Guide to Boards 2026: No Computer Required
As 2026 approaches, microcontrollers and single-board computers continue to improve in power and capabilities, making them perfect for next-generation builds.
While big names like Arduino and Raspberry Pi have released exciting new products, other boards are gaining attention.
Here are 15 standout boards that have us excited for 2026.
1. Raspberry Pi 500+ Quad Arm Cortex-A76, RP2040
This is the first consumer-ready, plug-and-play model with on-board storage and a pre-installed OS image.
The RP2040 powers the clicky mechanical keyboard’s LED animations and is completely hackable.
This board is a game-changer for developers.
2. Arduino UNO Q Quad Arm Cortex-A53, Arm Cortex-M33
This board combines a powerful system-on-chip (Soc) with a microcontroller’s (MCU) form factor.
It allows users to run AI models, host a web server, or connect to USB peripherals.
This board is perfect for developers who want to create complex projects.
3. Unihiker K10 ESP32-S3
This board is a single-board computer with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a microphone, speaker, and a built-in display.
It’s powered by the ESP32-S3 MCU and runs MicroPython.
This board is ideal for IoT projects.
4. Adafruit Fruit Jam RP2350B, ESP32-C6
This board is a retro-inspired SBC that runs CircuitPython.
It has a built-in keyboard and mouse via USB.
This board is perfect for developers who want to create retro-style projects.
5. Bela Gem Multi Quad-core Arm Cortex-A53
This board is a pocket audio workstation that pairs PB2 power with 10 channels of high-resolution audio.
It has a browser-based IDE that lets users jump into the jam with zero setup.
This board is ideal for musicians and sound artists.
6. D-Robotics RDK X5 Octa-core Arm Cortex-A55
This board is a Like Pi, With AI that contains a 10 TOPs NPU and costs about the same as the equivalent Pi 5 model.
It’s perfect for developers who want to create AI-powered projects.
This board is a game-changer for the robotics industry.
7. OpenMV AE3 Dual-core Arm Cortex-M55, dual Ethos-U55 NPUs
This board is a compact, capable AI cam that’s perfect for object detection frameworks like YoloV8.
It’s powered by the ESP32-S3 MCU and runs MicroPython.
This board is ideal for developers who want to create AI-powered projects.
8. IceWhale ZimaBoard 2 Quad-core Intel N150
This board is a pocket-zized Zerver that’s perfect for deployment as a media server, NAS, or homelab.
It runs ZimaOS, CasaOS, Linux, or Windows.
This board is ideal for developers who want to create complex projects.
9. Luckfox Lyra Pi B W Triple-core Arm Cortex-A7 + Arm Cortex-M0
This board is a parsimonious Pi-like platform that’s perfect for developers who want to create complex projects.
It has a triple-core Arm Cortex-A7 application processor and M0 MCU.
This board is ideal for developers who want to create retro-style projects.
10. Jumperless V5 RP2350B
Details about this board are not provided.
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