If you’re into LED projects, motion sensing, or just love playing around with Raspberry Pi silicon, the new Waveshare RP2350-Matrix is definitely worth a look. It’s a compact dev board powered by the Raspberry Pi RP2350A and comes with a built-in 8×8 WS2812 RGB LED matrix (that’s 64 individually addressable LEDs right on the board!).
And the best part? It’s not just about flashy lights—this tiny square also packs a 6-axis IMU for motion sensing, plenty of GPIOs, and a Dout pin if you want to chain more LEDs for bigger, brighter projects.
Here’s what makes the RP2350-Matrix stand out:
Processor Options
- Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 @ 150 MHz (with TrustZone & secure boot)
- OR Dual-core RISC-V Hazard3 @ 150 MHz\
- You can even mix cores in your project!
Memory & Storage
- 520 KB SRAM
- 16 MB flash storage
- Display
- 8×8 WS2812 RGB LED matrix
- Dout pin to expand with more LEDs
- Sensors
- QMI8658 6-axis IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope)
- On-chip temperature sensor
- Connectivity & Expansion
- USB Type-C for power & programming (USB 1.1 device/host)
- 25 multi-function GPIOs
- Support for SPI, I²C, UART, ADC, PWM, and even PIO with 12 state machines
- Power
- 5V input via USB-C or pin header
- Onboard LDO regulator (800 mA output)
- Size
- Just 25 × 25 mm (super pocket-friendly!)
Waveshare has made it flexible for developers:
- Supports MicroPython, C/C++ (Pico SDK), and Arduino IDE
- Official demo codes include:
- Fun LED color effects
- IMU-controlled mini games
- Temperature-based LED brightness control
So, whether you’re into writing quick MicroPython scripts or going deep with C++, this board is beginner and maker-friendly.
This isn’t just a “blinking LED board.” With the combo of RGB LEDs + IMU + GPIOs, you can create:
- Motion-controlled LED patterns
- Tiny wearable light displays
- Mini interactive games
- Visual sensor feedback projects
- Expandable LED panels for DIY art installations
The Waveshare RP2350-Matrix is already available at multiple stores:
- Waveshare Store – $9.99 (bulk discounts available, shipping not included)
- AliExpress – Around $12.03
- Amazon – $16.99
For under $15, it’s one of the most affordable all-in-one LED + motion sensor boards you can grab right now.
The Waveshare RP2350-Matrix is perfect for hobbyists, educators, and tinkerers who want a compact yet powerful platform to experiment with RGB lighting, motion control, and custom peripherals.
It’s small, affordable, and versatile—making it a great pick for your next DIY electronics project.
Would you grab this board for a wearable LED project or stick to ESP32-based boards with Wi-Fi? Let us know in the comments below!
0 Comments