ATMEGA168PB-XMINI - ATmega168PB Xplained Mini Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATMEGA168PB-XMINI β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28.9 | $28.90 |
| 10 | $27.5 | $275.00 |
| 100 | $26.1 | $2,610.00 |
| 500 | $24.8 | $12,400.00 |
| 1,000 | $23.6 | $23,600.00 |
ATMEGA168PB-XMINI Overview
A microcontroller evaluation kit is a printed-circuit-board platform that exposes a target MCU along with debugging hardware, connectors, and example circuits so embedded engineers can evaluate, program, and debug firmware before committing to custom PCBs. Within the product hierarchy, this board sits at the development-tools level above the bare ATmega168PB MCU, and below complete system solutions.
Key features include a fully-integrated onboard debugger (mEDBG) that provides seamless integration with Atmel Studio and MPLAB X IDE, an Arduino-compatible pin header layout supported by community hardware packages such as XMiniCore and MiniCore, USB-powered operation, and direct access to all 27 GPIO lines of the target device. The picoPower technology of the ATmega168PB supports low-power design exploration.
The ATmega168PB target combines the AVR 8-bit RISC core with 32 general-purpose working registers, read-while-write Flash for in-system programming, and a rich peripheral set including timers, USART, SPI, I2C (TWI), and a 10-bit ADC. The PB revision adds enhanced pin compatibility within the megaAVR family and improved peripheral configuration versus the ATmega168PA.
Typical applications include evaluating the ATmega168PB for industrial control nodes, consumer appliance controllers, and hobby or education platforms that leverage the Arduino-compatible ecosystem, as well as quick prototyping of sensor interfaces and low-power designs.
A key design consideration: the Xplained Mini board is a development platform and is not intended for production end products; production designs must migrate to the bare ATMEGA168PB in TQFP-32 (ATMEGA168PB-AUR) or VQFN-32 (ATMEGA168PB-MU) packages.
This page synthesizes distributor availability, drop-in family alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer product page.
Drop-in alternatives for ATMEGA168PB-XMINI β 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 ATMEGA168PB-XMINI (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Product Type, Target MCU, Core Architecture, IDE Support, Programming Interface.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATMEGA328PB-XMINI
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$18.79 / Unit
View Datasheet βATMEGA328P-XMINI
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
Contact for price
View Datasheet βATMEGA88PB-XMINI
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA168PB-XPRO
β Drop-In β οΈ εζ°εΎ ιͺθ―π Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATMEGA168PB-XMINI Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Product Type | Evaluation Board - Embedded MCU (Xplained Mini) |
| Target MCU | ATmega168PB (AVR ATmega, 8-bit) |
| Core Architecture | AVR 8-bit RISC |
| Flash Memory | 16 KB ISP Flash with read-while-write |
| EEPROM | 512 B |
| SRAM | 1 KB |
| General Purpose I/O | 27 lines |
| Working Registers | 32 general-purpose |
| CPU Clock | 8 MHz / 16 MHz |
| Onboard Debugger | mEDBG integrated debugger |
| IDE Support | Atmel Studio, MPLAB X IDE, Win XP/Vista/7/8/10 |
| Expansion Interface | Arduino-compatible pin headers |
| Power Supply | USB powered |
| Manufacturer Series | AVR ATmega (originally Atmel, now Microchip Technology) |
| Part Status | Active |
| Host OS Compatibility | Windows 7 / 8 / 10 / Vista / XP |
ATMEGA168PB-XMINI Interfaces & Connectors
No manufacturer-published interface list is available for ATMEGA168PB-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
ATMEGA168PB-XMINI is suitable for 6 applications: ATmega168PB Firmware Development, Arduino-Compatible Prototyping, Industrial Control Node Evaluation, Consumer Appliance Controller Prototyping, Embedded Systems Education, Low-Power Design Exploration.
ATmega168PB Firmware Development
The ATMEGA168PB-XMINI is the reference platform for writing and debugging firmware for the ATmega168PB microcontroller before committing to custom PCBs. The onboard mEDBG debugger provides debugWIRE source-level debugging - breakpoints, watchpoints, and register inspection - inside Atmel Studio or MPLAB X IDE, a capability absent from standard Arduino-style boards. Because the kit exposes all 27 GPIO lines through headers, engineers can prototype peripheral configurations for the 16 KB Flash / 1 KB SRAM device and validate timing at the full 16 MHz clock. Firmware then migrates unchanged to production silicon in TQFP-32 or VQFN-32 packages such as ATMEGA168PB-AUR or ATMEGA168PB-MU.
Recommended
Arduino-Compatible Prototyping
With its Arduino-compatible pin header layout, the ATMEGA168PB-XMINI doubles as an advanced Arduino Uno-class board with one decisive advantage: hardware debugging. Community hardware packages - the AtmelUniversityFrance board-manager module, XMiniCore, and MiniCore on GitHub - add first-class Arduino IDE support for the ATmega168PB Xplained Mini. The mEDBG debugger enables stepping through Arduino sketches at the register level, which is invaluable for learning embedded fundamentals or hunting timing bugs. The ATmega168PB's 16 KB Flash accommodates most small Arduino sketches while its picoPower technology supports low-power experiments.
Recommended
Industrial Control Node Evaluation
For industrial sensor nodes, relay controllers, and simple automation endpoints, the ATmega168PB offers the classic AVR peripheral set - USART, SPI, TWI (I2C), 10-bit ADC, and multiple timers - in a 20 MHz-class 8-bit core. The XMINI kit lets control engineers validate communication links, ADC accuracy, and interrupt-driven timing on real hardware before designing custom boards. USB power and integrated debugging shorten lab bring-up to minutes. Designs validated on the kit migrate directly to industrial-grade ATMEGA168PB variants, and the AVR ecosystem provides long-term availability for 8-bit industrial designs.
Recommended
Consumer Appliance Controller Prototyping
Small appliance controllers - coffee machines, fans, chargers, and toys - are classic 8-bit AVR applications. The ATMEGA168PB-XMINI provides a fast path to prototype button interfaces, LED indication, motor timing, and buzzer feedback using the ATmega168PB's timers and GPIO. The kit's 16 MHz clock supports responsive user-interface timing, while picoPower sleep modes let engineers measure realistic standby currents with a multimeter connected to the target rail. Once the firmware is validated, the same code runs on the low-cost ATMEGA168PB production parts, keeping appliance BOM cost minimal.
Recommended
Embedded Systems Education
Universities and training programs use the Xplained Mini family for teaching AVR architecture because the kit combines a real MCU, a free toolchain (Atmel Studio / MPLAB X), and hardware debugging at student-friendly cost. Students can observe registers, stack behavior, and peripherals live through the mEDBG debugger - a far deeper learning experience than Arduino-only platforms. The 16 KB Flash / 1 KB SRAM of the ATmega168PB is intentionally simple, forcing learners to understand memory budgets. Windows XP through Windows 10 host support keeps the kit compatible with older classroom computer labs.
Recommended
Low-Power Design Exploration
The ATmega168PB implements Microchip picoPower technology, and the XMINI kit is the recommended vehicle to characterize its sleep modes, wake sources, and active-mode currents before finalizing a battery-powered design. Engineers toggle power-reduction registers, measure current in idle, power-down, and power-save modes, and validate brown-out and watchdog configurations on real silicon. The kit's exposed headers allow insertion of a precision ammeter in the target supply path. Results feed directly into production firmware for battery-powered products, with the same die later used in TQFP-32 or VQFN-32 production packages.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATMEGA168PB-XMINI β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATMEGA328PB-XMINI | ATMEGA328P-XMINI | ATMEGA88PB-XMINI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Xplained Mini evaluation board | Xplained Mini evaluation board - same | Xplained Mini evaluation board - same | Xplained Mini evaluation board - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Target MCU Flash | 16 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 8 KB |
| Target MCU SRAM | 1 KB | 2 KB | 2 KB | 1 KB |
| Target MCU EEPROM | 512 B | 1 KB | 1 KB | 512 B |
| Onboard Debugger | mEDBG | mEDBG | mEDBG | mEDBG |
| Arduino-Compatible Headers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Balanced memory configuration in the Xplained Mini family (vs ATMEGA328P-XMINI)
- Fully integrated hardware debugging (vs Standard Arduino Uno boards)
- Smaller target Flash for cost-accurate evaluation (vs ATMEGA328PB-XMINI)
Design Notes
The ATMEGA168PB-XMINI is a development platform, not a production component. Do not design it into end products; instead migrate firmware to bare ATmega168PB silicon (TQFP-32: ATMEGA168PB-AUR; VQFN-32: ATMEGA168PB-MU). When migrating, replicate the target clock source configuration used on the kit - the board can run the MCU at 8 MHz or 16 MHz - and verify fuse settings (clock source, BOD level, debugWIRE enable) match your production board, since incorrect fuse settings are the most frequent migration failure.
The kit is USB powered (5 V nominal). When evaluating low-power behavior, remember that USB supply voltage can vary between roughly 4.75 V and 5.25 V, which skews current and ADC-reference measurements. For accurate power characterization of picoPower sleep modes, disconnect USB power peripherals and inject a regulated 3.3 V or a battery rail into the target supply through the provided header, inserting a precision ammeter in series. Disable the mEDBG target-power path when measuring sub-10 uA sleep currents to avoid debugger leakage paths.
The debugWIRE interface shares the RESET pin with the target, so any external circuit driving or loading RESET (programming headers, capacitors above ~10 nF) can break on-board debugging. During firmware development, keep the RESET net clean and unconnected, and switch to ISP programming (via the mEDBG or an external programmer) for final programming. If your production design uses RESET as a GPIO-style reset with heavy capacitive loading, validate that configuration on a custom board rather than relying on XMINI behavior.
Compliance Information
Compliance data for the evaluation kit was not present in the provided web data. Microchip development tools are typically RoHS compliant, but this must be confirmed from official Microchip documentation.