Arduino or BBC micro:bit?

How to decide between 2 of the most popular microcontrollers after you have decided to embark on a journey to delve into the world of robotics?

What is a microcontroller?

Before delving into the head-to-head comparison between Arduino and micro:bit, it is useful to first set out what is a microcontroller.

Often confused with microprocessor (or microcomputer), a microcontroller:

• has no interface with a display unit like monitor which means you will need to first write the program on a computer before uploading to the code to the board
• is typically used for one or small number of specific applications e.g. light sensing & controlling devices, temperature sensing and controlling devices, fire or water level detection and safety devices, process control devices
• has low power consumption compared to a microprocessor which makes it an ideal candidate for portable devices that run on battery power
• typically cost less than microprocessors due to simpler design and lower computing power/slower computing speed

The Raspberry Pi (“Pi”) is a popular microprocessor which has largely similar purposes to Arduino and micro:bit. The Pi is often use in education in field of computers, computer science and related subjects. Hobbyists have also found innovative ways incorporate Pi in their projects and sharing their creations online. Some of these interesting projects can be found here.

This article by Eletimes provides a good comparison made between Microprocessor and Microcontroller.

Finally the showdown between Arduino and BBC micro:bit

To clarify, this is not a comparison of which is a better board. Each board has its own set of desired use cases and learning objectives depending on whether you are exploring these boards for project of learning purposes.

	Arduino	BBC micro:bit
Who is it for?	While slightly more difficult to pick up than micro:bit, it is still commonly used from entry level to more advanced use cases. The Arduino has been around since 2005. It was created initially as a tool for learning electronics and programming. It also provides a low-cost and easy way for novices and professionals to create devices that interact with their environment using sensors and actuators. Compared to the micro:bit, it is more widely popular among robotics and electronics hobbyist due to it being a much more versatile board.	Commonly known as an entry-level microcontroller. Since 2016 millions of BBC micro:bits have been distributed to 11 year old students in UK schools. This is part of the BBC Make it Digital initiative that aims to allow young people to get creative with technology, whatever their level of experience. With this purpose in mind, it is easy to see why each micro:bit board come packed with much more features (5×5 grid LED lights, push buttons, magnetometer, accelerometer, etc.) than the Arduino boards which are designed to focus on offering more connectivity to external electronic components.
Board variations	Arduino boasts dozens of chips with UNO and Nano being the more popular boards Explore the products section on Arduino official website to find out more.	With a more streamlined product line, the micro:bit comes in 2 versions v1 released in Feb 2016 v2 released in Oct 2020
Cost	An Uno board cost $23 at Arduino official website	$39 for v2 from Tinkercademy (a micro:bit reseller company)
Use Cases	There is a huge makers’ community that is constantly sharing more ways of using Arduino boards. Explore the projecthub on Arduino’s official website for examples.	Explore the micro:bit official website for ways of incorporating the micro:bit in your projects.
How to program?	The most common and easiest way is by using the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The Arduino IDE is a cross-platform program written in Java, includes a code editor and provides simple one-click mechanisms to compile and upload programs to an Arduino board.	1) Microsoft MakeCode editor – accessed with any device with a web browser 2) Python editor – accessed with any device with a web browser 3) micro:bit mobile and tablet apps 4) Scratch – Free app available to computers running Windows, Mac or ChromeOS and any Android devices 5) Swift Playgrounds – Free app available to Apple iPad and Mac computers

So which board is right for you?

It really depends on your learning objectives or project requirements. It is however worth noting that while both boards are ideal for beginners to electronics and coding, the Arduino has a slightly steeper initial learning curve.

Some of the reasons include:

• the Arduino board layout is more complex than the micro:bit
• micro:bit features more inbuild electronic components. For example, the 5X5 grid of LED lights can act as a visual screen in itself and you can interact with it with the buttons on either side. As a result, complex connections with external apparatuses to experiment with coding can be avoided.
• Some of the editors used for coding micro:bit are web-based, there is no need to download and install any software

However, if you are willing to put in the extra effort to master the Ardunio, the effort will definitely pay off. Due to the multitude of input/output pins and shields developed to further expand the capabilities, Arduino presents more potential mileage for anyone who is keen to further develop their interests in robotics and programming. It is the microcontroller that is favored by many robotics enthusiasts.