TI Unveils World's Smallest MCU: 1.38mm², $0.16
Recently, Texas Instruments (TI) introduced the world's smallest microcontroller (MCU), the MSPM0C1104, at the Embedded World conference in Germany. With a compact size of just 1.38mm², it is 38% smaller than the smallest MCU currently available on the market and is priced at approximately $0.16 per unit.
The MSPM0C1104 is powered by an Arm Cortex-M0+ core and features 16KB of memory, a 12-bit SAR analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with three channels, six general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins, and standard communication interfaces such as UART, SPI, and I²C. These capabilities make it ideal for applications in medical wearables and personal electronics.
According to TI, the ultra-compact size of the MSPM0C1104 provides a significant advantage in space-constrained applications. "In miniature systems like earbuds and medical probes, PCB space is a scarce and valuable resource," said Vinay Agarwal, Vice President and General Manager of TI's MSP Microcontrollers division. "With the introduction of the world's smallest MCU, our MSPM0 MCU portfolio unlocks endless possibilities for creating smarter and more connected experiences in everyday life."
The MSPM0C1104 is part of TI's MSPM0 MCU series, featuring 100-pin compatible devices with scalable configurations of on-chip analog peripherals and various computing options for sensing and control applications. The entire series is manufactured in-house by TI.
To support developers, TI offers an optimized software development kit for all MSPM0 MCUs, along with hardware development tools for rapid prototyping, reference designs, and code examples for general-purpose MCU functionalities. Additionally, TI's Zero Code Studio tool enables users to configure, develop, and run MCU applications within minutes—without the need for coding.
The MSPM0C1104 is available starting at $0.16 per unit for orders of 1,000 units, and the product lineup includes additional small-package options designed to minimize PCB size and bill of materials.
