Arduino’s UNO Q is a dual-brain board that blends a Linux-capable Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 application processor with a real-time STM32U585 microcontroller—in the familiar UNO footprint. It ships with Arduino App Lab pre-installed, supports Wi-Fi 5 / Bluetooth 5.1, has 16 GB eMMC, and exposes classic UNO headers plus new high-speed connectors for cameras, displays, and audio. It’s listed at €47.60 on the Arduino Store, with shipping marked as available since October 24.
What UNO Q Is (and Why It’s Different)
UNO Q is Arduino’s first UNO-family board that can run full Debian Linux while retaining real-time MCU control. The board’s architecture pairs:
- MPU: Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 (quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 up to 2.0 GHz, Adreno GPU, dual ISPs) for Linux apps, graphics, and on-device AI.
- MCU: STM32U585 (Arm Cortex-M33 up to 160 MHz, 2 MB flash, 786 KB SRAM) for deterministic I/O and time-critical tasks.
This “two-brains-one-board” approach lets you run computer-vision or audio ML pipelines on Linux while the MCU keeps motors, sensors, and actuators in hard real-time—without hacks or extra boards.
Key Specs (Highlights)
- Compute: QRB2210 (Cortex-A53 ×4 @ 2.0 GHz, Adreno GPU, 2× ISP); STM32U585 MCU (M33 @ 160 MHz, 2 MB flash, 786 KB SRAM).
- Memory/Storage: 2 GB LPDDR4 RAM; 16 GB eMMC on board.
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 (2.4/5 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.1 via WCBN3536A module.
- I/O & Expansion: Classic UNO headers + Qwiic; bottom high-speed connectors for MIPI-CSI cameras, MIPI-DSI display pins, analog audio, and more (via carriers).
- User I/O: 8×13 LED matrix and four RGB LEDs; 1× user button.
- USB-C (host/device): Power delivery; video out; hub/dongle support for keyboard, mouse, cameras, etc.
- Power: USB-C 5 V (up to 3 A).
- Form factor: 68.85 × 53.34 mm (UNO).
Note: The 4 GB RAM variant is referenced as coming soon and recommended for standalone SBC use; the store currently lists 2 GB.
Software Stack and Developer Experience
Debian Linux + Arduino Core on Zephyr
- The MPU side runs Debian Linux with upstream support; the MCU side runs Arduino Core on Zephyr.
- A built-in RPC/Bridge library connects Linux and the MCU so your app can span both environments cleanly.
Arduino App Lab (Pre-installed)
- App Lab is a new, unified IDE that lets you mix Arduino Sketches, Python scripts, and containerized AI models into one application.
- It offers ready-to-use “Apps” and “Bricks” to speed up common tasks, plus pre-loaded AI models (e.g., object/human detection, classification, keyword spotting).
- Desktop support includes Windows 10+ (64-bit), macOS 11+, Ubuntu 22.04+, and Debian Trixie; you can also run App Lab directly on the board with a monitor/keyboard.
- Docker/Docker Compose are supported on the Linux side for containerized workflows.
Use It Three Ways
- Standalone SBC: Plug a USB-C dongle with PD + video and attach monitor/KB/mouse; recommended with the 4 GB variant (when available).
- PC-connected: Develop over USB-C from your computer, the classic Arduino way.
- Wireless development: Put your board and App Lab on the same network (Wi-Fi/Ethernet) and work cable-free.
Connectivity, Cameras, and Displays
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1 are on board (single module).
- Two camera ISPs in the QRB2210 enable machine-vision use cases; MIPI-CSI camera support and MIPI-DSI display pins are exposed via the new high-speed connectors/carriers.
- USB-C video output supports a display via dongle; a Qwiic port simplifies plug-and-play sensors and Modulino nodes.
Real-World Scenarios the Board Is Built For
- Robotics: On-device ML for object/person detection with the MCU driving motors/servos deterministically.
- Smart machines / kiosks: Local vision + web UI on Linux; real-time peripherals on the MCU.
- Audio & voice: Keyword spotting and audio-reactive experiences with tight timing on the MCU.
- STEM labs & classrooms: One board that teaches Linux apps, Python, ML, and embedded I/O together—without juggling multiple devices.
Pricing, Availability, and Variants
- Price: €47.60 (listed on Arduino Store for the 2 GB/16 GB model).
- Availability: Marked “Available for shipping since 24th October.”
- Variants: 2 GB model now; 4 GB RAM variant “coming soon” (recommended for SBC use).
Compatibility and Openness
- UNO ecosystem compatibility: Works with many shields and existing libraries/sketches; classic form factor retained.
- Open-source stance: Schematics and gerbers to be released under CC-BY-SA 4.0; App Lab and App Bricks are open source with repos to follow.
Getting Started (Checklist)
- Register the board to unlock tools and a free 3-month Arduino Cloud subscription.
- Decide your mode: Standalone SBC (USB-C PD + video dongle) or PC-connected.
- Launch App Lab: Explore “Apps” and “Bricks”; try the pre-loaded AI examples.
- Bridge both brains: Use the RPC library to coordinate Linux apps with MCU sketches.
UNO Q vs. UNO R4 (Quick Context)
- UNO R4 WiFi covers classic microcontroller projects with Wi-Fi/BLE and low power.
- UNO Q can replicate R4 WiFi-class tasks and add Linux, AI, dual-camera support, and richer I/O—use it when you need edge compute plus hard real-time on one board.
Pros and Cons
What stands out
- Hybrid architecture (Linux + real-time) in the UNO form factor.
- Turnkey AI via App Lab with pre-loaded models and container support.
- Built-in eMMC (16 GB)—no SD hassles for the OS.
- Modern I/O: Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.1, USB-C PD/video, MIPI via carriers.
What to watch
- RAM ceiling at launch (2 GB) may constrain heavier desktop-like workflows until the 4 GB variant ships.
- USB-C PD dongle requirement for standalone SBC boot (practical, but easy to overlook).
- Thermals & power under sustained AI workloads are not yet characterized in public docs; plan for airflow if you push ISPs/GPU.
Bottom Line
UNO Q meaningfully lowers the barrier to edge-AI and Linux-class projects while preserving Arduino’s approachable workflow.
If you’ve ever paired a Pi-like SBC with a separate MCU for timing-critical control, this board aims to replace that two-board pattern—in one UNO-sized package.
I’ll order one to give it a try and a few write ups on this site – hopefully some new examples. I also like the Raspberry Pi offerings so hopefully this will be a bigger leap forward of the Arduino boards.
Sources
Primary specifications, software details, price, and availability were taken from the Arduino product page, Arduino Docs, and the Arduino Store listings.
Where relevant, component-level references (e.g., QRB2210 capabilities) were cross-checked against official documentation. (arduino.cc)
