ with dual ARM Cortex-M33 cores running at up to 150 MHz (vs 133 MHz on RP2040). Cortex-M33 is a major architectural step — it includes DSP extensions (SIMD multiply-accumulate instructions), a dedicated hardware FPU (floating-point unit), and Armv8-M security extensions (TrustZone-M).
In practical terms: floating-point math that required software emulation on RP2040 runs in hardware on RP2350. Signal processing, audio DSP, and control system calculations are substantially faster. Benchmark-wise, RP2350 is approximately 2× faster than RP2040 for mixed integer/float workloads despite only 12.5% higher clock speed.
RISC-V Core Option
RP2350 includes two Hazard3 RISC-V cores that can be used instead of the ARM cores — switched at boot time via OTP (One-Time Programmable) settings. This makes RP2350 the first mainstream maker microcontroller to offer both ARM and RISC-V ISA options on the same silicon.
For Indian makers interested in RISC-V (increasingly taught in IIT and NIT computer architecture courses), RP2350’s RISC-V cores offer a practical, affordable entry point. MicroPython and the SDK support RISC-V execution mode.
Memory Improvements
RP2350 doubles on-chip SRAM from 264 KB (RP2040) to 520 KB. The memory architecture also improves with six independent SRAM banks for higher bandwidth with multiple masters (both CPU cores and DMA) accessing simultaneously. The XIP (execute-in-place) cache doubles from 16 KB to 32 KB, reducing flash access latency significantly.
Flash connection also improves: RP2350 supports up to QSPI at 133 MHz (vs RP2040’s 133 MHz QSPI) with the addition of Octal SPI support on compatible variants, enabling larger and faster external flash.
Security Features
Armv8-M TrustZone-M creates hardware-isolated secure and non-secure execution worlds. Combined with RP2350’s OTP (electrically programmable, one-time), secure boot, and signed firmware verification, RP2350 is suitable for commercial IoT products requiring firmware IP protection.
For Indian product developers deploying IoT devices, RP2350 enables secure boot chains that prevent firmware extraction and ensure only authentic updates install — important for products sold through Indian distribution channels.
New Peripheral Capabilities
RP2350 adds and improves peripherals over RP2040:
- Hardware SHA-256 accelerator for fast cryptographic hashing
- 3× PIO state machines (vs 2×) — 12 state machines total
- Hardware UART, SPI, I2C — same count as RP2040 but with improved DMA
- 12-bit ADC (vs RP2040’s also 12-bit, but with improved performance)
- HSTX (High Speed Transmit) peripheral for driving DVI/HDMI displays up to 720p
Migrating from RP2040
Most MicroPython and Arduino RP2040 code runs unmodified on RP2350. The SDK targets are nearly identical; change board target in CMakeLists.txt or select the correct board in Arduino IDE/PlatformIO. The main caveats:
- GPIO voltage: RP2350 defaults to 3.3V I/O, but supports 1.8V I/O on some pins (check datasheet)
- BOOT button behaviour may differ between RP2040 and RP2350 boards
- Some RP2040-specific register names differ in RP2350 SDK headers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RP2350 backward compatible with RP2040 MicroPython code?
Yes, for nearly all code. MicroPython for RP2350 (Pico 2 firmware) handles the hardware differences transparently. Download the correct .uf2 firmware file for RP2350 from micropython.org.
Is Raspberry Pi Pico 2 available in India?
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 (with RP2350A) is available from Indian importers and online platforms. Waveshare’s RP2350-Plus and RP2350-Plus-16MB are RP2350-based boards available through Indian distributors.
Should I upgrade from Pico (RP2040) to Pico 2 (RP2350)?
Upgrade if: your project does floating-point math, needs more SRAM for complex MicroPython scripts, or requires TrustZone security. For simple GPIO/sensor projects, RP2040 is still perfectly capable and widely available.
Add comment