Nordic Semi’s nRF54LM20A is a new Cortex-M33-based high-memory wireless MCU part of the nRF54L Series with double the SRAM and higher flash capacity compared ot the nRF54L15. It targets consumer, industrial, healthcare, and smart home applications, and is especially suitable for HID peripherals and gaming devices.
The SoC integrates a 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 core with a RISC-V coprocessor, 2 MB NVM, and 512 KB RAM, alongside up to 66 GPIOs, high-speed USB, and Nordic’s fourth-generation ultra-low-power 2.4 GHz radio supporting Bluetooth LE, Thread, Zigbee, Channel Sounding, and Matter. It offers twice the processing power, three times the efficiency, and up to 50% lower power consumption than the nRF52 Series.
nRF54LM20A key specifications and comparison with other nRF54 Series SoCs:
| Feature | nRF54LM20A | nRF54L15 | nRF54L10 | nRF54L05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 | 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 | 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 | 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 |
| Flash | 2 MB | 1.5 MB | 1.0 MB | 0.5 MB |
| RAM | 512 KB | 256 KB | 192 KB | 96 KB |
| Bluetooth LE | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Channel Sounding | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Mesh, Zigbee, Thread | Zigbee, Thread | Zigbee, Thread | Zigbee, Thread | Zigbee, Thread |
| Matter, Aliro, Amazon Sidewalk | Matter, Aliro, Amazon Sidewalk | Matter, Aliro | Matter, Amazon Sidewalk | - |
| ESB and 2.4 GHz proprietary protocols (with 4 Mbps) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi (with nRF70 Series companion ICs) | Yes | - | - | - |
| TX power | Up to 8 dBm | Up to 8 dBm | 7 dBm | 7 dBm |
| RX sensitivity (1 Mbps Bluetooth LE) | -96 dBm | -96 dBm | -96 dBm | -96 dBm |
| RX sensitivity (IEEE 802.15.4) | -101 dBm | -101 dBm | -101 dBm | -101 dBm |
| RISC-V coprocessor | 128 MHz FLPR | 128 MHz FLPR | 128 MHz FLPR | 128 MHz FLPR |
| Digital interfaces | High-speed USB, High-speed SPI/UART, 6x SPI/UART/TWI, PDM, TDM, PWM, QDEC | High-speed SPI/UART, 4x SPI/UART/TWI, PDM, I2S, PWM, QDEC | High-speed SPI/UART, 4x SPI/UART/TWI, PDM, I2S, PWM, QDEC | High-speed SPI/UART, 4x SPI/UART/TWI, PDM, I2S, PWM, QDEC |
| ADC | 8ch, up to 14-bit, up to 2MS/s | 8ch, up to 14-bit, up to 2MS/s | 8ch, up to 14-bit, up to 2MS/s | 8ch, up to 14-bit, up to 2MS/s |
| Isolation | TrustZone | TrustZone | TrustZone | TrustZone |
| Cryptographic accelerator and tamper detectors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +85°C | -40 to +105°C | -40 to +105°C | -40 to +105°C |
| Supply and GPIO voltage range | 1.7 to 3.6 V | 1.7 to 3.6 V | 1.7 to 3.6 V | 1.7 to 3.6 V |
| Packages | 6x6 mm QFN52 with 35 GPIOs 3.9x3.7 mm CSP98 with 66 GPIOs | 6x6 mm QFN52 with 35 GPIOs, 6x6 mm QFN48 with 31 GPIOs, 5x5 mm QFN40 with 24 GPIOs 2.4x2.2 mm CSP47 with 32 GPIOs | 6x6 mm QFN52 with 35 GPIOs, 6x6 mm QFN48 with 31 GPIOs, 5x5 mm QFN40 with 24 GPIOs | 6x6 mm QFN52 with 35 GPIOs, 6x6 mm QFN48 with 31 GPIOs, 5x5 mm QFN40 with 24 GPIOs |
The nRF54LM20A comes in two packages: a CSP98 (3.9 x 3.7 mm) package for compact designs with 66 GPIOs, and a QFN52 (6 x 6 mm) package with 35 GPIO that is easier to assemble and suited for general IoT applications. Both feature the same processing, memory, and radio features, differing mainly in size and GPIO availability.
The nRF54LM20A is supported by the nRF Connect SDK, based on Zephyr RTOS with Nordic’s drivers, stacks, and libraries. It supports Bluetooth LE (incl. 6.0), Thread, Zigbee, Matter, and 2.4 GHz proprietary protocols, with built-in security, power management, and compatibility with Nordic’s tools, cloud, and PMICs. More information about the product can be found on the nRF54LM20A’s Preliminary Datasheet and docs page.
The company also provides details about the nRF54LM20 DK development kit based on the nRF54LM20A SoC. It integrates the SoC in a CSP package, nPM1300 PMIC, 2.4 GHz and NFC antennas, a SWF RF connector for measurements, four LEDs, four buttons, and a SEGGER J-Link OB debugger. Interfaces include two virtual UARTs, USB for power and data, and GPIO headers for external connections. It also supports Bluetooth LE, 802.15.4, Thread, Zigbee, proprietary 2.4 GHz, and NFC. The kit provides current and RF measurement points, an external 64 Mbit flash option, and comes with schematics, PCB layout, BOM, and Gerber files for hardware reference.
The nRF54LM20A is currently available through Nordic’s early access program, with the nRF54LM20 DK development kit offered for evaluation. Having said that, DigiKey lists the NRF54LM20A-PAAA-R7 CSP version for $3.12 with a 3-week lead time, while the NRF54LM20A-QGAA-R7 QFN version costs $2.91 with a 2-week lead time. The nRF54LM20 DK development kit is available for $39.00, also with a 2-week lead time. Mass production is scheduled for Q1 2026.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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