As embedded devices become more diverse, such as IoT, industrial equipment, edge AI, and wearable devices, the performance and functionality required of microcontrollers is becoming more advanced every year. The STM32 family offered by STMicroelectronics (hereinafter referred to as ST) offers an excellent balance of performance, power consumption, and cost, and is characterized by its extensive series configuration that meets a wide range of development needs.
This article focuses on the six main series (C0/G4/H5/H7/N6/U5) that are attracting a lot of attention within the STM32 series, and compares and explains their features and suitable applications. This article is perfect for those who are unsure which microcontroller to choose or who want to understand the latest trends in the series.
Points to consider when selecting a microcontroller
Microcontrollers (MCUs) are the "brains" of embedded devices, integrating a CPU, memory, and peripheral circuits onto a single chip. However, with so many products on the market, there are many options, making it difficult to select the one that best suits your requirements. Here, we will organize selection criteria from four perspectives: performance and peripheral functions, power design, security, and cost/supply, in order to select the optimal microcontroller based on development objectives and constraints.
Four points to consider when selecting a microcontroller
Balance of processing performance and peripheral functions
The first thing to look at is the CPU core performance and peripheral function configuration. If real-time control or signal processing is required, Cortex-M4/M7/M33, which are equipped with DSP instructions (a set of instructions that speed up signal calculations) and FPUs (floating-point units), are likely candidates. For motor control and analog signal processing, the presence or absence of a high-speed ADC and a high-resolution timer (HRTIM: enabling precise PWM control) is also important.
Power Consumption and POWER SUPPLIES Design
For applications requiring battery operation or long operating times, low power consumption is a deciding factor in selection. In addition to standby current and wake-up time, flexibility of POWER SUPPLIES modes, such as the availability of autonomous mode (where some peripherals operate autonomously even when the CPU is not running), is also a key consideration.
Meeting security requirements
In IoT devices and industrial applications, the presence or absence of security functions directly affects the reliability of the product. By selecting a microcontroller equipped with TrustZone (hardware separation of secure and normal areas), secure boot, and an encryption engine (AES, PKA, etc.), you can protect data and prevent unauthorized Access.
Cost and Availability
Finally, price and supply stability cannot be ignored. Since the more functional a microcontroller is, the higher the cost tends to be, narrowing down the selection to only the necessary functions will lead to cost optimization and ensure mass production.
Explanation of features by STM32 series
The STM32 family developed by ST has a wide range of series available, making it flexible enough to be used for any purpose.
We have selected the main STM32 series and organized their features and strengths in an easy-to-understand manner. Please use this as a hint for selecting a microcontroller that meets your development requirements.
STM32C0 Series: Affordable 32-bit entry-level microcontrollers that allow migration from 8-bit/16-bit
The STM32C0 series is ST's most affordable 32-bit microcontroller, designed to remove the traditional cost barrier that prevented developers from migrating to 32-bit, making the performance and features of 32-bit microcontrollers more Access to all developers.
Providing solid 32-bit performance despite its low price range
It is equipped with the STM32C0 series, which is equipped with the industry-standard Arm® Cortex®-M0+ core operating at 48MHz, and has computing performance that far exceeds that of 8/16-bit architectures.Although it is the lowest-priced STM32, it ensures basic performance, stability, and quality, and its great appeal is that it allows you to enjoy the maximum benefits of a 32-bit microcontroller at a low cost.
Flexible configuration for a wide range of applications
The lineup includes Flash memory from 16KB to 256KB and RAM up to 36KB.
Packages ranging from 8 pins to 64 pins are available, making them suitable for a wide range of devices from small to medium-scale control equipment.
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ST product page link:STM32C0 Series
STM32G4 Series: Mixed-Signal Microcontrollers for a Wide Range of Applications
The STM32G4 series is a mixed-signal microcontroller that significantly improves control performance and responsiveness by combining a 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M4 core (supports FPU/DSP instructions) operating at 170MHz with three different hardware accelerators (ART Accelerator™, CCM-STATIC RAMS Routine Booster, and Numerical Computation Accelerator). It delivers powerful performance in areas where response speed is directly linked to product value, such as industrial control, power electronics, and motor control.
High-precision analog blocks and high-speed control
The STM32G4 series stands out for its comprehensive analog front-end. Its built-in COMPARATORS, OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIERS, and DACs, along with a hardware oversampling ADC that achieves 16-bit measurement accuracy, enable highly accurate sensing even in noisy environments. Dual-bank Flash memory with ECC enables safe firmware updates even while the product is running, and a secure memory area ensures device data and IP are securely protected.
Extensive peripheral functions
The high-resolution timer version 2 generates precise PWM signals, significantly improving the smoothness of POWER SUPPLIES supply and motor control. The built-in PHY supports USB Type-C® and Power Delivery, enabling USB-PD implementation without external components, contributing to both board space and cost reduction. Furthermore, the AES hardware encryption engine enables high-speed, highly secure communication processing.
Another major feature of the STM32G4 series is the flexible interconnection matrix that allows peripherals to communicate with each other autonomously.
This reduces CPU intervention while improving the efficiency of real-time processing, which ultimately leads to reduced power consumption.
Three line configurations to choose from depending on the application
The STM32G4 series is divided into the following three lines:
- STM32G4x1 Access Line
Equipped with entry-level analog functions, it is suitable for simple analog control and general control applications. - STM32G4x3 Performance Line
With enhanced analog peripherals, it is ideal for full-scale analog control and motor control. - STM32G4x4 high resolution line
Equipped with a high-resolution timer (HRTIM) and an event handler for digital POWER SUPPLIES, it is optimized for applications that handle complex and high-speed power conversion, such as high-frequency PWM, digital POWER SUPPLIES, lighting control, welding, solar systems, and wireless power transfer.
A wide range of package configurations are available, including LQFP, UFBGA, WLCSP, and UQFN, and a wide selection of flash memory capacities is available, from 32KB to 512KB, providing flexibility in selecting the device that best suits your cost, board space, and performance requirements.
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ST product page link:STM32G4 Series
STM32G4 lineup
STM32H5 Series: Cost-effective MCUs with integrated scalable security
The STM32H5 series is a microcontroller based on the 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M33 core, which operates at a maximum speed of 250 MHz, and combines high levels of performance and security. Designed for developers who require high processing power while keeping costs down, the series offers the advantage of being easily adopted in a wide range of product genres.
High performance and large capacity for a wide range of applications
The Cortex-M33 core operates at up to 250MHz, ensuring the performance required for high-speed control and calculations. It also features up to 2MB of dual-bank Flash memory, up to 640KB of STATIC RAMS, and a wide range of peripherals, and is available in a wide range of package options from 25 pins to 176 pins. Furthermore, its robustness allows it to withstand ambient operating temperatures up to 125°C, making it suitable for use in harsh environments such as industrial equipment and outdoor installations.
Scalable security designed for IoT devices
Of particular note is the high level of protection required for IoT devices. The STM32H5 offers a scalable security architecture that can meet all needs, including the high security requirements of IoT devices. It offers a wide range of options, from security services that are crucial for protecting assets to certified building blocks maintained by ST throughout the product lifecycle.
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ST product page link:STM32H5 Series
STM32H5 lineup
STM32H7: A high-performance microcontroller with rich functionality and extensive connectivity
The STM32H7 series is ST's flagship microcontroller family, designed for the latest applications that demand rich, connected, and advanced processing power, providing greater flexibility for developing next-generation applications that meet evolving end-user needs and market requirements.
High processing performance and scalability
Equipped with a 32-bit Arm® Cortex®-M7 core operating at a maximum speed of 600MHz, the series is available in both single-core and dual-core (Cortex®-M7 + Cortex®-M4) configurations. This allows it to achieve the industry's highest benchmark score of up to 3224 CoreMark for a Cortex®-M-based microcontroller. The H7 series can easily handle products that require high processing performance.
Additionally, it supports on-the-fly decryption and encryption, enabling secure and fast code execution directly from external or internal memory, which is particularly beneficial for large data processing and security-critical applications.
Memory configuration that supports high performance and stability
The STM32H7 series has built-in flash memory of 64KB to 2MB, which is based on ST's non-volatile memory (NVM) technology. By using a 40nm process, it achieves high reliability while balancing power consumption and performance.
A wide range of packages to choose from to suit your product
The STM32H7 series is available in a wide range of package options, from 64 to 240 pins, including QFN, WLCSP, LQFP and BGA packages, with over 130 part numbers across 12 product lines.
This makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from compact home appliances to high-performance industrial equipment.
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ST product page link:STM32H7 Series
STM32H7 lineup
STM32N6: AI Accelerator-Enabled Microcontrollers Achieve New Performance Levels
The STM32N6 is based on the Arm® Cortex®-M55, which operates at up to 800MHz. The Cortex-M55 is the first CPU to incorporate Arm Helium vector computing technology, bringing DSP and signal processing capabilities far beyond those of previous Cortex-M series processors. This enables more advanced applications, such as edge AI, audio analysis, and vision processing, at the microcontroller level.
High-performance architecture for practical edge AI
A key feature of the STM32 series is that it is the first to feature the in-house developed NPU, the ST Neural-ART Accelerator™. With a maximum operating clock speed of 1GHz, it delivers overwhelming inference performance of up to 600 GOPS, enabling real-time neural network inference for computer vision and audio applications that previously required an external processor.
Dedicated pipeline that also covers vision applications
The STM32N6 features a dedicated computer vision pipeline with a MIPI CSI-2 interface and an Image Signal Processor (ISP) for compatibility with a wide range of cameras. It also features an H.264 hardware ENCODERS and a NeoChrom™ accelerator for graphics, enabling rich, expressive applications such as video processing and GUI rendering.
Memory configuration and external expandability to support high-speed processing
It features 4.2MB of on-chip contiguous RAM, ideal for neural network and graphics applications, complemented by high-speed external memory interfaces (Hexa-SPI, Octo-SPI, FMC), allowing it to maintain high-speed inference and rendering even when using external memory.
High-level security in line with the latest standards
The STM32N6 series also features advanced security features. Its security architecture targets SESIP Level 3 and PSA Level 3 certification, enabling it to be used safely in edge devices that handle AI and vision.
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ST product page link:STM32N6 Series
STM32N6 lineup
STM32U5 Series: High security and best-in-class low-power microcontrollers
The STM32U5 series is a general-purpose 32-bit microcontroller designed based on the Arm® Cortex®-M33, boasting ultra-low power consumption. It is ideal for battery-powered and power-saving applications such as wearable devices, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), healthcare devices, smart home devices, and industrial sensor systems. With an excellent balance between power consumption and performance, it can meet the stringent requirements of power-saving systems.
Equipped with NeoChrom/NeoChromVG GPU
The higher-end STM32U5 series is equipped with ST's newly developed embedded GPUs, NeoChrom and NeoChromVG (supports vector drawing). These GPUs shift the main process of UI drawing to hardware processing, reducing CPU load and power consumption at the same time. This enables smooth vector UI display, which was previously difficult with conventional microcontrollers, significantly enhancing the expressive power of wearables such as smartwatches and small HMIs.
Large capacity memory supports multi-function applications
The STM32U5 offers up to 4MB of Flash memory (dual bank) and 3MB of STATIC RAMS, and offers better performance with advanced graphics capabilities.
Advanced security features ensure peace of mind
The STM32U5 supports Arm® TrustZone®, which allows applications to be separated into secure and non-secure sections to protect sensitive data. It also features secure boot, hardware encryption engines (AES, SHA-256, etc.), and a true random number generator (TRNG), providing powerful support for secure communications and key management.
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ST product page link:STM32U5 Series
STM32U5 lineup
Summary
In addition to the series introduced in this article, the STM32 family offers flexible options to meet a wide range of development needs, with each series having distinct features and strengths.Whether you prioritize processing performance, low power consumption, security, or AI processing, selecting the optimal series based on your product requirements will help maximize development efficiency and product value.
Please refer to the features of each series introduced in this article and consider which STM32 series best suits your company's development objectives.
If you have any requests such as "I don't know which series is best" or "I would like to discuss the best configuration for my application," please feel free to Inquiry us.
