Renesas RA2L2 MCUs: Ultra-Low Power Microcontrollers for USB-C 2.4 Portable Devices

10 June 2025 - 0 Comments

Renesas just released its latest RA2L2 microcontroller (MCU) series, designed for power-sensitive devices like wireless peripherals, portable gadgets, and PC accessories. These MCUs are built on a 48MHz Arm Cortex-M23 core and come with some handy upgrades, including support for the latest USB Type-C 2.4 standard, with the new voltage thresholds - 0.613V for 1.5A and 1.165V for 3.0A power delivery.

The RA2L2 manages 87.5 µA/MHz in active mode and drops down to a remarkably low 250nA in standby, which help extend battery life in portable devices. There’s also a low-power UART with a dedicated clock, so the MCU can wake up smoothly when receiving data from Bluetooth or Wi-Fi modules, useful for always-on connected devices.

Beyond USB-C (supporting up to 15W power delivery), Renesas packed in I3C, CAN, and LP UART interfaces, helping cut down on external components and simplify designs. To speed up development, the company’s Flexible Software Package (FSP) provides drivers, RTOS support, and reference code for things like motor control and wireless connectivity.

RA2L2 keeps the low-power perks of the RA2L1 while adding USB-C and more connectivity options. Helpful while working on barcode scanners, charging cases, or gaming accessories, these might be a perfect fit.