Tech Talk
Arduino UNO Q — Linux + Real-Time MCU in an UNO Form Factor
Run Python & AI on Linux, keep precise I/O on the MCU. Arriving at Circuitrocks soon.
What exactly is UNO Q?
It’s a dual-brain UNO: a Debian-capable Qualcomm® Dragonwing™ QRB2210 application processor (runs Linux, apps, light AI) plus a STM32U585 microcontroller (handles real-time I/O). You still get the familiar UNO shape for shields, but now with high-speed connectors for things like cameras and displays.
Under the hood (student-friendly specs)
- MPU: Qualcomm® Dragonwing™ QRB2210, quad Arm® Cortex-A53 with GPU/ISPs (runs Debian).
- MCU: STM32U585 (Arm® Cortex-M33) for low-power, real-time control.
- Memory/Storage: 2 GB LPDDR4 + 16 GB eMMC built-in (no SD card needed).
- Wireless: Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 + Bluetooth 5.1 with onboard antenna.
- I/O niceties: 8×13 LED matrix, classic UNO headers, plus high-speed headers for vision/audio/display.
App Lab: sketch + Python + AI in one place
Arduino App Lab is the new editor for UNO Q. You can write Arduino sketches for the MCU, switch to Python on the Linux side, and try example AI “bricks” without fighting toolchains. Perfect for labs and capstone builds.
UNO Q vs UNO R4 WiFi (Which one should I get?)
Fast take: UNO R4 WiFi = classic microcontroller board with Wi-Fi/BLE (simple, low power). UNO Q = microcontroller plus a Linux computer (for vision/web/AI + precise I/O). Both keep the UNO form factor.
| Feature | UNO Q | UNO R4 WiFi |
|---|---|---|
| Brains | Dual: Qualcomm® Dragonwing™ QRB2210 (Linux) + STM32U585 MCU | Renesas RA4M1 MCU + ESP32-S3 for Wi-Fi/BLE |
| OS / Dev | Debian Linux + App Lab; Arduino IDE for MCU | Arduino IDE only (no full Linux) |
| Memory & Storage | 2 GB LPDDR4 + 16 GB eMMC built-in | MCU flash/RAM (no onboard eMMC) |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 5 (2.4/5 GHz) + BT 5.1 | Wi-Fi/BLE via ESP32-S3 |
| Displays/Cameras | High-speed headers (camera/display/audio) | Not for MIPI cams/displays |
| Built-ins | 8×13 LED matrix, Qwiic, USB-C | 12×8 LED matrix, Qwiic, USB-C |
| UNO Shields | Yes (classic layout) | Yes (classic layout) |
| Best for | Vision/AI, Python apps, web dashboards plus precise I/O | Sensor/actuator builds, IoT basics, low-power classes |
Specs sourced from Arduino product & docs pages for UNO Q and UNO R4 WiFi.
So… which one should you pick?
- Pick UNO Q if you’ll run Python/web/AI or camera stuff and need tight sensor/motor timing.
- Pick UNO R4 WiFi if you just want a solid MCU board with Wi-Fi/BLE for class labs and simple IoT.
Availability (PH)
We’re lining up our first batch—UNO Q is arriving at Circuitrocks soon. Hit the button below and bookmark the search.
Need help with parts?
Tell us your use case (vision? robotics? audio?). We’ll suggest a clean parts list.
