EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 - 24MHz Cortex-M0+ MCU | Silicon Labs
MPN: EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 ✓ ActiveEFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 Overview
An ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontroller is a reduced-instruction-set embedded processor used to monitor sensors, process control signals, and manage system peripherals. The Cortex-M0+ architecture belongs to the broader microcontroller and embedded-processing hierarchy, while the EFM32 Zero Gecko family adds energy-saving features, fast wake-up behavior, autonomous peripherals, and integrated analog functions for compact control designs.
The EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 provides 8 kB of Flash, 2 kB of RAM, 24 digital I/O pins, and two 16-bit timers. Its 24 MHz maximum operating speed supports responsive control tasks while the device can consume as little as 0.5 uA in Stop mode and 114 uA/MHz in Run mode, according to the Silicon Labs EFM32ZG datasheet. These figures make the MCU suitable for systems where average power consumption is more important than sustained processing throughput.
The Zero Gecko platform emphasizes low-energy operation rather than high-performance computation. Its sleep and stop behavior allows firmware to remain responsive to selected events while reducing energy use between measurements. The EFM32 implementation also includes a Wake-up Interrupt Controller for managing interrupts that occur while the CPU is asleep, supporting duty-cycled sensing and control systems that must promptly resume computation.
Typical uses include battery-powered energy and gas meters, smart water meters, compact environmental sensors, industrial monitoring nodes, and other embedded systems that periodically acquire data and transmit or display results. The 32-QFN package supports high-density placement on compact boards, while the 24 I/O pins provide connections for digital inputs, outputs, serial interfaces, and external sensing hardware.
Designers should account for the limited 8 kB Flash and 2 kB RAM when planning firmware, boot code, diagnostics, and communication buffers. The manufacturer datasheet directs PCB designers to the “AN0002 EFM32 Hardware Design Considerations” application note for board-layout guidance, including decoupling and exposed-pad implementation.
This page consolidates verified manufacturer specifications, distributor references, same-family drop-in candidates, package details, and practical design guidance. It is intended to help engineers evaluate the EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 for compact, low-power embedded designs without substituting unsupported specifications.
Drop-in alternatives for EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 — 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 EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Flash Memory, Digital I/O Pins, Package, Run Mode Current, Stop Mode Current.
EFM32ZG210F8-B-QFN32
✅ Drop-InContact for price
View Datasheet →EFM32ZG210F16-QFN32
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32ZG210F32-QFN32
✅ Drop-InContact for price
View Datasheet →EFM32ZG210F4-QFN32
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs UnverifiedContact for price
View Datasheet →EFM32ZG210F32-B-QFN32
✅ Drop-In ⚠️ Specs Unverified📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontroller |
| Series | EFM32 Zero Gecko |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 24 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 8 kB (8K x 8) |
| RAM Memory | 2 kB |
| Digital I/O Pins | 24 |
| Timers | 2 x 16-bit |
| Supply Voltage Range | 1.98 V to 3.8 V |
| Stop Mode Current | 0.5 uA |
| Run Mode Current | 114 uA/MHz |
| Package | 32-QFN (6 x 6 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface mount |
| Processor Architecture | ARM Cortex-M0+, 32-bit RISC |
| Wake-Up Interrupt Controller | Yes |
| Analog Integration | High overall chip and analog integration |
EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 32-qfn (6 x 6 mm) Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 (32-qfn (6 x 6 mm) package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 is suitable for 6 applications: Battery-Powered Energy Metering, Smart Water Metering, Gas and Air-Quality Monitoring, Industrial Environmental Monitoring, Low-Power Utility Sensor Node, Portable Embedded Control Module.
Battery-Powered Energy Metering
The EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 fits compact energy-metering nodes that periodically measure, process, and record consumption data. Its 24 MHz ARM Cortex-M0+ core provides enough control bandwidth for meter management logic, while the 8 kB Flash and 2 kB RAM suit tightly scoped firmware. The Silicon Labs EFM32ZG datasheet reports operation at 114 uA/MHz in Run mode and as little as 0.5 uA in Stop mode, allowing duty-cycled designs to limit average consumption between measurement intervals.
Recommended
Smart Water Metering
The EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 is appropriate for smart water meters where a low-power controller must supervise a flow sensor, manage a pulse or digital interface, and store operating information. Its 24 digital I/O pins provide practical connectivity for sensing and control, while the 24 MHz processor supports responsive peripheral handling. The device's 0.5 uA Stop-mode figure helps preserve battery life when the meter spends most of its time awaiting measurement or communication events.
Recommended
Gas and Air-Quality Monitoring
The EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 can supervise gas or air-quality sensors in a compact, energy-sensitive instrument. Two 16-bit timers are available for sensor timing and periodic sampling, and the 24 I/O pins simplify connection to sensor inputs and alarm outputs. With 8 kB Flash and 2 kB RAM, the design should use compact drivers and data processing; if calibration tables, communications, and logging exceed this capacity, the 16 kB or 32 kB family options provide additional headroom.
Recommended
Industrial Environmental Monitoring
The EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 fits industrial environmental-monitoring nodes that combine a low-power MCU with temperature, humidity, gas, or vibration sensing. Its 24 MHz Cortex-M0+ core can service multiple digital interfaces, and its 24 I/O pins reduce the need for external I/O expansion in compact designs. The principal engineering trade-off is memory: 8 kB of Flash and 2 kB of RAM suit concise acquisition and alarm logic, while richer protocol stacks may require EFM32ZG210F16-QFN32 or EFM32ZG210F32-QFN32.
Recommended
Low-Power Utility Sensor Node
The EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 is well matched to a small utility sensor node that wakes periodically, reads an input, and returns to a low-power state. The EFM32ZG platform includes fast wake-up behavior and a Wake-up Interrupt Controller for events occurring while the CPU sleeps. With 8 kB of Flash, the device can hold focused acquisition and communication firmware, although designers should avoid unnecessary protocol complexity and reserve RAM for buffers and stack usage.
Recommended
Portable Embedded Control Module
The EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 supports a portable embedded control module combining sensor acquisition, simple local logic, and low-power status indication. The 32-QFN 6 x 6 mm package saves board area, and 24 digital I/O pins leave flexibility for switches, indicators, and external interfaces. Its 1.98 V to 3.8 V supply range supports low-voltage systems, but the limited 8 kB Flash and 2 kB RAM require careful module partitioning and a firmware budget during integration.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EFM32ZG210F8-QFN32 — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EFM32ZG210F8-B-QFN32 | EFM32ZG210F16-QFN32 | EFM32ZG210F32-QFN32 | EFM32ZG210F4-QFN32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs |
| Package | 32-QFN (6 x 6 mm) | 32-QFN (6 x 6 mm) - same | 32-QFN (6 x 6 mm) - same | 32-QFN (6 x 6 mm) - same | 32-QFN (6 x 6 mm) - same |
| Maximum Frequency | 24 MHz | 24 MHz | 24 MHz | 24 MHz | 24 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 8 kB | 8 kB | 16 kB | 32 kB | 4 kB |
Key Differentiators
- Matches the target's memory configuration while providing an explicitly listed same-package grade (vs EFM32ZG210F8-B-QFN32)
- Offers substantially more code space without changing the EFM32ZG210 package format (vs EFM32ZG210F16-QFN32)
- Supports larger firmware and data-storage requirements in the same family footprint (vs EFM32ZG210F32-QFN32)
Design Notes
Follow the Silicon Labs “AN0002 EFM32 Hardware Design Considerations” application note when laying out the PCB. Place required decoupling capacitors close to their associated supply and ground pins, provide a clean ground reference beneath the QFN device, and route sensitive inputs away from fast-switching nodes. The supplied excerpts do not specify capacitor values or a complete exposed-pad land pattern, so those details must be taken from the manufacturer datasheet rather than estimated.
Design the supply for the verified 1.98 V to 3.8 V operating range. Confirm startup behavior, brownout settings, and maximum supply limits in the complete manufacturer documentation before selecting the regulator. For battery-powered metering, include a controlled low-power path because the family can consume as little as 0.5 uA in Stop mode, while the active-state budget must also account for the 114 uA/MHz Run-mode figure and short processing bursts.
Budget firmware against only 8 kB of Flash and 2 kB of RAM. Include the bootloader, interrupt handlers, stack, communication buffers, calibration tables, and any diagnostic logging in the memory review rather than sizing only the application source. If the resulting image exceeds available space, use the 16 kB or 32 kB EFM32ZG210 family member instead of adding an external bus solely to compensate for firmware growth.
Keep oscillator, sensor, and communication traces short and isolate noisy analog or switching sources from the 24 MHz control path. Use a continuous ground plane and avoid routing return currents beneath sensitive inputs where practical. Although the MCU includes autonomous peripherals and integrated analog functions, the supplied evidence does not define analog layout values or oscillator guidance, so the EFM32ZG datasheet and AN0002 remain the controlling references.
Compliance Information
The supplied manufacturer and distributor excerpts do not explicitly state RoHS, REACH, AEC-Q100, lead-free, halogen-free, or conflict-minerals status. No compliance status has been inferred.
