ATSAMD20-XPRO - SAM D20 Xplained Pro Cortex-M0+ Eval Kit | Microchip
MPN: ATSAMD20-XPRO β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $89 | $89.00 |
| 10 | $85 | $850.00 |
| 25 | $81 | $2,025.00 |
| 100 | $76 | $7,600.00 |
| 500 | $70 | $35,000.00 |
ATSAMD20-XPRO Overview
An Xplained Pro evaluation board is a development kit category designed by Microchip to standardize evaluation across the company's 32-bit MCU families. These kits integrate a debugger, virtual COM port, and standardized extension headers, allowing engineers to evaluate peripherals and add functionality through plug-in extension boards. The ATSAMD20-XPRO belongs to the SAM D ARM Cortex-M0+ family, which sits inside Microchip's broader 32-bit MCU hierarchy of SAM D -> Cortex-M0+ class -> low-power 32-bit MCU portfolio.
Key features include the integrated EDBG debug interface, three Xplained Pro extension headers, mechanical compatibility with the Arduino R3 shield standard, USB-powered operation, and direct access to all SAMD20J18A I/O pins through the standardized headers. The board also exposes the SAM D20's low-power sleep modes for energy profiling.
Typical applications for the SAMD20J18A target device include IoT sensor nodes, low-power wearables, industrial control, smart metering, capacitive touch human-machine interfaces, and consumer electronics prototyping. The combination of Cortex-M0+ efficiency and the SAMD20 peripheral set makes the kit suited for both learning the SAM D architecture and rapidly developing production code.
When designing with this kit, connect a 5V USB source and configure the Atmel Studio / Microchip Studio IDE to detect the EDBG over the USB HID interface. Expansion is most efficient through the I/O1 Xplained Pro, OLED1 Xplained Pro, and PROTO1 Xplained Pro extensions which mount directly onto the standardized 20-pin extension connectors.
Drop-in alternatives for ATSAMD20-XPRO 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 ATSAMD20-XPRO (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Core, Flash Memory, SRAM, Debug Interface, Target MCU.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
ATSAMD21-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD10-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMC21-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAML22-XPRO
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
ATSAMD20J18A-AU
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$2.15 / Unit
View Datasheet βATSAMD20-XPRO Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Manufacturer | Microchip Technology |
| Series | SAM D20 Xplained Pro |
| Target MCU | ATSAMD20J18A |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ 32-bit |
| Clock Speed | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KiB |
| SRAM | 32 KiB |
| Crystal Oscillator | 32.768 kHz |
| Debug Interface | Embedded Atmel EDBG (USB HID) |
| Extension Headers | 3 x Xplained Pro 20-pin |
| Arduino Shield Compatibility | Yes, R3 footprint |
| Power Input | USB micro-B 5 V |
| Board Form Factor | Xplained Pro (approx. 75 x 100 mm) |
| Toolchain Support | Microchip Studio / Atmel Studio / MPLAB X IDE / ASF |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +60C (commercial eval kit) |
ATSAMD20-XPRO Interfaces & Connectors
ATSAMD20-XPRO exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Power Input. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Power Input | USB micro-B 5 V |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Power Input | USB micro-B 5 V |
| Operating Temperature | 0C to +60C (commercial eval kit) |
Power input and thermal parameters for ATSAMD20-XPRO as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
ATSAMD20-XPRO is suitable for 6 applications: IoT Sensor Node Prototyping, Low-Power Wearable Development, Capacitive Touch HMI Evaluation, Industrial Control and Monitoring, Educational Cortex-M0+ Learning Platform, Smart Metering and Energy Monitoring.
IoT Sensor Node Prototyping
The ATSAMD20-XPRO is well-suited for IoT sensor node prototyping because its on-board ATSAMD20J18A target MCU combines an ARM Cortex-M0+ core running at 48 MHz with 256 KiB of flash and 32 KiB of SRAM, sufficient for typical sensor-fusion firmware plus a wireless stack such as LoRaWAN or Zigbee via an external module. The kit's three Xplained Pro extension headers let engineers drop in I/O1 Xplained Pro to add analog front-ends or an OLED1 Xplained Pro to display sensor telemetry. The integrated Atmel EDBG provides full CMSIS-DAP debug over USB without an external probe, accelerating iteration during firmware bring-up. Operating from USB 5 V power with low-power SleepWalking modes on the SAMD20, the kit offers realistic battery-current profiling for coin-cell or WATT-driven sensor products.
Recommended
Low-Power Wearable Development
Wearable firmware teams can use the ATSAMD20-XPRO to evaluate the SAMD20J18A's SleepWalking peripherals and 5 power profiles without committing to a custom PCB. The kit's TQFP-64 ATSAMD20J18A exposes SERCOM, I2C, and ADC lines through the Arduino R3 headers, so designers can plug in a common OLED or heart-rate sensor module immediately. The integrated 32.768 kHz crystal gives the RTC hardware reference needed for accurate timekeeping on a wrist-worn device. Current measurement on the kit's VCC header lets engineers quantify standby uA and active mA figures before integration into a smaller form factor.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch HMI Evaluation
The SAMD20J18A target on the ATSAMD20-XPRO includes Microchip's Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC) for robust capacitive touch sensing, making the kit a natural evaluation platform for buttons, sliders, and wheels in HMI front panels. Engineers can load Microchip's QTouch Composer firmware library and exercise it on the on-board touch pads wired to PTC lines. The Cortex-M0+ core and 256 KiB flash comfortably host the PTC library plus application logic. The kit's Arduino R3 headers let developers add an external capacitive overlay or proximity sensor without rework.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Monitoring
Industrial control prototype development benefits from the ATSAMD20-XPRO because the SAMD20J18A integrates 6 SERCOM channels, a 12-bit ADC, and a 16-bit TC timer block that support common industrial interfaces such as RS-485, SPI sensors, and PWM valve control. The kit's 0 to 60 C operating range covers factory-floor prototyping. The Arduino R3 compatible headers accept industrial shields such as Modbus adapters. Through the EDBG debugger the same project also gets SWD debug visibility, important when debugging field-bus protocols on a real production wiring harness.
Recommended
Educational Cortex-M0+ Learning Platform
Universities and training centers use the ATSAMD20-XPRO as the canonical introduction to Microchip Cortex-M0+ development because it bundles the target MCU, the debugger, and a USB cable in a single kit priced around US$30-100. Learners can flash their first GPIO-toggle program via Microchip Studio within minutes of unpacking the kit. The standardized Xplained Pro extension header layout means the same board becomes a stepping stone to lessons on capacitive touch, ADC, SERCOM peripherals, and low-power design. The 256 KiB flash provides ample room for student projects up to senior-thesis complexity.
Recommended
Smart Metering and Energy Monitoring
Smart-meter firmware teams choose the ATSAMD20-XPRO to prototype energy-measurement algorithms on the SAMD20J18A because the MCU combines 6 SERCOM ports, a hardware crypto engine, and an analog frontend with 12-bit ADC and PGA. The kit's Arduino R3 headers accept current-transformer interface shields, while the Xplained Pro extensions can carry an OLED1 for in-meter readout. The integrated 32.768 kHz oscillator delivers accurate RTC for time-of-use billing logic, and the SleepWalking mode lets the prototype demonstrate meter-tier sleep current below 5 uA for battery backup.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for ATSAMD20-XPRO β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | ATSAMD21-XPRO | ATSAMD10-XPRO | ATSAMC21-XPRO | ATSAML22-XPRO | ATSAMD20J18A-AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | Xplained Pro board | Xplained Pro board - same | Xplained Pro board - same | Xplained Pro board - same | Xplained Pro board - same | TQFP-64 (production MCU) |
| Target MCU | ATSAMD20J18A | ATSAMD21J18A | ATSAMD10J14A | ATSAMC21J18A | ATSAML22J18A | ATSAMD20J18A (same die) |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M0+ 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M0+ 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M0+ 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M0+ 32-bit | ARM Cortex-M0+ 32-bit |
| Clock Speed | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 32 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KiB | 256 KiB | 16 KiB | 256 KiB | 256 KiB | 256 KiB |
| SRAM | 32 KiB | 32 KiB | 4 KiB | 32 KiB | 32 KiB | 32 KiB |
| Debug Interface | Atmel EDBG (USB HID) | Atmel EDBG (USB HID) | Atmel EDBG (USB HID) | Atmel EDBG (USB HID) | Atmel EDBG (USB HID) | SWD external probe (production MCU) |
| Lifecycle Status | Active | Active | Active | Active | Obsolete | Active |
Key Differentiators
- Largest flash and SRAM combination among entry Xplained Pro M0+ kits (vs ATSAMD10-XPRO)
- Active lifecycle vs obsolete alternative (vs ATSAML22-XPRO)
- Educational / entry tier vs SAM C upgrade path (vs ATSAMC21-XPRO)
Design Notes
The ATSAMD20-XPRO is normally powered through the on-board micro-B USB connector delivering 5 V into the kit's 3.3 V LDO that supplies the target ATSAMD20J18A MCU. Engineers who want to measure the SAMD20's true low-power SleepWalking current should remove the VCC jumper header and feed a precise uA-capable ammeter between the USB regulator and the target rails; the EDBG itself draws in the milliamp range so it must be disconnected for accurate standby measurements. Estimated: the EDBG current draw is approximately 25 mA, and the SAMD20J18A SleepWalking floor is in the 3-5 uA range when properly configured.
When using Arduino R3 shields with the ATSAMD20-XPRO, verify that the shield operates at 3.3 V logic levels; the SAMD20J18A is not 5 V tolerant on its GPIO. According to the kit user guide, the on-board level shifters only cover the SPI/UART signal group to the EDBG. The Xplained Pro extension headers directly expose 3.3 V levels and 5 V supply for shields that need the higher rail, but the shield's logic still must conform to 3.3 V on the I/O pins.
When migrating SAMD20 firmware to the ATSAMD21-XPRO board, take care with SERCOM channel remapping: the same logical I2C or SPI lines map to different PAD positions between the SAMD20 and SAMD21 silicon revisions. Designers also frequently forget that the EDBG virtual COM port enumerates only after the Microchip Studio IDE or a terminal application opens the port; otherwise the kit appears as a HID-only debug device. Verify the firmware build target in Microchip Studio matches the kit's actual MCU (SAMD20J18A vs SAMD21J18A) to avoid peripheral-mismatch hard faults at startup.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page. Evaluation board for the SAMD20J18A target MCU; AEC-Q100 is not applicable since this is a development kit, not an automotive-qualified IC.