Nordic adds entry-level Bluetooth LE SoCs to nRF54L series
Nordic Semiconductor has expanded its portfolio of Bluetooth LE SoCs with two entry-level devices aimed at simpler, cost-focused applications. The additions reflect a broader push to extend low-power connectivity into high-volume IoT designs without requiring full-featured, higher-cost SoCs.
For eeNews Europe readers, the move highlights how vendors are segmenting Bluetooth portfolios to address price-sensitive designs such as sensors and peripherals, while still maintaining software and ecosystem continuity across product tiers.
Entry-level devices for scalable Bluetooth designs
The newly introduced nRF54LS05A and nRF54LS05B are positioned as streamlined options within the nRF54L family, retaining core capabilities such as ultra-low power operation and Bluetooth LE connectivity, but with reduced memory and peripheral configurations to optimise cost.
Both devices can operate either as standalone wireless controllers or as companion chips in multi-chip architectures. This flexibility may appeal to developers working on modular designs or transitioning from more complex systems to simplified nodes.
Typical use cases include sensors, asset tags, beacons, remote controls, and PC peripherals, where power efficiency and BOM cost are often more critical than advanced processing or connectivity features.
“With both the nRF54LS05A and nRF54LS05B, we want to give developers an easy, confident starting point,” says Øyvind Strøm, EVP Short-Range at Nordic Semiconductor.
Leveraging ecosystem continuity
A key aspect of the launch is continuity with Nordic’s broader software and development ecosystem. The devices support the same Bluetooth LE stack used across the nRF54L Series, enabling reuse of certifications and software components.
This approach may help reduce development time, particularly for companies scaling product portfolios across different performance and cost tiers. Support for the nRF Connect SDK, as well as cloud-based services such as firmware updates and device management, further positions the devices within a unified development flow.
From a hardware perspective, both SoCs integrate a 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor and Nordic’s fourth-generation Bluetooth LE radio. Memory configurations differ slightly, with 64 KB RAM on the nRF54LS05A and 96 KB on the nRF54LS05B, while both include 0.5 MB of non-volatile memory.
The devices are also pin-compatible with selected members of the nRF54L family, which could simplify upgrades or product variations without major redesigns.
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