Chip vs Chip

nRF5340 vs EFR32BG22

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Side-by-side comparison of nRF5340 and EFR32BG22 BLE SoCs.

    
    

      
    

  


  
  
  

    
      

        A
        
nRF5340

      

      

    
    
      

        B
        
EFR32BG22

      

      

    
  

  

  
  

  






  
  

    
nRF5340 vs EFR32BG22: Nordic's BLE 5.3 Dual-Core Platform vs Silicon Labs' Secure Vault BLE 5.3 SoC


The nRF5340 and EFR32BG22 are both modern BLE 5.3 SoCs using Arm Cortex-M33 cores and targeting professional IoT applications, yet they occupy different capability tiers. The nRF5340 is a dual-core platform with LC3 codec and Auracast." data-category="LE Audio">LE Audio, Thread, USB, and 576 KB RAM for complex applications. The EFR32BG22 is a compact, low-power, BLE-only SoC with Secure Vault hardware security in a small 3×3 mm package — optimized for security-critical BLE sensors, smart locks, and beacons where 32 KB RAM is sufficient.




Overview


nRF5340 — dual M33 cores (128 + 64 MHz), 1.25 MB Flash, 576 KB RAM, BLE 5.3 + 802.15.4, USB 2.0, PSA Level 2 TrustZone.


EFR32BG22 (Silicon Labs) — single 76.8 MHz Arm Cortex-M33, 512 KB Flash, 32 KB RAM, BLE 5.3 with all PHYs including Coded PHY and Advertising">Direction Finding. Secure Vault Mid: hardware PUF for cryptographic key storage, immutable secure boot with anti-rollback, runtime anti-tamper detection, and FIPS 140-2 Level 3-equivalent cryptographic acceleration. Available in 3×3 mm QFN.




Key Differences


    

  • RAM: nRF5340 has 576 KB versus EFR32BG22's 32 KB — an 18× difference. This is the most decisive practical difference. EFR32BG22 is limited to simple BLE sensor and beacon applications; nRF5340 runs Zephyr RTOS with BLE, Thread, sensor drivers, and OTA simultaneously.
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  • BLE version: Both support BLE 5.3 including Coded PHY, 2M PHY, extended advertising, and Direction Finding. nRF5340 supports LE Audio isochronous channels with Nordic's mature stack; EFR32BG22 supports isochronous transport (BLE 5.3) but Silicon Labs' LE Audio stack maturity is lower.
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  • Secure Vault hardware security: EFR32BG22's PUF-based key generation (device-unique keys generated on-chip, never exposed in memory), immutable boot with revocation, and runtime anti-tamper monitoring exceeds nRF5340's PSA Level 2. Critical for smart locks and metering requiring certified key isolation.
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  • 802.15.4: nRF5340 supports Thread and Zigbee; EFR32BG22 is BLE-only.
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  • USB: nRF5340 has USB 2.0 FS; EFR32BG22 does not.
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  • Package: EFR32BG22 fits in 3×3 mm QFN; nRF5340 module minimum approximately 10×10 mm. For size-constrained designs where 32 KB RAM suffices, BG22 fits tighter spaces.
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  • Sleep current: EFR32BG22 approximately 1.0 µA in EM2; nRF5340 approximately 2–3 µA — BG22 maintains a sleep advantage for coin-cell BLE sensors.
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  • Price: EFR32BG22 is less expensive than nRF5340 while providing BLE 5.3 and superior hardware security.
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Use Cases


When nRF5340 Excels


    

  • LE Audio earbuds, hearing aids, and broadcast audio with Nordic's mature LC3/BAP/CAP/MCP stack.
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  • Complex RTOS-based wearables where 576 KB RAM accommodates Zephyr, BLE, sensor fusion, display management, and OTA.
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  • Thread + BLE concurrent multi-protocol devices: border routers, smart home sensors, and gateways.
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  • USB + BLE peripherals and development tools.
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  • Broad ecosystem designs where Nordic's Zephyr contributions and pre-certified modules accelerate development.
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When EFR32BG22 Excels


    

  • Door locks and physical access control where Secure Vault's PUF key protection and runtime anti-tamper monitoring eliminate a separate secure element and provide verifiable key isolation.
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  • Smart energy metering with FIPS 140-2 Level 3-equivalent key protection satisfying grid security regulatory requirements.
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  • BLE 5.3 Direction Finding RTLS tags in 3×3 mm packages where 32 KB RAM is sufficient for simple tag firmware.
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  • Medical credential storage requiring certified cryptographic hardware isolation without dual-core complexity.
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  • Cost-efficient BLE-only sensors where BLE 5.3 + Secure Vault + low sleep + small package at lower price than nRF5340 is compelling.
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Verdict


The core trade-off is RAM versus hardware security certification. EFR32BG22's 32 KB RAM limits it to simple BLE-only sensor and beacon applications — but within those constraints it offers BLE 5.3, Secure Vault Mid certified hardware key isolation, lower sleep current, and a smaller package at a lower price than nRF5340. The nRF5340 enables complex dual-core applications with 576 KB RAM, LE Audio, Thread, and USB. Choose EFR32BG22 when Secure Vault eliminates a separate secure element and 32 KB RAM is genuinely sufficient. Choose nRF5340 when application complexity, LE Audio, 802.15.4, USB, or RTOS memory headroom drives the design.

  

  

  
  

  
  

    




  
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Our comparisons use verified datasheet specifications to create side-by-side tables. Each comparison includes a verdict explaining when to choose each option based on your project requirements.