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Microbit VS Arduino TRE

Compare Microbit VS Arduino TRE and see what are their differences

Microbit logo Microbit

BBC's handheld, programmable computer given free to UK kids

Arduino TRE logo Arduino TRE

The first Arduino board manufactured in the U.S.
  • Microbit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04
  • Arduino TRE Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-07

Microbit features and specs

  • Educational Tool
    Micro:bit is designed as an educational tool to teach coding and basic electronics, making it accessible for students, educators, and beginners.
  • Ease of Use
    The Micro:bit platform offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop coding environment with support for block-based languages like Microsoft MakeCode and text-based languages such as Python and JavaScript.
  • Affordability
    Micro:bit is relatively inexpensive compared to other microcontroller platforms, making it accessible for schools and hobbyists with limited budgets.
  • Wide Range of Features
    It includes sensors, LEDs, buttons, and communication capabilities such as Bluetooth, enabling a variety of creative projects without needing additional hardware.
  • Community Support
    Micro:bit has a large and active community, offering extensive resources, tutorials, and support for new users.

Possible disadvantages of Microbit

  • Limited Processing Power
    Micro:bit has limited processing capabilities compared to more advanced microcontrollers, which can restrict complex computations and multitasking abilities.
  • Limited Memory
    The device has a small amount of RAM and storage, which can limit the size and complexity of programs that can be run on it.
  • Peripheral Expansion
    While it includes several inbuilt features, additional interfacing and peripheral expansion require extra hardware and can be more complex than with other platforms.
  • Small Display
    Micro:bit's small 5x5 LED matrix, while useful for basic output, is limited in its display capabilities and unsuitable for detailed visual information.
  • Limited Power Supply Options
    The power supply options for Micro:bit are somewhat limited, which can affect its use in mobile or long-term battery-powered projects without enhancements.

Arduino TRE features and specs

  • Powerful Dual Processor
    The Arduino TRE features a dual-processor architecture with a Sitara AM335x ARM Cortex-A8 processor and an Arduino Leonardo-compatible microcontroller, allowing for more complex and computationally demanding applications.
  • Full Linux Support
    It runs a full Linux operating system, offering extensive capabilities for processing and connecting with internet services, making it a versatile choice for advanced projects.
  • High Connectivity
    It offers various connectivity options, including HDMI, Ethernet, and USB ports, providing flexibility in communicating with other devices and the internet.
  • Educational Potential
    The combination of Arduino's ease of use with Linux's power makes it an excellent educational tool for learning programming and electronics at various levels.

Possible disadvantages of Arduino TRE

  • Higher Complexity
    The dual-processor architecture and Linux environment can be more complex to work with, especially for beginners who may find simpler Arduino boards easier to use.
  • Higher Cost
    Its advanced features and dual-processor setup result in a higher price point compared to other Arduino boards, potentially making it less accessible for hobbyists with limited budgets.
  • Larger Size
    The board is physically larger than many other Arduino models, which can be a drawback for projects that require compact solutions.
  • Overkill for Simple Projects
    For basic projects, the advanced capabilities of the Arduino TRE may be unnecessary and less efficient compared to simpler boards like the Arduino Uno.

Microbit videos

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Arduino TRE videos

Hands On With the Arduino Tre Beta

More videos:

  • Review - Arduino's New Browser-Based IDE On The Arduino Tre
  • Review - Arduino TRE test

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microbit and Arduino TRE)
Education
100 100%
0% 0
Electronics
0 0%
100% 100
Kids Education
100 100%
0% 0
3D Printing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microbit and Arduino TRE

Microbit Reviews

16 Scratch Alternatives
Founded in 2016, Microbit Portal is an online education-based organization in the UK that can help numerous users gain knowledge of the This platform can let its users have the education of creating software and hardware so they can have the excitement of seeking technology. It can even permit clients to access the easy-to-use educational resources, as it can support...

Arduino TRE Reviews

We have no reviews of Arduino TRE yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Microbit seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 21 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Microbit mentions (21)

  • Impl Snake For Micro:bit - Embedded async Rust on BBC Micro:bit with Embassy
    The BBC Micro:bit is a small educational board. It is equipped with an ARM Cortex-M4F nRF52833 microcontroller, a 5⨉5 LED matrix, 3 buttons (one of which is touch-sensitive), a microphone, a speaker, Bluetooth capabilities, and much more. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • A 15 pound computer to inspire young programmers (2011)
    [Disclaimer: I work at the BBC.] ...later on, the BBC made[0] the micro:bit[1], another £15 (well, around £15 back then for the V1) computer to inspire young programmers. Funny to think that little did the BBC know that they'd be creating their own cheap computer. [0]: Well, the BBC didn't _make_ it exactly — rather, the development and manufacturing was subcontracted to third-party companies (though some people... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • And DigTech teachers willing to share?
    Https://microbit.org/ are really good in my experience too, maybe a little bit dated now and they seem to have lost momentum, but they're super cheap and providing something physical that you can actually code is pretty exciting to a lot of kids. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • google developed course on Rust
    Comprehensive Rust 🦀: Bare-Metal: a 1-day class on how to use Rust for bare-metal development. You will learn what no_std is and see how you can write firmware for microcontrollers (a micro:bit) and well as how to write drivers for a more powerful application processor (using Qemu). Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Sony backs Raspberry Pi with fresh funding, access to A.I. chips
    Kids in the UK (and elsewhere?) can access the Micro:bit computer[0], while not the same and powerful/extendable as R Pi - it is cheap, good and plenty available. It includes a LED display and motion sensor. Kids can program it using "block coding", or write Python code that runs with the help of MicroPython[1]. [0] https://microbit.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
View more

Arduino TRE mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Arduino TRE yet. Tracking of Arduino TRE recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microbit and Arduino TRE, you can also consider the following products

Scratch - Scratch is the programming language & online community where young people create stories, games, & animations.

codebender - The Largest Arduino Playground In The World. Create, share and run your code anywhere.

Lego Boost - Build + Code + Play

Raspberry Pi - The Raspberry Pi is a tiny and affordable computer that you can use to learn programming through fun, practical projects. Join the global Raspberry Pi community.

CodeCombat - Learn programming with a multiplayer live coding strategy game.

Arduino - Build your own electronics