Chip vs Chip

nRF5340 vs nRF54H20

<\/script>\n
'; }, get iframeSnippet() { const domain = '{ SITE_DOMAIN }'; const type = '{ embed_type }'; const slug = '{ embed_slug }'; return ''; }, get activeSnippet() { return this.method === 'script' ? this.scriptSnippet : this.iframeSnippet; }, copySnippet() { navigator.clipboard.writeText(this.activeSnippet).then(() => { this.copied = true; setTimeout(() => { this.copied = false; }, 2000); }); } }" @keydown.escape.window="open = false" @click.outside="open = false">

Embed This Widget

Theme


      
    


    
    

      Widget powered by
      .
      Free, no account required.
    

  




    
    
Side-by-side comparison of nRF5340 and nRF54H20 BLE SoCs.

    
    

      
    

  


  
  
  

    
      

        A
        
nRF5340

      

      

    
    
      

        B
        
nRF54H20

      

      

    
  

  

  
  

  






  
  

    
nRF5340 vs nRF54H20: Nordic's Proven Flagship vs Nordic's Multi-Core Premium SoC


Both the nRF5340 and nRF54H20 are Nordic Semiconductor SoCs, but at different price-performance tiers. The nRF5340 is Nordic's workhorse dual-core platform covering the majority of professional BLE and Thread applications; the nRF54H20 is Nordic's most powerful wireless SoC — a five-core device for the most demanding connected IoT, premium LC3 codec and Auracast." data-category="LE Audio">LE Audio, and BLE 5.4 applications where compute, memory, security certification, and radio performance must all be maximized simultaneously.




Overview


nRF5340 — dual-core (128 MHz M33 application + 64 MHz M33 network), 1.25 MB Flash, 576 KB RAM, BLE 5.3 + 802.15.4, USB 2.0, PSA Level 2. Nordic's production flagship since 2021, broadly deployed in LE Audio, smart home, wearables, and Thread gateways.


nRF54H20 (Nordic Semiconductor) — multi-core: two 320 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 application cores, one M33 radio core, and two RISC-V VPR cores for peripheral handling. 1 MB Flash, 1 MB RAM, BLE 5.4 + 802.15.4, USB 2.0. TSMC 22 nm FD-SOI. PSA Certified Level 3 with Trusted Execution Environment spanning multiple cores, hardware TF-M, and enforced security isolation between application cores.




Key Differences


    

  • Core count: nRF54H20's five-core architecture enables workload segregation impossible on nRF5340's two cores — dedicated application cores for UI, sensor fusion, and BLE coordination can operate independently with enforced TrustZone boundaries.
    • 

  • CPU clock speed: nRF54H20's application cores run at 320 MHz versus nRF5340's 128 MHz — a 2.5× clock advantage for demanding local processing.
    • 

  • RAM: nRF54H20 has 1 MB vs nRF5340's 576 KB — enabling larger ML inference models, richer audio pipelines, and more complex multi-protocol state machines.
    • 

  • BLE version: nRF54H20 supports BLE 5.4 including Channel Sounding; nRF5340 supports BLE 5.3 without Channel Sounding.
    • 

  • Security: nRF54H20 achieves PSA Level 3 with DPA countermeasures, anti-rollback, and multi-core TrustZone attestation. nRF5340 achieves PSA Level 2.
    • 

  • USB: Both include USB 2.0 FS — matched.
    • 

  • Price: nRF54H20 commands a significant premium over nRF5340 reflecting its multi-core die, 22 nm process, and PSA Level 3 security. It targets premium TWS audio, professional medical wearables, and high-end IoT gateways.
    • 





Use Cases


When nRF5340 Excels


    

  • Cost-sensitive professional BLE 5.3 designs: smart home Thread sensors, mid-range wearables, and industrial BLE monitors where dual-core isolation and 576 KB RAM are sufficient.
    • 

  • LE Audio at scale: Nordic's mature nRF5340 LE Audio SDK with LC3, BAP, CAP, and MCP profiles covers the majority of LE Audio products.
    • 

  • Production designs with established supply where nRF5340's years in production provide supply assurance and broad module availability.
    • 

  • Designs where BLE 5.3 meets all requirements and Channel Sounding provides no benefit.
    • 



When nRF54H20 Excels


    

  • Premium TWS earbuds running real-time LC3plus, adaptive ANC, and complex audio scene detection simultaneously — workloads that exhaust nRF5340's compute and memory budget.
    • 

  • Professional medical wearables requiring PSA Level 3 multi-core security isolation for stored encryption keys, biometric templates, and firmware authentication.
    • 

  • High-performance IoT gateways running local inference, multi-sensor fusion, and concurrent BLE/Thread/USB coordination across isolated application cores.
    • 

  • BLE 5.4 Channel Sounding precise ranging products — automotive passive entry, industrial RTLS — requiring the combined radio performance and compute of the nRF54H20.
    • 





Verdict


The nRF5340 is the pragmatic workhorse covering the vast majority of professional BLE applications where dual-core isolation, LE Audio, USB, and BLE 5.3 suffice. The nRF54H20 is justified when you simultaneously require 320 MHz multi-core compute, 1 MB RAM, BLE 5.4 Channel Sounding, PSA Level 3 multi-core security, and the highest LE Audio performance available. For cost-conscious BLE 5.3 designs, the nRF5340 delivers all needed capability at a fraction of the nRF54H20's cost. The nRF54H20 is best evaluated when designing a product family where the premium tier justifies multi-core compute and PSA Level 3 — with the nRF5340 serving the standard tier — using a shared nRF Connect SDK codebase that reduces cross-tier porting effort.

  

  

  
  

  
  

    




  
자주 묻는 질문


  

    
    

      
      

        
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.