CALLIOPE mini 3.0 Board with Jacdac Extensions nRF52833 Bluetooth LED Matrix

Learning to code can be intimidating, but the CALLIOPE mini 3.0 makes it approachable and fun. This compact microcontroller board is designed for education, offering a hands-on way to explore programming and electronics. With its built-in 5x5 LED matrix, buttons, sensors, and wireless connectivity, it's a versatile tool for classrooms and hobbyists alike.

Who is it for

This board is ideal for students, educators, and beginners who want to learn coding and physical computing. It's also great for makers and tinkerers who need a flexible, programmable device for projects.

Main features

• Powered by the Nordic nRF52833 microcontroller with ARM Cortex-M4 core at 64 MHz
• 512 KB flash memory and 128 KB RAM for storing and running programs
• Bluetooth 5.1 Low Energy for wireless communication
• 5x5 red LED matrix for displaying patterns, text, and simple graphics
• Two programmable RGB LEDs for colorful feedback
• Piezo speaker for sound output
• Onboard sensors: 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis magnetometer, temperature sensor, and light sensor
• Two programmable buttons (A and B) plus a reset button
• 25 GPIO pins via edge connector and 5 crocodile clip pads (P0, P1, P2, 3V, GND)
• Supports I2C, SPI, and UART communication interfaces
• Micro USB for power and programming
• Can be powered by 5V USB or 3V JST battery connector
• Jacdac support for easy connection of external modules
• Touch-sensitive pins for interactive projects
• Compatible with micro:bit accessory edge connector

Specifications

• Microcontroller: Nordic nRF52833
• Processor: ARM Cortex-M4 with FPU
• Clock speed: 64 MHz
• Flash memory: 512 KB
• RAM: 128 KB
• Wireless: Bluetooth 5.1 Low Energy (BLE)
• Display: 5x5 red LED matrix
• LEDs: 2x programmable RGB
• Audio: Piezo speaker
• Sensors: Accelerometer (LIS3DH), Magnetometer (LIS3MDL), Temperature, Light
• Buttons: 2 programmable (A, B), 1 reset
• I/O: 25 GPIO, 5 crocodile clip pads
• Interfaces: I2C, SPI, UART
• Programming: Micro USB
• Power: 5V USB or 3V JST battery
• Programming environments: MakeCode, Open Roberta Lab, MicroPython, CircuitPython, Arduino IDE
• Special features: Jacdac support, touch-sensitive pins
• Compatibility: micro:bit accessory edge connector

Tips

Use the CALLIOPE mini 3.0 with block-based programming environments like MakeCode or Open Roberta Lab to get started quickly. For more advanced projects, switch to MicroPython or Arduino IDE. The Jacdac ecosystem allows you to easily add sensors and actuators without soldering.