February 2025

Pros and Cons of using the new Arduino R4 over the R3

The Arduino Uno R4 offers significant upgrades over the Uno R3, but it also comes with a few trade-offs. Here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons of using the Uno R4 over the Uno R3:

Arduino Uno R3
R3
R4
R4

Pros of the Arduino Uno R4 over the R3:

  1. More Processing Power:
    • R4: This model is equipped with the ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller (at 32-bit). It is much more powerful than the 8-bit ATmega328P used in the R3. This results in faster processing, better handling of complex tasks, and more memory (32KB of SRAM vs. the R3’s 2KB).
    • R3: Limited by the older, slower microcontroller.
  2. Increased Flash Memory:
    • R4: Offers 128KB of flash memory (compared to the R3’s 32KB), allowing for more complex sketches and better overall performance.
  3. Higher Voltage Tolerance:
    • R4: Can tolerate a wider range of input voltages (up to 16V, compared to the R3’s 12V max). This makes it more flexible for different power sources.
  4. Improved I/O Pins:
    • R4: Has more digital I/O pins (14 vs. R3’s 13), along with additional features like analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) and PWM pins that offer better control for advanced projects.
  5. Better Connectivity Options (for R4 WiFi):
    • R4 WiFi: It has built-in wireless connectivity. This makes it ideal for IoT projects. The R3 does not have built-in WiFi or Bluetooth.
  6. Better Compatibility with Modern Libraries and IDE:
    • The R4 supports more advanced libraries and software features thanks to its more modern architecture.

Cons of the Arduino Uno R4 over the R3:

  1. Compatibility Issues:
    • The R4 has a different microcontroller architecture. This change might cause compatibility issues with older shields. It could also affect sketches that were designed for the R3. Some older Arduino libraries might not work without modification.
  2. Learning Curve for New Features:
    • You might need to learn new things due to the more powerful hardware and extra features. This is especially true if you’re used to working with the simpler R3. The transition could be a bit challenging for beginners.
  3. Price:
    • The R4 is typically more expensive than the R3 due to the improved hardware. For simple projects or learning purposes, the R3 might still be the more cost-effective choice.
  4. Potential Overkill for Simple Projects:
    • For basic projects, the increased performance and features of the R4 might be unnecessary. In such cases, the R3 might be sufficient and more efficient.

If you’re working on more complex projects, the R4 is a clear upgrade. You might need more processing power, memory, or connectivity. This is especially true with the WiFi version. However, for simpler, cost-sensitive projects, the R3 remains a solid and reliable choice.

Arduino Projects