Nordic Semi launches new multiprotocol SoC for size and cost effective devices
Nordic Semiconductor has unveiled the nRF54LC10A System-on-Chip (SoC), supporting Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), Bluetooth Channel Sounding, Thread, Zigbee, and Matter. Developers building small, cost-sensitive, connected products can now meet aggressive size and cost targets without sacrificing protocols, security features, or a comprehensive software ecosystem.
The entry-level nRF54LC10A is the smallest, ultra-low-power multiprotocol SoC in the nRF54L Series, combining a simple MCU with a multiprotocol radio into a 1.9 × 2.3 mm chip-scale package. It comes equipped with 1 MB of Non-Volatile Memory (NVM), 192 KB of RAM, and a peripheral set sized for simple connected products. Its advanced security features, Arm TrustZone isolation, and protection against physical attacks, combined with support for FOTA and remote observability in Nordic’s nRF Cloud services, enable developers to meet regulatory requirements, keeping products secure and maintainable in the field.
Developers can easily scale and upgrade their designs as requirements change, as every nRF54L Series device runs the same qualified wireless stacks, embedded software, and tools.
The nRF54LC10A addresses two key application segments. The first is Bluetooth LE devices, which are expected to represent the majority of deployments. Its combination of compact size, competitive cost, and support for Bluetooth Channel Sounding makes it particularly well-suited for asset trackers, while also enabling a broad range of other Bluetooth LE products that benefit from low power consumption and a small footprint.
The second is smart home applications. The device targets Thread and Zigbee accessories, as well as simpler Matter-enabled sensors whose functionality fits within the device’s memory profile. In home hubs and Thread Border Router designs, the nRF54LC10A can also serve as a Thread radio coprocessor (RCP), working alongside a host application processor or MCU to provide reliable Thread connectivity.
A 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 core, supported by a RISC-V coprocessor, is matched to 1 MB NVM, 192 KB RAM, and an essential peripheral set of three SPI/TWI/UART instances and an ADC, delivering a preliminary 239 CoreMark/mA and 503 CoreMark. Ultra-low-power operation carries over from the rest of the series, built on a 22 nm process node with Nordic’s low-leakage RAM and multiprotocol radio design. The radio draws 4.0 mA in receive and 5.8 mA in transmit at 0 dBm, with a maximum TX power of +4 dBm; sensitivities are -97 dBm for Bluetooth LE 1M and -101 dBm for 802.15.4, while sleep-mode current ranges from 0.5 µA to 1.6 µA. Three package options: Two 1.9 × 2.3 mm chip-scale packages (CSP) and a QFN, which include the smallest footprint in the series.
