Zephyr RTOS Firmware Guide

Operating Systems

Open-source, scalable real-time operating system by the Linux Foundation, supporting 600+ boards. The foundation of Nordic's nRF Connect SDK and increasingly popular across the embedded industry.

Key Topics

Devicetree configuration
Kconfig build system
Kernel primitives (threads, semaphores)
Device driver model
West build tool
Logging and shell subsystems

Supported Hardware

nRF52832

Cost-effective Bluetooth 5.4 SoC with 512KB Flash and 64KB RAM, ideal for wearables, beacons, and low-power sensor applications.

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nRF52840

Advanced multiprotocol SoC with 1MB Flash, 256KB RAM, and USB support. The go-to chip for Bluetooth 5.4, Thread, Zigbee, and 802.15.4 applications.

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nRF5340

Dual-core Bluetooth 5.4 SoC with dedicated application and network processors. 1MB Flash + 512KB RAM on the application core, with hardware security via ARM TrustZone.

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nRF54L15

Next-generation ultra-low-power Bluetooth 5.4 SoC with RISC-V and ARM Cortex-M33 cores. Designed for ultra-constrained battery-powered devices.

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nRF9160

Cellular IoT SiP with integrated LTE-M/NB-IoT modem and GPS. Perfect for asset tracking, remote monitoring, and any application requiring wide-area connectivity.

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nRF9161

Next-gen cellular IoT SiP with DECT NR+ support, LTE-M/NB-IoT modem, and GNSS. Enhanced successor to the nRF9160 with improved power efficiency.

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nRF7002

Wi-Fi 6 companion IC designed to work alongside Nordic BLE SoCs. Adds dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity to existing nRF52/nRF53 designs.

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ESP32

Dual-core Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo chip with extensive peripheral support. One of the most popular IoT microcontrollers for prototyping and production.

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ESP32-S3

AI-capable dual-core MCU with vector instructions for neural network acceleration, Wi-Fi, and BLE 5.0. Ideal for AIoT edge computing applications.

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ESP32-C3

Cost-effective RISC-V single-core Wi-Fi and BLE 5.0 chip. A great choice for simple connected devices where cost and power matter.

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STM32F4

High-performance ARM Cortex-M4 series with DSP and FPU. Industry workhorse for motor control, industrial automation, and signal processing applications.

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STM32L4

Ultra-low-power ARM Cortex-M4 series optimized for battery-operated applications. Features multiple low-power modes and efficient wake-up capabilities.

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STM32H7

Highest-performance STM32 series with ARM Cortex-M7 running at 480 MHz. Ideal for graphics, AI inference, and complex signal processing at the edge.

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nRF52805

Ultra-compact, cost-optimized BLE 5.4 SoC with 192KB Flash and 24KB RAM. The smallest, most affordable chip in the nRF52 series for simple BLE applications.

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nRF52810

Cost-optimized BLE 5.4 SoC with 192KB Flash and 24KB RAM, featuring hardware SWI and NFC-A tag. Ideal for high-volume BLE peripherals and beacons.

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nRF52811

BLE 5.4 SoC with optional 802.15.4 and ANT support plus long-range mode (Coded PHY). Extends nRF52810 with Thread and extended-range BLE capability.

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nRF52820

BLE 5.4 and 802.15.4 SoC with USB 2.0 Full Speed and 256KB Flash. Bridges BLE/Thread wireless with USB at lower cost than the nRF52840.

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nRF52833

Full-featured BLE 5.4 + 802.15.4 SoC with 512KB Flash, 128KB RAM, USB, and NFC. Offers extended-range BLE (Coded PHY) and mid-range capability between nRF52832 and nRF52840.

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nRF54H20

High-performance multicore SoC with dual Cortex-M33 (application + radio) plus a RISC-V VPR core. 2MB Flash and 1MB RAM, designed for complex multiprotocol BLE + 802.15.4 applications.

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nRF54L05

Entry-level nRF54L series SoC with ARM Cortex-M33 and RISC-V co-processor. Ultra-low-power BLE 5.4 with 512KB Flash — the most affordable chip in the nRF54L family.

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nRF54L10

Mid-range nRF54L series SoC combining ARM Cortex-M33 with a RISC-V co-processor. 1MB Flash and 128KB RAM with BLE 5.4, targeting wearables and connected sensors.

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nRF54LM20

The flagship nRF54L series SoC built on a 22nm process, featuring a 128 MHz ARM Cortex-M33 + RISC-V co-processor with 2MB Flash and 512KB RAM — the largest memory in the nRF54L family. Supports Bluetooth LE, Matter, Thread, Zigbee, and 2.4 GHz proprietary protocols up to 4 Mbps. The nRF54LM20A variant adds 66 GPIOs and high-speed USB; the nRF54LM20B adds an integrated Axon NPU for hardware-accelerated Edge AI inference. Security includes TrustZone, CRACEN cryptographic engine with side-channel protection, and tamper detection.

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nRF7000

Ultra-low-power single-band Wi-Fi 6 companion IC. Designed for the most cost-sensitive connected IoT products needing basic Wi-Fi alongside a Nordic BLE host SoC.

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nRF7001

Single-band Wi-Fi 6 companion IC with WPA3 support. Adds 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi to existing nRF52/nRF53 designs with a smaller footprint than the dual-band nRF7002.

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nRF9131

Ultra-compact LTE-M/NB-IoT SiP (System-in-Package) with DECT NR+ support and GNSS. The smallest form-factor nRF91 series chip for space-constrained cellular IoT designs.

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nRF9151

LTE-M/NB-IoT SiP with integrated GNSS, DECT NR+, and extended temperature support. An improved nRF9160 successor with lower power consumption and industrial-grade temperature range.

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nRF9280

DECT NR+ and LTE-M/NB-IoT SiP designed for the unlicensed 1.9 GHz DECT band. Enables high-speed, low-latency local-area wireless for industrial automation and smart factory applications.

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