STMicro has introduced its second generation of its STM32 MPUs (microprocessors) with the STM32MP2 moving to a 64-bit Arm architecture with Edge AI acceleration, multimedia features, graphics processing, and digital connectivity targeting industrial and IoT edge applications.
The new family follows the STM32MP1 Arm Cortex-A7/M4 series introduced in 2019, and the first member of the family is the STM32MP25 with up to two 1.5 GHz Cortex-A35 cores coupled with an Arm Cortex-M33 real-time core clocked at 400 MHz, a 3D GPU, and a 1.35 TOPS NPU for AI acceleration.
STM32MP25 key features and specifications:
- CPU – Single or dual Arm Cortex-A35 cores running up to 1.5 GHz
- Real-time MCU – Arm Cortex-M33 core running up to 400 MHz
- GPU – Unnamed 3D GPU for “advanced HMI” with support for the Vulkan API
- VPU – H.264 hardware video decoder and encoder
- AI accelerator – 1.35 TOPS NPU (Neural processing unit)
- System Memory – 32-bit DDR4 and LPDDR4 support up to 1.2 GHz.
- Video Output – Up to 1920×1080 via RGB, 4-lane MIPI DSI, or LVDS interfaces
- Camera I/F – MIPI CSI-2 camera interface with Lite-ISP; up to 5MP at 30 frames per second (fps)
- Networking
- Up to 3x Gigabit Ethernet ports (with 2-port switch)
- Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)
- Peripherals – PCIe Gen2, USB 3.0, 3x CAN-FD
- Security
- SESIP Level 3 certification
- Arm TrustZone on Cortex-A and Cortex-M cores
- Hardware encryption
- Secure Provisioning Ecosystem
- Temperature Range – -40 to +125°C
- Package – Several to be announced including a 0.8mm-pitch chip-scale package (TFBGA)
- 100% operating time for 10 years
- 10-year longevity program
On the software side, developers will be able to leverage the existing STM32MPU ecosystem with the OpenSTLinux distribution that includes the X-Linux-AI framework (X-Linux-AI) and an STM32MPU distribution for Android that will benefit from the Vulkan API for 3D graphics acceleration., Software tools including the STM32Cube development tools and STM32Cube firmware will run bare metal or RTOS on the Cortex-M33 embedded core. The STM32MP25F-EV1 STM32MP25 evaluation board and an STM32MP25 discovery kit will be available in 2024.
STMicro is now sampling STM32MP25 devices to select OEM customers, and providing them with development boards, but volume production of chips and boards is only scheduled to begin in H1 2024, so this is an early announcement with limited public information and virtually no documentation. The new STM32MP2 MPU family was unveiled at the STM32 Summit event in Shenzhen, China on May 12-13. A few more details can be found in the press release and the product page.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I was kind of expecting such good news about the next STM32MP. The first generation didn’t become a massive hit for single board computers but it can be seen in widely popular devices, for example there was a FOSDEM talk about Ikea Dirigera zigbee hub which is with STM32MP157CAB3.
I don’t think this generation will become a bit hit for SBCs either, the specs are pretty specialized. The A35 cores are pretty decent but they are still inferior to A53 ones at the same clock, so the attractive aspect should be something like the NPU.
Maybe it could be popular if SBC makers can get to create boards for it cheaply, like $15 or so.
Yes, I agree that 2nd gen most probably will NOT power a Raspberry Pi killer. However, at the right price and availability a single board computer or a SoM with STM32MP2 can fit the same niche for headless devices or devices with lightweight GUI where Allwinner A20 and its derivatives have been used for over a decade.
I was thinking that it could be a killer for a Raspberry Pi zero alternative, specially camera projects which the RPZero is pretty often used, it just has the right peripherals and a good NPU, so if someone manage to do it for $15~20, would be an instant purchase for me.
$15 for board will be really hard to make when chip alone will be around $10
IMO really well specced in terms of balance and just one question really whats the $?