Qualcomm Acquires Arduino: A New Era for DIY Tech and Edge AI

Qualcomm Buys Arduino, Will Bring AI Tools to Your DIY Tech Projects

With over a decade of experience reporting on consumer technology, James covers mobile phones, apps, operating systems, wearables, AI, and more. Don't miss out on our latest stories. Add PCMag as a preferred source on Google. Qualcomm wants to expand accessibility to its technologies, and its next step in that mission is buying popular open-source computing company Arduino. The platform, popular with tech hobbyists for powering DIY computing projects, is set to become part of Qualcomm's business, but its unique brand will remain for its own products. Qualcomm says this deal will "supercharge developer productivity across industries," while existing users will gain access to its "powerful technology stack and global reach." Arduino products are popular with makers, as they combine hardware and software, alongside access to a large community of like-minded users. Arduino says its community includes over 33 million developers, including students, professionals, educators, hobbyists, and more. As part of the announcement, Arduino is introducing its latest single-board computer, featuring a "dual brain" architecture -- a Linux Debian-capable microprocessor and a real-time microcontroller. It will be powered by one of Qualcomm's industry-focused processors, the Dragonwing QRB2210. The Arduino Uno Q is designed to help developers easily access AI functionality for projects that interact with audio and visual cues from their environment, particularly smart home tools. With 2GB of RAM and 16GB of eMMC storage, the Uno Q costs $44, while a 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage version costs $59. The cheaper version is now up for preorder with an Oct. 25 release date; the larger version will go on sale later this year, with preorders set for November. "UNO Q is designed to become the go‑to tool for every developer -- accessible, versatile, and ready for lifelong learning and innovation," Qualcomm says. The chip maker is also introducing a new tool called Arduino App Lab to better unify development across Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI tools. The brand says this will make development faster and easier. "Our passion for simplicity, affordability, and community gave rise to a movement that changed technology," says Massimo Banzi, co-founder of Arduino. "By joining Qualcomm Technologies, we'll bring cutting-edge AI tools to our community while staying true to what has always mattered most to us." "The launch of UNO Q is just the beginning -- we're excited to empower our global community with powerful tools that make AI development intuitive, scalable, and open to everyone," adds Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino.

Qualcomm solders Arduino to its edge AI ambitions

Cali chip giant insists single-board computer house will remain independent Qualcomm has acquired Arduino, maker of microcontrollers (and now single-board computers), in a move designed to boost its presence in edge computing, as evidenced by a new Arduino product based on one of its Dragonwing chips. The move was announced at a joint press event in Turin, where Arduino rolled out its latest device, the UNO Q, which sports a CPU, GPU, and MCU (microcontroller unit), and is designed to run Debian Linux. According to Qualcomm, the takeover is aimed at empowering developers with access to the firm's portfolio of edge technologies and products, but it also gives the California chipmaker the ability to get its technology into the projects Arduino customers are building, many of which end up in commercial and industrial systems. "We will benefit tremendously from this Arduino partnership, as we are mainly a B2B company, and we need to be more accessible to the developer community," said Nakul Duggal, Qualcomm's Group General Manager of Automotive and Industrial & Embedded IoT. "What we are seeing today is an opportunity to make the edge so much more capable," he added. No doubt many Arduino enthusiasts will be alarmed at what they might see as a corporate takeover of a platform that's popular with students and makers. However, the two firms insisted that Arduino will not be merged into Qualcomm and will retain its independence. Terms of the transaction, including any financial arrangements, are not being disclosed. The first product of the Qualy-owned Arduino is the UNO Q, billed as the most capable Arduino ever. This has what it calls a "dual brain" architecture, with a CPU capable of running Debian Linux, plus a real-time microcontroller, bridging high-performance computing with real-time control. Its CPU is Qualcomm's Dragonwing QRB2210 chip, which features four Kryo cores plus an Adreno 702 GPU and a dual-core DSP (digital signal processor). The UNO Q also has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, eMMC flash storage, and Arduino header connectors for compatibility with UNO shields. The MCU appears to be an STM32U5-series chip from STMicroelectronics. However, it also sports new high-speed header connectors on its flip side, no doubt to take advantage of the capabilities in that Dragonwing system-on-chip (SoC). Users will be able to use the UNO Q as a standalone computer, plugging in a keyboard, mouse, and display, like they can with the rival Raspberry Pi boards. They can also run it in a more traditional PC-connected mode where the device is linked to a computer running the developer environment. The Arduino crew couldn't resist a sneaky swipe at their rival. When asked how it differed from the Raspberry Pi, a spokesperson said that it has the dual-brain architecture "and it runs a standard version of Debian." Raspberry Pi OS is a fork of Debian. Because this is new hardware, there is also a new developer environment, App Lab. This is intended to unify the development process across real-time code, Linux apps, and, with Qualcomm involved, AI as well. In fact, App Lab is integrated with the AI-focused Edge Impulse platform, which Qualcomm acquired earlier this year, to make it easier to build and optimize AI models. Users will also be able to import pre-trained models from Qualcomm's AI Hub developer platform. This indicates that Qualcomm sees its acquisition of Arduino as a way to push its AI models and hardware into lots of edge devices, which are predicted to be a key area for AI deployment. "Joining forces with Qualcomm Technologies allows us to supercharge our commitment to accessibility and innovation," Arduino chief exec Fabio Violante said in a statement. "The launch of UNO Q is just the beginning - we're excited to empower our global community with powerful tools that make AI development intuitive, scalable, and open to everyone." The UNO Q will be initially available in two versions, from the official Arduino Store and distributors. One version with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB eMMC storage is available to order immediately for €39/$44, while a version with 4 GB RAM and 32 GB eMMC will be ready to order next month for €53/$59. ®

Qualcomm acquires Italian hardware company Arduino to push deeper into robotics

The Qualcomm Incorporated logo is being displayed at their pavilion during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on February 28, 2024. The company said Tuesday that it's acquiring Arduino, an electronics maker whose inexpensive programmable circuit boards and computers are common in hardware startups and robotics labs for prototyping. Qualcomm didn't announce a price for the transaction, but said the Italy-based company would become an independent subsidiary. The deal gives Qualcomm direct access to the tinkerers, hobbyists and companies at the lowest levels of the robotics industry. Arduino products can't be used to build commercial products but, with chips preinstalled, they're popular for testing out a new idea or proving a concept. Qualcomm hopes that Arduino can help it gain loyalty and legitimacy among startups and builders as robots and other devices increasingly need more powerful chips for artificial intelligence. When some of those experiments become products, Qualcomm wants to sell them its chips commercially. "You start to move towards prototyping, proof of concepts, and once you're ready, you can go commercial, which is something we are obviously very familiar with," said Nakul Duggal, Qualcomm's general manager for automotive, industrial, and embedded Internet of Things, or IoT, in an interview. Qualcomm is also seeking to diversify its revenue away from a concentration in mobile chips and modems as the smartphone market stalls and as Apple starts to move to its own modem chips. Still, in the most recent quarter, Qualcomm's IoT business, which includes many of its current chips that can be used for industrial or robotics products, and its automotive business accounted for a combined 30% of overall revenue from chip sales.

Arduino Reveals Uno Q Board With Debian Linux, and a Qualcomm Acquisition

Arduino boards are a popular choice for DIY electronics projects and embedded devices, especially in cases where a Raspberry Pi board or other single-board computer isn't ideal. Now, the Arduino company has plans to be acquired by Qualcomm, while also revealing a new Uno Q board powered by Qualcomm hardware. Qualcomm has agreed to acquire Arduino as part of its "strategy to empower developers by facilitating access to its unmatched portfolio of edge technologies and products." The terms of the deal weren't disclosed, and it's still subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions, so there is a (small) chance it could fall through. Qualcomm also recently purchased Edge Impulse, an AI development platform for embedded devices, and Foundries.io, a cloud management platform for embedded hardware. The two companies say Arduino will stay independent, "while continuing to support a wide range of microcontrollers and microprocessors from multiple semiconductor providers." There should still be new Arduino boards in the future using non-Qualcomm hardware as needed, in addition to ongoing support for all existing hardware. The previous flagship board, the Uno R4, used microcontrollers from Renesas and Espressif. Arduino Uno Q Besides the corporate acquisition, there's also a new development board to get excited about: the Arduino Uno Q. It's "the most capable Arduino ever," with a hybrid design combining a Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 chipset with a dedicated 32-bit STM32U585 microcontroller. You can program the Uno Q with a separate computer, or connect a keyboard, mouse, and display (using various adapters) to work on your projects directly on the board, more like a typical Raspberry Pi or other micro PC. It's designed to boot a full Debian Linux operating system, or you can use Zephyr OS for Arduino Core and Sketch development. As you might expect, one of the selling points for the Arduino Uno Q is support for low-power AI models, some of which are provided by Qualcomm's Edge Impulse division. They can handle use cases like face detection, spotting keywords for voice-controlled actions, identifying people in camera feeds, classifying images, and other functionality. There's a new Arduino App Lab software environment, which can either run on the Uno Q or on a separate computer. It combines Arduino sketches, Python scripts, app examples, and AI models all in one place, with the ability to connect a board over USB-C or network mode. There will be two versions of the Uno Q available to purchase. The $44 (€39) board has 2GB RAM and 16GB eMMC storage, and another $59/€53 model has 4GB RAM and 32GB eMMC storage. The 2GB model is available to order starting today, with shipping expected on October 25. Pre-orders for the 4GB model will go up in November, with shipping estimated "by end of year." You can order the Arduino Uno Q starting today from the Arduino Store, as well as other authorized retailers like DigiKey and Mouser Electronics. Source: Qualcomm

Qualcomm acquires Arduino and unveils new UNO Q AI board

Qualcomm says Arduino's open model and 33M community will stay independent In a surprise announcement, Qualcomm has revealed plans to acquire Arduino, the open source hardware and software company behind the popular microcontroller boards. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval, will help Qualcomm expand its reach into the global developer community and boost its position in edge and AI computing. Arduino, which has more than 33 million active users, will retain its brand and continue supporting a wide range of microcontrollers from different chipmakers. The acquisition will pair Arduino's open source approach with Qualcomm's processing, graphics, and AI capabilities, with the aim of simplifying development across education, industry, and research. "With our acquisitions of Foundries.io, Edge Impulse, and now Arduino, we are accelerating our vision to democratize access to our leading-edge AI and computing products," said Nakul Duggal, group general manager for automotive, industrial, and embedded IoT at Qualcomm Technologies. "By combining their open-source ethos with Qualcomm Technologies' portfolio, we're helping enable millions of developers to create intelligent solutions faster and more efficiently," Duggal added. The first product from the collaboration, the Arduino UNO Q, will feature a "dual brain" design powered by Qualcomm's Dragonwing processor, pairing Linux-based computing with real-time microcontroller capabilities. It will be compatible with Arduino App Lab, a new integrated environment that connects real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI workflows. "Joining forces with Qualcomm Technologies allows us to supercharge our commitment to accessibility and innovation," Arduino CEO Fabio Violante said. "The launch of UNO Q is just the beginning - we're excited to empower our global community with powerful tools that make AI development intuitive and open to everyone." Massimo Banzi, Arduino's co-founder, added joining Qualcomm would help "bring cutting-edge AI tools to our community while staying true to what has always mattered most to us."

Qualcomm Acquires Arduino to Strengthen Edge AI Development

Qualcomm is buying Arduino, the well-known open-source hardware brand behind some of the most popular maker and educational boards in the world. The deal still needs regulatory approval, but it's a major signal of Qualcomm's growing focus on edge computing and AI. Arduino will keep its name, its open approach, and its compatibility with a variety of chips -- while gaining access to Qualcomm's massive technology and partner network. For developers, this partnership could be a big win. Arduino's community of over 33 million users will get access to Qualcomm's hardware platforms, including its AI and connectivity features. That means faster prototyping and an easier path from hobby projects to real commercial products. Whether you're working on smart home devices, robotics, or industrial monitoring systems, the combined resources of Qualcomm and Arduino could make advanced tools much more accessible. To kick things off, Arduino has introduced the UNO Q, its most advanced board yet. It's powered by Qualcomm's Dragonwing QRB2210 chip and brings a "dual brain" setup -- one side runs Linux for complex computing, and the other handles real-time control tasks. The idea is to bridge the gap between powerful AI processing and the precise timing control that smaller embedded systems need. With built-in support for Linux, Python, and AI workloads, the UNO Q is designed for things like image recognition, environmental sensing, and automation projects. Arduino also launched App Lab, a new all-in-one development tool that unifies different programming environments. You can build, test, and scale AI-powered solutions more easily thanks to built-in links to Edge Impulse, which handles training and optimizing AI models using real-world data. It's a big step toward turning Arduino boards into serious AI prototyping tools that still keep the ease and simplicity the brand is known for. According to Qualcomm's Nakul Duggal, bringing Arduino into the fold fits perfectly with the company's broader plan to "democratize access" to advanced AI and computing technology. Arduino's CEO, Fabio Violante, said the partnership would help expand access to powerful development tools while staying true to Arduino's community-first roots. Co-founder Massimo Banzi added that the goal remains the same -- keeping technology simple, affordable, and open to everyone. Arduino and Qualcomm will host an event called "From Blink to Think" on October 7, 2025, to share more details about the new UNO Q board and App Lab platform. Source: Qualcomm

Qualcomm To Buy Open-Source Hardware Firm Arduino To Boost Edge Business

The chip designer says the acquisition of the open-source hardware and software firm will allow it to provide a 'full-stack platform for modern development.' This will start with the new Arduino Uno Q 'dual-brain' board that is powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing platform Qualcomm said Tuesday that it has reached an agreement to acquire open-source hardware and software firm Arduino in a move to boost its edge business. The San Diego-based chip designer said the move will build upon the recent integrations of its Edge Impulse and Foundries.io acquisitions, accelerating its strategy to "empower developers by facilitating access to its unmatched portfolio of edge technologies and products." [Related: Qualcomm Buys Sequans' 4G IoT Tech To Boost Chip Portfolio] Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Qualcomm said the closing of the transaction, for which it did not provide a timeline, is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. Vowing to preserve Arduino's "open approach and community spirit," Qualcomm said the channel-friendly hardware and software firm will "retain its independent brand, tools and mission" and continue support for a wide range of microcontrollers and microprocessors from multiple semiconductor providers. "Our passion for simplicity, affordability, and community gave rise to a movement that changed technology," said Massimo Banzi, co-founder of Arduino, in a statement. "By joining Qualcomm Technologies, we'll bring cutting-edge AI tools to our community while staying true to what has always mattered most to us." While Qualcomm did not address in its announcement what will happen to Arduino's partner program that includes distributors and systems integrators, the company said that Arduino will be supported by its "extensive partner ecosystem." It also said that Arduino's base of more than 33 million active users will gain access to its "powerful technology stack and global reach." Qualcomm did not respond to a request for comment by press time. The chip designer said the acquisition will allow it to provide a "full-stack platform for modern development." This will start with the newly revealed Arduino Uno Q "dual-brain" board that is powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing platform, which the company said will bridge high-performance computing with real-time control to enable "AI in a blink." Qualcomm also introduced a new, integrated development environment called Arduino App Lab that will support Uno Q and future Arduino boards "across real-time OS, Linux, Python and AI flows to make development faster and easier." "With our acquisitions of Foundries.io, Edge Impulse, and now Arduino, we are accelerating our vision to democratize access to our leading-edge AI and computing products for the global developer community," said Nakul Duggal, group general manager of automotive, industrial and embedded IoT at Qualcomm, in a statement.

Qualcomm To Acquire Arduino: Deal To Boost AI Tools, Help 'Enable Millions Of Developers' - Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM)

Technology giant Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM) announced it will acquire open-source hardware and software company Arduino, a deal that is expected to boost the company's edge computing and AI. The Arduino Acquisition Qualcomm is acquiring Arduino in a move aimed at enhancing the company's portfolio of edge technologies and products, following several recent product unveilings by the company last month. The company said the acquisition will strengthen Qualcomm's commitment to have a full-stack edge platform across hardware, software and cloud services. Together, the companies will combine Arduino's community and affordability with Qualcomm's processing, graphics, computer vision and AI. Arduino has over 33 million active users who will gain access to Qualcomm's tech stack and global reach. Arduino's UNO Q is a single board computer with "dual brain" architecture powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 processor running a Linux environment. UNO Q is meant to help with AI-powered vision and sound solutions, including smart homes and industrial automation systems. Read Also: Qualcomm Q3 Earnings: Double Beat, Auto Revenue Hits Record What Executives Are Saying Qualcomm's Group General Manager, Automotive, Industrial and Embedded IoT Nakul Duggal praised Qualcomm's recent applications of Arduino, Edge Impulse and Foundries.io as the company accelerates its presence in the leading-edge AI space. "Arduino has built a vibrant global community of developers and creators," Duggal said. "By combining their open-source ethos with Qualcomm Technologies' portfolio of leading edge products and technologies, we're helping enable millions of developers to create intelligent solutions faster and more efficiently." Duggal said solutions created will have a path towards commercialization on a global scale. Arduino highlighted the combination and its upcoming UNO Q launch. "Joining forces with Qualcomm Technologies allows us to supercharge our commitment to accessibility and innovation," Arduino CEO Fabio Violante said. "The launch of UNO Q is just the beginning - we're excited to empower our global community with powerful tools that make AI development intuitive, scalable and open to everyone." Arduino co-founder Massimo Banzi said the combination will help provide "cutting-edge AI tools" to the company's community. Read Next: Qualcomm Announces Fastest, Most Efficient Windows PC Processors Photo by Michael Vi via Shutterstock QCOMQualcomm Inc$169.450.49%OverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Qualcomm to acquire Arduino, unveils Arduino UNO Q board

Qualcomm has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Arduino, a leading open-source hardware and software company. The move is part of Qualcomm's broader strategy to enhance its edge computing platform and provide developers with greater access to its portfolio of technologies. This acquisition follows Qualcomm's recent integrations of Edge Impulse and Foundries.io, signaling a concerted effort to build a comprehensive, full-stack platform that encompasses hardware, software, and cloud services. The completion of the transaction is contingent upon regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. According to the announcement, the acquisition aims to merge Qualcomm Technologies' strengths in processing, graphics, AI, and computer vision with Arduino's accessible and affordable platform. The goal is to enhance developer productivity across various industries. Arduino is expected to maintain its independent brand identity, tools, and mission. The company will continue its open-source approach and support for a wide range of microcontrollers and microprocessors from multiple semiconductor manufacturers. Following the acquisition, Arduino's community of over 33 million active users will gain access to Qualcomm's technology stack and global ecosystem, facilitating the path from rapid prototyping to commercialization for entrepreneurs, students, and professionals. Coinciding with the announcement, the companies introduced the Arduino UNO Q, a new single-board computer. The UNO Q features a "dual brain" architecture, combining a Linux-capable microprocessor with a real-time microcontroller. It is powered by the Qualcomm Dragonwing™ QRB2210 processor, which runs a full Linux environment, and is designed for AI-powered vision and sound applications in areas like smart home and industrial automation. In addition to maintaining compatibility with the existing Arduino IDE, the UNO Q will be the first board to support the new Arduino App Lab. This integrated development environment (IDE) is designed to unify development across Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI workflows. The App Lab will also feature seamless integration with the Edge Impulse platform, aiming to simplify the process of building, training, and deploying AI models for tasks such as object detection, anomaly detection, and keyword spotting. Commenting on this, Nakul Duggal, Group General Manager, Automotive, Industrial and Embedded IoT, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. said: With our acquisitions of Foundries.io, Edge Impulse, and now Arduino, we are accelerating our vision to democratize access to our leading‑edge AI and computing products for the global developer community. Arduino has built a vibrant global community of developers and creators. By combining their open-source ethos with Qualcomm Technologies' portfolio of leading edge products and technologies, we're helping enable millions of developers to create intelligent solutions faster and more efficiently -- including a path towards global commercialization by leveraging the scale of our ecosystem. Fabio Violante, CEO, Arduino, said: