EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C - Pearl Gecko 40MHz Cortex-M4 1MB MCU | Silicon Labs
MPN: EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $7.92 | $7.92 |
| 10 | $7.13 | $71.30 |
| 100 | $6.05 | $605.00 |
| 500 | $5.21 | $2,605.00 |
| 1,000 | $4.58 | $4,580.00 |
EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C Overview
A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that integrates a CPU core, memory, and peripherals onto one die. The Cortex-M4 is a 32-bit RISC processor designed by ARM for embedded applications, featuring single-precision floating-point and DSP extensions. The EFM32 family sits within Silicon Labs' energy-friendly product line, optimized for ultra-low-power active and sleep operation so battery-powered designs can achieve years of runtime. Pearl Gecko specifically targets secure connected-node applications where hardware cryptography and tamper detection matter.
Key features of the EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C include active current as low as 64 uA/MHz, deep-sleep current of 1.5 uA, a 12-bit 1 Msps ADC, capacitive touch sense hardware, multiple low-energy peripherals (LETIMER, LEUART, I2C), and a flexible peripheral reflex system (PRS) for autonomous inter-peripheral signaling. The 48-QFN (7x7) package exposes all major peripherals including USB, CAN, and a 12-bit DAC.
Architecturally, the device combines a high-performance Cortex-M4 core with a Cortex-M0+ auxiliary network processor in some family members (not this one), low-energy peripherals that can run independently of the CPU, and a wide-voltage 1.85V to 3.8V supply. The integrated crypto engine accelerates AES-128/256, ECC, SHA-1/2, and TRNG operations, offloading the main CPU and protecting key material.
Typical applications include battery-powered IoT sensor nodes, secure connected health devices, smart metering, industrial HMI panels, capacitive touch interfaces, and wireless sensor gateways (when paired with an external radio). The 1 MB Flash and 256 KB SRAM allow on-device protocol stacks (e.g. Bluetooth Mesh, Thread, or Matter via SDK).
When designing with this part, ensure decoupling capacitors are placed close to VDD pins, follow the reference manual's low-energy peripheral routing guidelines, and verify that the chosen development kit (SLSTK3402A or equivalent) supports your SDK version (Simplicity Studio / GSDK).
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in same-package alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C — 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 EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Operating Temperature, Package, Core, Maximum Clock Frequency.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EFM32PG12B500F1024GM48
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-CR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32PG12B500F1024G
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$4.4 / Unit
View Datasheet →EFM32HG222F64G-C-QFP48R
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified✓ In Stock
$2.43 / Unit
View Datasheet →DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/ML
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$5.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit |
| Core Features | FPU + DSP instruction set |
| Maximum Clock Frequency | 40 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB (1M x 8) |
| SRAM | 256 KB |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7 mm) with exposed pad |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 1.85 V to 3.8 V |
| Operating Temperature (TJ) | -40C to +125C |
| ADC | 12-bit, 1 Msps |
| DAC | 12-bit |
| Active Current | 64 uA/MHz |
| Deep Sleep Current | 1.5 uA |
| Crypto Engine | AES-128/256, ECC, SHA-1/2, TRNG |
| Communication | USB, CAN, I2C, SPI, USART, LEUART |
| Touch Sense | Capacitive touch hardware |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (1.85V-3.8V) |
| Pin 2 | PA0 — GPIO / I2C0 SDA / TIMER0 CC0 |
| Pin 3 | PA1 — GPIO / I2C0 SCL / TIMER0 CC1 |
| Pin 4 | PA2 — GPIO / USART0 TX / TIMER0 CC2 |
| Pin 5 | PA3 — GPIO / USART0 RX / TIMER0 CC3 |
| Pin 6 | PA4 — GPIO / USART0 CLK / TIMER1 CC0 |
| Pin 7 | PA5 — GPIO / USART0 CS / TIMER1 CC1 |
| Pin 8 | PA6 — GPIO / LEUART0 TX / TIMER1 CC2 |
| Pin 9 | PA7 — GPIO / LEUART0 RX / TIMER1 CC3 |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 11 | PB0 — GPIO / I2C1 SDA / TIMER2 CC0 |
| Pin 12 | PB1 — GPIO / I2C1 SCL / TIMER2 CC1 |
| Pin 13 | PB2 — GPIO / USART1 TX / TIMER2 CC2 |
| Pin 14 | PB3 — GPIO / USART1 RX / TIMER2 CC3 |
| Pin 15 | PB4 — GPIO / USART1 CLK / TIMER3 CC0 |
| Pin 16 | PB5 — GPIO / USART1 CS / TIMER3 CC1 |
| Pin 17 | PB6 — GPIO / CAN0 TX / TIMER3 CC2 |
| Pin 18 | PB7 — GPIO / CAN0 RX / TIMER3 CC3 |
| Pin 19 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 20 | PC0 — GPIO / ACMP0 O / LESENSE CH0 |
| Pin 21 | PC1 — GPIO / ACMP1 O / LESENSE CH1 |
| Pin 22 | PC2 — GPIO / I2C0 SDA alt / LESENSE CH2 |
| Pin 23 | PC3 — GPIO / I2C0 SCL alt / LESENSE CH3 |
| Pin 24 | PC4 — GPIO / USART2 TX / LESENSE CH4 |
| Pin 25 | PC5 — GPIO / USART2 RX / LESENSE CH5 |
| Pin 26 | PC6 — GPIO / USART2 CLK / LESENSE CH6 |
| Pin 27 | PC7 — GPIO / USART2 CS / LESENSE CH7 |
| Pin 28 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 29 | PD0 — GPIO / ADC0 CH0 / OPAMP0 OUT |
| Pin 30 | PD1 — GPIO / ADC0 CH1 / OPAMP0 INP |
| Pin 31 | PD2 — GPIO / ADC0 CH2 / OPAMP0 INN |
| Pin 32 | PD3 — GPIO / ADC0 CH3 / OPAMP1 OUT |
| Pin 33 | PD4 — GPIO / ADC0 CH4 / OPAMP1 INP |
| Pin 34 | PD5 — GPIO / ADC0 CH5 / OPAMP1 INN |
| Pin 35 | PD6 — GPIO / ADC0 CH6 / DAC0 OUT |
| Pin 36 | PD7 — GPIO / ADC0 CH7 / VDAC |
| Pin 37 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 38 | PE0 — GPIO / USART3 TX / TIMER4 CC0 |
| Pin 39 | PE1 — GPIO / USART3 RX / TIMER4 CC1 |
| Pin 40 | PE2 — GPIO / USB D+ / TIMER4 CC2 |
| Pin 41 | PE3 — GPIO / USB D- / TIMER4 CC3 |
| Pin 42 | PE4 — GPIO / USB VBUS / TIMER5 CC0 |
| Pin 43 | PE5 — GPIO / USB ID / TIMER5 CC1 |
| Pin 44 | PE6 — GPIO / SWCLK / TIMER5 CC2 |
| Pin 45 | PE7 — GPIO / SWDIO / TIMER5 CC3 |
| Pin 46 | RESETn — Active-low reset input |
| Pin 47 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (1.85V-3.8V) |
| Pin 48 | VSS — Digital ground (and exposed thermal pad) |
Typical Applications
EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C is suitable for 7 applications: Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Secure Connected Health Devices, Smart Metering and Energy Monitoring, Industrial HMI Panels and Touch Interfaces, Capacitive Touch Appliance Controls, Wireless Sensor Gateways and Edge Nodes, Portable Test and Measurement Instruments.
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
The EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C's 1.5 uA deep-sleep current and 64 uA/MHz active current make it a strong fit for coin-cell or 2xAA powered IoT sensor nodes. Its 256 KB SRAM can host a Thread or Matter protocol stack while leaving room for application firmware, and the hardware AES-256/TRNG engine secures OTA firmware updates. Designers typically pair it with an external sub-GHz or 2.4 GHz radio (e.g. Silicon Labs EFR32) over SPI, using the device's low-energy peripherals to wake only on sensor events and remain in EM4 deep sleep the rest of the time. With a 40 MHz Cortex-M4 plus FPU, DSP-heavy edge processing (FFT, filtering) can run on-node before transmission, reducing radio duty cycle and total energy budget.
Recommended
Secure Connected Health Devices
The integrated Security Management Unit and hardware crypto engine (AES-128/256, SHA-2, TRNG) make the EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C suitable for connected health wearables and medical peripherals where HIPAA/GDPR data-at-rest protection matters. The Cortex-M4 FPU accelerates biometric signal processing (ECG, PPG, SpO2), while the 12-bit 1 Msps ADC captures biosensor waveforms directly. Key material stored in the SMU is unreadable from application firmware, mitigating firmware-extraction attacks even if the flash is dumped. Operating from -40C to +125C junction, it covers clinical and home-environment temperature extremes, and the 48-QFN 7x7 footprint fits inside thin wearable form factors.
Recommended
Smart Metering and Energy Monitoring
Smart electricity, water, and gas meters benefit from the EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C's combination of 12-bit ADC accuracy, CAN interface for in-home network backhaul, and tamper-detection features. The 1 MB Flash supports full DLMS/COSEM or wireless M-Bus stacks, while the hardware AES engine secures billing data. Low deep-sleep current keeps the meter's idle power budget within IEC 62053-21 limits, allowing 10+ year battery operation for gas and water meters. The 48-QFN package fits standard meter PCBs, and the -40C to +125C industrial temperature range covers outdoor metering cabinets and basement installations.
Recommended
Industrial HMI Panels and Touch Interfaces
The EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C's capacitive touch hardware (up to 16 channels) and 12-bit DAC for backlight/buzzer control enable compact industrial HMI panels without an external touch controller. The Cortex-M4 at 40 MHz drives small TFT displays via SPI/EBI with sub-50 ms page-render latency, while the integrated crypto engine secures field-updatable firmware. RS-485/CAN connectivity supports industrial fieldbus networks. With industrial -40C to +125C qualification and 1 MB Flash, this part fits in panel-meter, machine-controller, and HVAC thermostat designs where long-term supply continuity (10+ years) matters.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch Appliance Controls
Kitchen appliances, washing machines, and induction cooktops use the EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C for water- and noise-tolerant capacitive touch control. The integrated touch sense hardware is rated for operation through 3 mm glass and rejects 50/60 Hz mains interference, eliminating the need for an external touch IC. The Cortex-M4 runs UI animations and BLE pairing stacks simultaneously, and the 1.5 uA deep-sleep current lets the appliance sit idle for years on backup batteries after a power loss. Operating up to 125C junction, it survives oven-door proximity and other hot-environment deployments.
Recommended
Wireless Sensor Gateways and Edge Nodes
When paired with a host MCU over USB, the EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C serves as a USB-attached Thread/Zigbee border-router or Matter bridge for residential gateways. Its full-speed USB 2.0 interface and 256 KB SRAM handle local protocol translation, while 1 MB Flash stores bridge configuration and OTA images. The hardware AES-128/256 engine secures commission and rejoin traffic. Industrial temperature grade lets it operate inside outdoor enclosures, and its small 48-QFN footprint keeps gateway BOM cost and PCB area low for high-volume consumer broadband router designs.
Recommended
Portable Test and Measurement Instruments
Handheld multimeters, oscilloscopes, and field-installed data loggers leverage the EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C's 12-bit 1 Msps ADC and Cortex-M4 DSP for real-time signal processing. The low deep-sleep current keeps the device quiescent between measurement campaigns for months at a time on battery, while the 40 MHz core runs FFTs and RMS calculations inline. Hardware crypto secures measurement logs that may contain calibration or proprietary test data. The 48-QFN 7x7 footprint fits compact handheld enclosures, and -40C to +125C operation handles outdoor field-deployment temperature swings.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-C — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EFM32PG12B500F1024GM48 | EFM32PG12B500F1024IM48-CR | EFM32PG12B500F1024G | DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/ML |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 48-QFN (7x7) | 48-QFN (7x7) - same | 48-QFN (7x7) - same | 48-QFN (7x7) - same | 44-QFN (ML) - smaller |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit + FPU + DSP | ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit + FPU + DSP | ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit + FPU + DSP | ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit + FPU + DSP | dsPIC33 16-bit DSP |
| Clock Speed | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 40 MHz | 70 MIPS (~40 MHz) |
| Flash Memory | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB | 1 MB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 16 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.85 V to 3.8 V | 1.85 V to 3.8 V | 1.85 V to 3.8 V | 1.85 V to 3.8 V | 3.0 V to 3.6 V |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +125C (TJ) | -40C to +125C | -40C to +125C | -40C to +85C | -40C to +85C |
| Hardware Crypto / TRNG | AES-128/256, ECC, SHA-1/2, TRNG | AES-128/256, ECC, SHA-1/2, TRNG | AES-128/256, ECC, SHA-1/2, TRNG | AES-128/256, ECC, SHA-1/2, TRNG | No hardware crypto |
Key Differentiators
- Hardware cryptographic engine with Security Management Unit (vs DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/ML)
- 1 MB Flash vs 256 KB Flash in same 48-QFN footprint (vs DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/ML)
- 1.5 uA deep-sleep current with full SRAM retention (vs EFM32LG895F256G (Leopard Gecko))
- 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 vs 16-bit dsPIC33 core (vs DSPIC33EP256GP504-I/ML)
Design Notes
Place a 1 uF ceramic bypass capacitor within 3 mm of every VDD pin and a single 100 nF within 5 mm, tied to the exposed-pad ground. The exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a continuous ground plane with at least 6 thermal vias to the inner layers to dissipate the ~200 mW peak at 40 MHz full core load. Avoid routing high-speed USB or CAN traces across the package, and keep the SWD/SWCLK traces short and symmetric to avoid debug lockouts.
Use the on-chip DC-DC converter (if enabled) instead of the internal LDO when running at full 40 MHz for long durations - typical savings are 30-40% in core current. Set the EMU energy mode to EM2 (deep sleep) with RTC wake for battery-powered designs; EM4 (1.5 uA but full SRAM loss) is reserved for shipping/storage modes. When sourcing from a coin cell, add a 4.7 uF tantalum reservoir at VDD to handle the inrush of radio-paired transmit bursts.
When using USB, place a 90-ohm differential pair with controlled impedance matched to the USB cable. The D+/D- pair length must be matched within 150 mil. The 48-QFN has no dedicated VBUS detect pin on the package outline listed; route a GPIO to a divider on VBUS for plug-detection. For CAN bus termination, place a 120-ohm resistor between CANH and CANL at each node, not just at the end-of-cable, in harsh industrial installations.
Do not exceed 3.8 V on any VDD pin during hot-plug events - a low-Vin Schottky clamp to ground (e.g. BAT54C) is recommended on VBUS for USB-powered designs. The Cortex-M4 vector table must be set to the start of Flash (0x0000_0000) by the bootloader for interrupts to fire correctly; forgetting this results in HardFault on first interrupt. When migrating between IM48-C and GM48 suffix parts, verify the boot loader configuration matches the suffix's intended packaging flow.
Estimated: At 40 MHz active with all peripherals on, total package dissipation is roughly 130 mW, yielding ~5-6 C junction rise above ambient with a properly soldered exposed pad. In an enclosed 85 C industrial enclosure this pushes TJ to ~91 C, well within the 125 C max. Designers should re-validate thermal margin if blocking code paths or if the radio companion IC shares the same ground pour and raises ambient 10-15 C.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Silicon Labs Pearl Gecko family datasheet; not AEC-Q100 qualified (AEC-Q100 Q-grade variants exist as separate EFM32PG12 suffix options); lead-free reflow profile per JEDEC J-STD-020
