Categories:
ATmega32u4 or RP2040? Which to use for a custom PCB?
RP2040.
Here’s why:
- It’s cheaper ($1 vs $5)
- It’s easier to lay out on a board
- It’s got better and easier to understand documentation
- It’s easier to get firmware installed when your board arrives
- It’s impossible to brick, you can always put it in bootloader mode
The only little gotcha is the RP2040 runs at 3V3 instead of 5V, which means you may need to use a level shifter with certain ICs (most notably the MAX7219) for safe operation.