# Waveshare RP2040-PiZero > A Raspberry Pi Zero form-factor development board based on the RP2040 dual-core Cortex-M0+ MCU with 16MB flash, Mini HDMI (DVI) output via PIO bitbanging, USB-C, PIO-USB host port, microSD card slot, LiPo battery charging, and a 40-pin Raspberry Pi-compatible GPIO header. ## Quick Facts - **Brand:** Waveshare - **Price:** ~$9.99 - **CPU:** ARM Cortex-M0+ dual-core @ 133MHz - **CPU Architecture:** ARM Cortex-M0+ - **CPU Cores:** 2 - **RAM:** 264KB SRAM - **Flash:** 16MB - **USB:** USB-C - **Power:** 5V + LiPo - **Operating Voltage:** 3.3V - **Weight:** 12g - **Battery:** LiPo (user-supplied, 1.25mm JST) - **Antenna:** none - **SD Card:** microSD ## Use Cases - video-output - retro-computing - raspberry-pi-zero-replacement - prototyping - data-logging - portable-display-controller ## Components - **RP2040** (mcu): Raspberry Pi RP2040 dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ processor at 133MHz with 264KB SRAM, 8 PIO state machines, and USB 1.1 support. PIO enables bitbanged DVI output and USB host functionality. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fdatasheets.raspberrypi.com%2Frp2040%2Frp2040-datasheet.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=waveshare-rp2040-pizero&source=md-export) - **W25Q128JV** (flash-memory): Winbond 16MB (128Mbit) serial NOR flash memory with QSPI interface for firmware and data storage. — [Datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.winbond.com%2Fresource-files%2Fw25q128jv%2520spi%2520revc%252011162016.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=waveshare-rp2040-pizero&source=md-export) ## Protocols - **DVI** (PIO DVI (Mini HDMI)): D2+: GPIO16, D2-: GPIO17, D1+: GPIO18, D1-: GPIO19, D0+: GPIO20, D0-: GPIO21, CLK+: GPIO14, CLK-: GPIO15 - **SPI** (SPI0 (SD Card)): SCK: GPIO6, MOSI: GPIO7, MISO: GPIO4, CS: GPIO5 - **UART** (UART0): TX: GPIO0, RX: GPIO1 - **I2C** (I2C1): SDA: GPIO2, SCL: GPIO3 ## GPIO Map | Pin | Name | Type | Functions | |-----|------|------|-----------| | GPIO0 | UART0 TX | UART | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO1 | UART0 RX | UART | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO2 | I2C1 SDA | I2C | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO3 | I2C1 SCL | I2C | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO4 | SPI0 MISO (SD) | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO5 | SPI0 CS (SD) | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO6 | SPI0 SCK (SD) | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO7 | SPI0 MOSI (SD) | SPI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO8 | GPIO / PIO-USB D+ | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO9 | GPIO / PIO-USB D- | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO10 | GPIO | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO11 | GPIO | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO12 | GPIO | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO13 | GPIO | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO14 | DVI CLK+ | DVI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO15 | DVI CLK- | DVI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO16 | DVI D2+ | DVI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO17 | DVI D2- | DVI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO18 | DVI D1+ | DVI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO19 | DVI D1- | DVI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO20 | DVI D0+ | DVI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO21 | DVI D0- | DVI | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO22 | GPIO | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO23 | GPIO | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO24 | VBUS Detect | — | digital-input | | GPIO25 | LED | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm | | GPIO26 | ADC0 | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm, adc | | GPIO27 | ADC1 | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm, adc | | GPIO28 | ADC2 | — | digital-input, digital-output, pwm, adc | | GPIO29 | ADC3 (VSYS/3) | — | digital-input, adc | ## Description ## Overview The Waveshare RP2040-PiZero is a development board that brings the Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller into the familiar Raspberry Pi Zero form factor. With its 40-pin GPIO header fully compatible with Raspberry Pi Zero HATs and accessories, it serves as a capable MCU-based alternative to the Pi Zero for projects that need deterministic real-time control rather than a full Linux environment. The standout feature is the onboard Mini HDMI connector providing DVI video output, achieved through the RP2040's PIO (Programmable I/O) state machines using the PicoDVI library. This enables driving external HDMI monitors at up to 640x480p 60Hz resolution directly from a microcontroller, opening up possibilities for retro computing, digital signage, and custom display applications. The PIO-USB port adds USB host capability, also implemented via PIO, enabling connection to USB keyboards, mice, and other peripherals. With 16MB of onboard flash (W25Q128JV), a microSD card slot for expanded storage, and a LiPo battery charging circuit with PH2.0 connector, the RP2040-PiZero is well-suited for portable and battery-powered projects. The board supports C/C++ via the Pico SDK, MicroPython, and Arduino development, though DVI and PIO-USB features require C/C++ and cannot be used simultaneously due to PIO resource constraints. ## Where to Buy - [Waveshare](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waveshare.com%2Frp2040-pizero.htm&ref=openhardware.directory&product=waveshare-rp2040-pizero&source=md-export) — 9.99 ## Resources - [product](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waveshare.com%2Frp2040-pizero.htm&ref=openhardware.directory&product=waveshare-rp2040-pizero&source=md-export) - [github](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fraspberrypi%2Fpico-examples&ref=openhardware.directory&product=waveshare-rp2040-pizero&source=md-export) - [wiki](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.waveshare.com%2Fwiki%2FRP2040-PiZero&ref=openhardware.directory&product=waveshare-rp2040-pizero&source=md-export) - [datasheet](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Fdatasheets.raspberrypi.com%2Frp2040%2Frp2040-datasheet.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=waveshare-rp2040-pizero&source=md-export) - [schematics](https://openhardware.directory/r?to=https%3A%2F%2Ffiles.waveshare.com%2Fwiki%2FRP2040-PiZero%2FRP2040-PiZero-Schematic.pdf&ref=openhardware.directory&product=waveshare-rp2040-pizero&source=md-export) ## Images ![Waveshare RP2040-PiZero](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/waveshare-rp2040-pizero/dc00e5b54c38.jpg) ![Waveshare RP2040-PiZero](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/waveshare-rp2040-pizero/996372966eae.jpg) ![Waveshare RP2040-PiZero](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/waveshare-rp2040-pizero/8ad63f22a593.jpg) ![Waveshare RP2040-PiZero](https://nbg1.your-objectstorage.com/openhardware-directory/entities/waveshare-rp2040-pizero/af810d4e1ede.jpg) > **Battery Powered:** Li-Po --- [View full device page](https://openhardware.directory/devices/waveshare-rp2040-pizero)