When starting a new project, there is often one crucial question: Which board is best suited to the task? At first glance, the choice may not seem easy, as the Arduino family is large and diverse. From the classic Arduino UNO to the compact Nano and the new UNO Q, each board has its own strengths, functions, and capabilities. To make the most of a project, it is helpful to gain a detailed understanding of all the boards and compare them.
What to look out for
When choosing the right Arduino board, it is worth taking a close look at the project requirements first. The scope and complexity of the project are particularly important factors: simple control tasks, such as reading a sensor or switching a relay, can easily be accomplished with classic entry-level boards. However, more extensive applications, such as data processing or AI functions, require significantly more computing power and memory capacity.The performance of the hardware also plays a major role. If the board is to control movements in real time, process multiple sensors simultaneously, or run machine learning (ML) applications, then higher clock frequencies, modern processors, and sufficient RAM are crucial. It is also important to consider the interfaces. Depending on the application, classic communication protocols such as GPIO, I²C, SPI or UART may be necessary. For others, such as smart home solutions, wireless connections such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are usually more appropriate.
Consider energy requirements and power supply at an early stage. Battery-powered or mobile projects require energy-efficient boards, whereas stationary applications offer more flexibility in terms of power consumption. Last but not least, the software ecosystem can also be a deciding factor. Some boards can be programmed using the traditional Arduino IDE and C++ approach, while others support Python and AI workflows via platforms such as App Lab.
These are the most popular Arduino boards
A classic for beginners: the Arduino UNO
The Arduino UNO is the best-known and most widely used board in the Arduino family. Based on the ATmega328P microcontroller, it has a 16 MHz clock frequency, 2 KB of RAM and 32 KB of flash memory. It also offers enough digital and analogue pins to control sensors, LEDs, motors and displays. Thanks to its stable hardware, large community and excellent documentation, it has become the standard for learning projects and prototyping.
Small and compact: the Arduino Nano
The Arduino Nano offers similar technical features to the UNO, the Arduino Nano’s compact form factor (45×18 mm) makes it particularly suitable for breadboards, wearables, and integrated projects. Its low weight and straightforward integration also make it ideal for embedded systems and mobile microcontroller applications.
More computing power and connectivity: the Arduino ESP32
The Arduino Nano ESP32 brings the power of the ESP32-S3 to the familiar Nano form factor, complete with USB-C, HID support, and full Arduino integration. The dual-core microcontroller (ESP32-S3) offers integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy, making the board ideal for Internet of Things (IoT), sensor or cloud applications.
For professionals and industry: the Arduino Portenta
The Portenta series is aimed at professional developers who require high computing power, flexibility and expandability. It is designed for industrial applications, edge computing, robotics, and AI projects. The cost-effective Portenta H7 Lite Connected, for example, offers the core features of the Portenta H7, but excludes video output and advanced security features.
High-performance computing with real-time control: the Arduino UNO Q
For the first time, the new Arduino UNO Q combines a classic microcontroller (STM32 ARM Cortex-M7 with 480 MHz) with a Linux-enabled quad-core A53 processor (1 GHz). This enables AI models, image and audio processing, and web services to be executed directly on the board while real-time control continues to run via the microcontroller. Despite its high performance, the board retains the familiar UNO form factor and is compatible with many existing UNO shields. The board also offers excellent connectivity via Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C and video output.
The boards can be used for the following purposes: practical examples
Beginner projects
The Arduino UNO and Nano are particularly well-suited to simple control tasks. They offer a clear structure and straightforward programming, making them ideal for first-time users and experiments in the Arduino world. Typical applications include reading temperature or humidity sensors, switching relays or controlling small actuators, as found in mini robots and vehicle projects, for example. Thanks to their ease of use and the extensive support available in the Arduino community, these projects can be implemented quickly and reliably, and expanded without any problems.
IoT/Smart Home
For projects where networking and communication are paramount, boards with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, such as the Arduino Nano ESP32, are particularly well suited. These boards enable devices to be controlled wirelessly, data to be exchanged via the internet and systems to be flexibly integrated into existing smart homes. Typical applications range from smart lamps and heating controls to socket controls, door sensors, alarm systems and automated garden irrigation systems.Weather stations and energy monitors that continuously record and make measurements available online are also easy to implement. Thanks to support for the Arduino IoT Cloud, not only can sensor data be visualised and stored, it can also be controlled and monitored from anywhere via smartphone or tablet. These networked projects can be used in private smart homes and professional IoT environments alike.
AI/Edge Computing/Robotics
For more demanding tasks that require high computing power, boards such as the Arduino UNO Q or the Portenta series come into play. In addition to significantly higher computing power, they also offer integrated AI functions and can support parallel processes. With dual-core architectures, Linux support, and AI accelerators, they enable complex projects such as image recognition, object recognition, and speech processing—directly on the device, without a cloud connection.
In the field of robotics and especially edge AI, these boards enable many advanced projects. In such projects, sensor technology and artificial intelligence must work together in real time. For example, they can be used for self-driving robotic vehicles, intelligent surveillance systems, or motion-controlled assistance systems. In addition, advanced IoT solutions also benefit from these boards. This is particularly true for systems with cloud connectivity and data analysis. The reason is their high computing power and flexibility. Furthermore, the boards support Python and AI frameworks such as TensorFlow Lite. They can also run high-level software and real-time controls in parallel. Therefore, the UNO Q and Portenta are well suited for innovative prototypes, edge-computing applications, and professional development projects
The Arduino family: The right board for your project
A comparison of Arduino boards shows one thing above all: There is no single best board, but rather the right one for each project. Each model has its own strengths. For example, the Arduino UNO impresses with its reliability and simplicity. Therefore, it is well suited for learners and for classic microcontroller tasks.
The Nano stands out because of its compact design. As a result, it is ideal for space-saving applications. Meanwhile, the ESP32 offers built-in connectivity. This makes it particularly suitable for IoT and smart home projects. Finally, boards such as the UNO Q or the Portenta series open up completely new possibilities. They are especially useful in the fields of AI, edge computing, and robotics.
The advantage of Arduino boards lies in their easy scalability. Users can start with a small and simple setup. When the project becomes more complex, they do not have to rethink everything. Instead, they can simply switch to a more powerful board. At the same time, they can continue using their familiar development environment. As a result, the Arduino family offers a suitable platform for many users. It supports both beginners and advanced developers.
Images: Adobe Stock, Arduino
Discover more about ‘Arduino & IoT’
Arduino Pro – IoT solutions for every business – reichelt magazine | Guide
Arduino Portenta – High-performance boards for professional IoT projects – reichelt magazine | Guide
Arduino IoT Cloud for any kind of companies – reichelt magazine | Guide
