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Raspberry Pi Pico Now Has Wi-Fi Option
The $2 increase seems like a small price to pay
By Rob Rich Rob Rich News Reporter College for Creative Studies Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on June 30, 2022 02:07PM EDT Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Computers Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Raspberry Pi's Pico series is getting its first model that supports wireless networking, by way of the new Pico W. Pico boards have been around for about a year and a half, acting as Raspberry Pi's flagship mini-computer board (and seeing close to two million sales since release). But one thing the Pico line has been missing is network connectivity. The new Pico W fixes that issue. Raspberry Pi According to Raspberry Pi, the Pico W builds off its RP2040 microcontroller while utilizing two 133MHz cores and 256kB of SRAM. It also retains the same level of pin compatibility as the original Pico, so it will plug into everything the same way. But of course, the big difference is the inclusion of a way to wirelessly connect to a network. This functionality comes from Infineon's CYW43439 wireless chip, which provides 802.11n wireless networking capabilities with a theoretical maximum speed of 300 Mbps. The chip also supports Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Low-Energy, but Raspberry Pi says that function isn't available in the Pico W. At least not yet—though the company does say it may enable Bluetooth on the Pico W in the future. The Pico W is available today for $6 from select retailers. As with other Raspberry Pi models, any casing, peripherals, drives, or screens come separately. So don't expect to get one and start using it right out of the box. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Connect Steam Deck to a TV DIY Carputer Hardware: From Laptops to Raspberry Pi Raspberry Pi 400 Review: A Mini PC in a Keyboard AnyDesk 7.1.6 Review (A Free Remote Access Tool) What Is a Raspberry Pi? How to Connect Google Home to Wi-Fi Mac Inside a Keyboard: News and Expected Price, Release Date, Specs; and More Rumors The 7 Best Mini PCs of 2022 The Difference Between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi The 7 Best Fire Stick Alternatives of 2022 How to Use Chromecast Without Wi-Fi Minecraft Platforms and Their Differences How to Measure Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength Using 802.11ac in Wi-Fi Wireless Networking 5 Things You Can Do with an Old Computer Monitor When and How to Turn Off Wi-Fi on Your Devices Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies