ATMEGA168-XMINI - ATmega168 Xplained Mini Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA168-XMINI ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18.59 | $18.59 |
| 10 | $17.85 | $178.50 |
| 100 | $17.1 | $1,710.00 |
| 500 | $16.4 | $8,200.00 |
| 1,000 | $15.75 | $15,750.00 |
ATMEGA168-XMINI Overview
An evaluation kit is a pre-assembled hardware platform that lets engineers test a microcontroller's peripherals, power modes, and software before committing to a custom PCB. Within the embedded development hierarchy, evaluation kits sit above bare ICs and below full reference designs: board > development kit > embedded system development tools. The Xplained Mini family is Microchip's entry-level evaluation platform for AVR MCUs, integrating an on-board debugger (mEDBG), a USB interface, and prototyping headers.
Key features of the ATMEGA168-XMINI include the ATmega168 target MCU with 16 KB ISP flash memory, 512 B EEPROM, and 1 KB SRAM; an embedded debugger for programming and debugging via Atmel Studio / Microchip Studio; and Arduino-compatible header spacing that allows shields to be used for quick hardware expansion. The 16 MHz CPU rating matches the maximum grade of the ATmega168 device family.
Technically, the board exposes the ATmega168's peripherals, including a 10-bit ADC, USART, SPI, I2C (TWI), and multiple timers, so firmware can be validated end to end. The on-board mEDBG debugger supports programming over ISP and debugWIRE-style workflows, eliminating the need for external programmer hardware in most bench setups.
Typical applications include academic embedded-systems training, feasibility evaluation of ATmega168-based product designs, and small sensor or actuator prototypes built with Arduino-form-factor shields. The kit is also used for firmware regression testing during ATmega168 production support.
A key design consideration: this kit has been declared obsolete by Microchip and is no longer manufactured, so new designs should target the ATmega328P Xplained Mini (ATMEGA328P-XMINI) or migrate to current AVR devices such as the ATmega168PB. Remaining units are available only through excess inventory and broker channels.
This page synthesizes distributor availability data, drop-in board-family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer product page, with pricing and stock verified as of 2026-09-16.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA168-XMINI — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with ATMEGA168-XMINI (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Board Family, Core Architecture, IDE Support, On-Board Debugger, Product Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA328P-XMINI
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168PB-XMINI
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ 参数待验证✓ In Stock
$23.6 / Unit
View Datasheet →ATMEGA168-XMINI Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Evaluation Kit / Development Board |
| Target MCU | ATmega168 (AVR 8-bit RISC) |
| CPU Clock | 16 MHz |
| Core Architecture | AVR enhanced RISC, 8-bit CMOS |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB ISP flash (read-while-write) |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| SRAM | 1 KB |
| General Purpose I/O | 23 lines |
| Working Registers | 32 general purpose |
| On-Board Debugger | mEDBG embedded debugger |
| Board Family | Xplained Mini (XMINI) |
| Shield Compatibility | Arduino-form-factor headers |
| Programming Interface | USB via on-board debugger (ISP) |
| IDE Support | Microchip Studio / Atmel Studio |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete - no longer manufactured |
ATMEGA168-XMINI Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATMEGA168-XMINI. Refer to the manufacturer documentation for connector and header details.
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
ATMEGA168-XMINI is suitable for 6 applications: Embedded Systems Education and Training, ATmega168 Design Feasibility Evaluation, Arduino Shield Prototyping, Low-Power Battery-Operated Sensor Nodes, Firmware Regression Testing for Legacy ATmega168 Products, Industrial Control Subsystem Prototyping.
Embedded Systems Education and Training
The ATMEGA168-XMINI is well suited to university labs and training courses because the Xplained Mini board exposes the ATmega168's full peripheral set - 10-bit ADC, USART, SPI, TWI, and multiple timers - through clearly labeled Arduino-compatible headers. Students flash and debug code through the on-board mEDBG debugger over a single USB cable, eliminating external programmer cost and setup complexity. The 16 MHz AVR core executes the same instruction set used by classic Arduino platforms, so coursework transfers directly. Since the kit is obsolete, institutions should standardize on ATMEGA328P-XMINI for new curriculum purchases, which preserves the identical teaching workflow with 32 KB flash.
Recommended
ATmega168 Design Feasibility Evaluation
Before committing to a custom PCB around the ATmega168, engineers use the ATMEGA168-XMINI to validate peripheral behavior: the 16 KB ISP flash with read-while-write, 1 KB SRAM, and 512 B EEPROM are exercised under real firmware loads, while the mEDBG debugger provides breakpoints and register inspection via Microchip Studio. The 16 MHz clock rating confirms timing budgets for UART, SPI, and ADC sampling loops. Because the board's power circuitry matches the MCU's 1.8-5.5 V operating envelope, current-consumption measurements in sleep and active modes approximate final product behavior. For new feasibility work today, the ATMEGA168PB-XMINI offers the same evaluation flow on current silicon.
Recommended
Arduino Shield Prototyping
The ATMEGA168-XMINI's Arduino-form-factor headers accept standard shields, enabling rapid assembly of sensor nodes, motor drivers, and display interfaces without custom hardware. The ATmega168 target at 16 MHz delivers roughly 16 MIPS, sufficient for shield workloads such as servo control over 8-bit timers or SD-card logging over SPI. The on-board mEDBG lets developers debug shield interactions at the register level - something stock Arduino boards do not offer - which is valuable when a shield library misbehaves. With the 168 kit discontinued, prototypes should move to the ATMEGA328P-XMINI, which keeps the identical shield layout and doubles flash to 32 KB.
Recommended
Low-Power Battery-Operated Sensor Nodes
The ATmega168 family supports multiple sleep modes (idle, ADC noise reduction, power-down, power-save), and the XMINI kit allows engineers to measure real sleep currents before committing to a coin-cell or AA-powered design. Prototypes for remote sensors, meter readers, and telemetry nodes validate wake-up timing using the asynchronous timer in power-save mode. The 23 GPIO lines drive sensors directly over I2C or SPI while total active current stays within the AVR's mA-class envelope at 16 MHz, dropping dramatically in power-down. For production silicon in this space, pair the kit evaluation with ATMEGA168PA-MU, the picoPower variant optimized for sub-uA sleep currents.
Recommended
Firmware Regression Testing for Legacy ATmega168 Products
Manufacturers supporting legacy ATmega168-based products use the ATMEGA168-XMINI as a bench reference platform for firmware regression testing: new builds are flashed over the mEDBG debugger and exercised against known peripheral test harnesses before release. Because the board carries genuine ATmega168 silicon at 16 MHz, timing-sensitive code - UART baud generators, PWM sequences, ADC conversion scheduling - behaves identically to fielded hardware. Kits already in lab inventory remain fully usable even though the product is obsolete; replacement units should be sourced as ATMEGA168PB-XMINI, whose enhanced PB peripherals remain backward-compatible with 168 firmware with minor configuration.
Recommended
Industrial Control Subsystem Prototyping
The ATMEGA168-XMINI serves as a quick-turn prototyping platform for industrial control logic - relay sequencing, button/debounce inputs, and analog monitoring via the 10-bit ADC - before those functions are frozen into a production ATmega168 design. The board's robust AVR architecture and wide 1.8-5.5 V operating range match typical 5 V industrial signal levels, and the 23 GPIO lines interface directly with optocoupler and driver circuits. Debugging through mEDBG shortens iteration cycles on timing-critical control loops. For new industrial programs, engineers should prototype on ATMEGA328P-XMINI and production-qualify ATMEGA168PA-ANR, the automotive-receiving picoPower variant suited to harsh environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA168-XMINI — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA328P-XMINI | ATMEGA168PB-XMINI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package / Form Factor | Xplained Mini evaluation board | Xplained Mini - same form factor | Xplained Mini - same form factor |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Target MCU | ATmega168 | ATmega328P | ATmega168PB |
| CPU Clock | 16 MHz | 16 MHz | 16 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB | 32 KB | 16 KB |
| SRAM | 1 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 512 B | 1 KB | 512 B |
| On-Board Debugger | mEDBG | mEDBG | mEDBG |
| Lifecycle Status | Obsolete | Active | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Genuine ATmega168 target at full 16 MHz grade (vs ATMEGA328P-XMINI)
- Compact Arduino-compatible Xplained Mini format (vs ATMEGA1284P-XPLD)
- On-board mEDBG debugger included (vs Bare ATMEGA168-20PU chip)
Design Notes
Do not design the ATMEGA168-XMINI into any new program: Microchip lists it as obsolete and no longer manufactured, so supply will end permanently once broker stock is exhausted. Prototype on the ATMEGA328P-XMINI or ATMEGA168PB-XMINI instead, which share the same board layout and debugger workflow. Existing kits remain fully functional for lab use, but maintain at least one spare unit for regression testing since replacements cannot be factory-sourced.
The XMINI board can be powered from USB or an external header supply; when measuring target current consumption for battery designs, disconnect the USB debug path or account for mEDBG overhead, otherwise measured sleep currents will be inflated by the debugger circuitry. The ATmega168 core supports 1.8-5.5 V operation, but the 16 MHz rating applies at the upper voltage range - derate maximum clock frequency if you evaluate at reduced VCC, per the ATmega168 datasheet frequency-versus-voltage curve.
When attaching Arduino shields or breadboarded circuits to the XMINI headers, keep SPI and I2C stubs short: the ATmega168's hardware SPI can run near 8 MHz (fosc/2 at 16 MHz), at which point long jumpers cause ringing and read errors. Add 100 nF decoupling at the shield side and use a common ground return. If a debug session corrupts analog readings, note that mEDBG shares some target pins on Xplained Mini boards - check the kit user guide pin-mapping table before assigning ADC channels.
Compliance Information
Compliance status for the discontinued ATMEGA168-XMINI kit was not stated in the provided web data; consult Microchip's product page for historical environmental documentation.