Nordic Semiconductor has introduced a single device for tags, trackers and smart home sensors, with Bluetooth LE, Thread and Matter support, security features, and energy efficiency.

The nRF54LC10A system-on-chip (SoC), supports Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), Bluetooth Channel Sounding, Thread, Zigbee and Matter. Developers building small, cost-sensitive, connected products can now meet size and cost targets without sacrificing protocols, security features or a comprehensive software ecosystem.

The entry-level device is the smallest, low-power multiprotocol SoC in the nRF54L series, combining a simple MCU with a multiprotocol radio into a 1.9 by 2.3mm chip-scale package. Its security includes Arm TrustZone isolation and protection against physical attacks, combined with support for FOTA and remote observability in Nordic’s nRF Cloud services, and enable developers to meet regulatory requirements, keeping products secure and maintainable in the field.

“Trade-offs have often been the challenge when it comes to entry-level products,” said Øyvind Strøm, executive vice president at Nordic Semiconductor (www.nordicsemi.com). “The nRF54LC10A brings the protocols, advanced security and software ecosystem of the nRF54L series to a small, cost-sensitive device, enabling developers to build simple products without sacrificing capability.”

Developers can scale and upgrade their designs as requirements change, as every device runs the same qualified wireless stacks, embedded software and tools.

There are two key application segments. The first is Bluetooth LE devices, which are expected to represent most deployments. Its combination of size, cost and support for Bluetooth Channel Sounding makes it suitable for asset trackers, while 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 device can also serve as a Thread radio coprocessor, working alongside a host application processor or MCU to provide Thread connectivity.

A 128MHz Arm Cortex-M33 core, supported by a Risc-V coprocessor, is matched to 1Mbyte NVM, 192kbyte RAM, and three SPI, TWI or uart instances and an ADC, delivering a preliminary 239 CoreMark/mA and 503 CoreMark.

Built on a 22nm process node with Nordic’s low-leakage RAM and multiprotocol radio design, the radio draws 4.0mA in receive and 5.8mA in transmit at 0dBm, with a maximum TX power of +4dBm; sensitivities are -97dBm for Bluetooth LE 1M and -101dBm for 802.15.4, while sleep-mode current ranges from 0.5 to 1.6µA. Package options comprise two 1.9 by 2.3mm chip-scale packages and a QFN.

The nRF54LC10A (www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF54LC10A) is available for sampling, with production expected by Q2 2027. Development kits will be generally available by Q1 2027.