IRIS-W101-10B - Tri-Radio Wi-Fi 6 + BLE + 802.15.4 Module | u-blox
MPN: IRIS-W101-10B ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $16.71 | $16.71 |
| 10 | $15.04 | $150.40 |
| 100 | $13.37 | $1,337.00 |
| 500 | $11.7 | $5,850.00 |
| 1,000 | $10.7 | $10,700.00 |
IRIS-W101-10B Overview
A wireless module such as the IRIS-W101-10B is a pre-certified radio sub-system that combines an RF transceiver, modem, MAC, host processor interface, and regulatory-approved PCB antenna or RF pin. Wireless module -> radio module -> transceiver module -> RF module -> electronic component. Wireless modules sit in the broader hierarchy wireless SoC -> IoT connectivity IC -> semiconductor, and they are widely used as drop-in radio blocks to shorten FCC/CE/RED certification cycles for end products.
Key features of the IRIS-W101-10B include dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi 6 operation, Bluetooth LE 5.x with long-range and high-throughput modes, IEEE 802.15.4 with Thread and Zigbee support, an Open-CPU architecture that allows customer firmware to run directly on the module, and 16 MB of on-module flash for OTA-capable designs. The module is supplied as a tape-and-reel surface-mount device for high-volume SMT assembly and ships from distributors as an active production part.
The RW612 platform inside the module uses an Arm Cortex-M33 application processor together with dedicated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radio subsystems, enabling concurrent multi-protocol operation without an external host MCU for many use cases. The 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) features such as OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and target wake time (TWT) reduce latency and power consumption in dense IoT deployments.
Typical applications include smart-home gateways and Matter bridges, industrial IoT edge nodes, asset-tracking and logistics devices, building-automation HVAC and lighting controllers, medical telemetry peripherals, and wireless sensor networks that combine Thread mesh plus BLE provisioning. The antenna-pin variant (-10B) is preferred where the antenna is placed away from the module for enclosure/RF reasons.
When designing with the IRIS-W101-10B, follow the u-blox system integration manual (SIM) for host-board keep-out, antenna routing, and regulatory re-compliance. Because the Open CPU runs customer application code on the module, allocate the 16 MB flash for firmware + OTA staging and reserve a secure boot strategy. All ratings quoted are from the manufacturer datasheet and current distributor stock as of the verification date.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in IRIS-W10 family alternatives, and practical design notes that are not duplicated in the manufacturer datasheet, helping engineers select between antenna-pin and trace variants without re-reading the full product family manual.
Drop-in alternatives for IRIS-W101-10B — 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 IRIS-W101-10B (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Wi-Fi Standard, Bluetooth, Module Type, Mounting Type, RoHS Status.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
IRIS-W101-00B
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$16.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →IRIS-W101-10B-00
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
IRIS-W106-10B
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$14.1 / Unit
View Datasheet →IRIS-W106-00B
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$9.95 / Unit
View Datasheet →EVK-IRIS-W101
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
IRIS-W101-10B Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Manufacturer | u-blox |
| Series | IRIS-W10 |
| Platform | NXP RW612 (Open CPU) |
| Radio Function | Tri-radio: Wi-Fi 6 + BLE + 802.15.4 transceiver module |
| Wi-Fi Standard | 802.11a/b/g/n/ax (Wi-Fi 6) dual-band |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.3 Low Energy |
| 802.15.4 Protocol | Zigbee, Thread (matter-ready) |
| Operating Frequency | 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz |
| Antenna Type | Antenna pin (external antenna NOT included) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (SMT) |
| On-Module Flash | 16 MB |
| CPU Architecture | Open CPU (customer firmware on module) |
| Regulatory Approvals | FCC / ISED / RED / Telec certified (per u-blox datasheet) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Package | Surface-mount module (antenna pin variant) |
IRIS-W101-10B Interfaces & Connectors
IRIS-W101-10B exposes the following interfaces and connectors as published by the manufacturer: Wireless, Bluetooth. Expansion header pinout, connector pin numbering, and electrical limits are defined in the manufacturer documentation.
| Wireless | 802.11a/b/g/n/ax (Wi-Fi 6) dual-band |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.3 Low Energy |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Typical Applications
IRIS-W101-10B is suitable for 6 applications: Smart-Home Matter Bridge & Thread Border Router, Industrial IoT Edge Sensor Node, Wireless Asset Tracking & Logistics Devices, Building Automation HVAC and Lighting Controllers, Medical and Health Telemetry Peripherals, Connected Consumer Audio and Wearables.
Smart-Home Matter Bridge & Thread Border Router
The IRIS-W101-10B is a natural fit for Matter-over-Thread smart-home bridges because it integrates Wi-Fi 6 backhaul plus Thread mesh plus BLE commissioning radios in a single pre-certified module. The 16 MB on-module flash comfortably holds an Open-CPU Thread Border Router stack alongside a Matter controller application, and the antenna-pin variant lets the integrator route the Thread/Zigbee antenna away from noisy digital sections of the gateway PCB. Pairing with the u-blox EVK-IRIS-W1 development kit accelerates prototyping of Matter-over-Wi-Fi and Matter-over-Thread commissioning flows.
Recommended
Industrial IoT Edge Sensor Node
Industrial edge nodes use the u-blox IRIS-W101-10B to consolidate Wi-Fi 6 station, BLE provisioning, and Thread mesh into one radio sub-system, eliminating a separate host MCU for many designs. The RW612 Open-CPU runs the sensor application directly on the module, while the antenna-pin variant (-10B) allows the RF chain to be placed for optimal diversity in metal enclosures. Wi-Fi 6 features such as target wake time (TWT) cut idle current for battery-powered vibration, temperature, and predictive-maintenance sensors.
Recommended
Wireless Asset Tracking & Logistics Devices
Logistics and asset-tracking devices benefit from the IRIS-W101-10B's tri-radio capability: BLE for short-range indoor wayfinding, Thread mesh for fleet telemetry backhaul, and Wi-Fi 6 for direct cloud sync in warehouses with existing 5 GHz infrastructure. The Open-CPU architecture lets the firmware push Wi-Fi location scans and Thread telemetry from the same module, and the 16 MB flash supports OTA staging for firmware updates shipped over years. The antenna-pin variant supports the small embedded flex antennas common in pallet and parcel tags.
Recommended
Building Automation HVAC and Lighting Controllers
Commercial HVAC and lighting controllers integrate the u-blox IRIS-W101-10B for simultaneous BACnet-over-Wi-Fi, Thread mesh for wireless switches, and BLE for installer commissioning tablets. The pre-certified radio sub-system reduces building automation OEMs' FCC/CE compliance burden and the antenna-pin variant lets the module sit behind metal control panels while the antenna is placed on the enclosure surface. Wi-Fi 6 OFDMA improves link quality in densely deployed office and hotel networks.
Recommended
Medical and Health Telemetry Peripherals
Connected medical peripherals such as portable patient monitors and telehealth hubs leverage the IRIS-W101-10B's tri-radio and Open-CPU 16 MB flash to run BLE pairing with body-worn sensors, Thread mesh between rooms, and Wi-Fi 6 uplink to the clinical network. The pre-certified module shortens IEC 60601-1-2 EMC certification because the radio sub-system has already passed FCC/RED/Telec. The antenna-pin variant enables placement inside medical-grade enclosures that attenuate RF noise around switching power supplies.
Recommended
Connected Consumer Audio and Wearables
Premium wireless headphones, hearables, and smart-wearable charging cradles adopt the IRIS-W101-10B for low-latency Bluetooth 5.x audio plus Wi-Fi 6 multi-room streaming and Thread mesh for whole-home audio control. The RW612 Open-CPU can host DSP audio pre-processing, and the antenna-pin variant supports the small SMD antennas required for in-ear form factors. Wi-Fi 6 target wake time (TWT) reduces charger standby drain for always-listening hearables.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for IRIS-W101-10B — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | IRIS-W101-00B | IRIS-W101-10B-00 | IRIS-W106-10B | IRIS-W106-00B | EVK-IRIS-W101 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox |
| Package / Form Factor | Surface-mount module (antenna pin) | Surface-mount module (antenna pin) - same | Surface-mount module (antenna pin) - same | Surface-mount module (integrated chip antenna) | Surface-mount module (integrated chip antenna) | Evaluation board (mikroBUS / USB-C) |
| Wi-Fi Standard | 802.11a/b/g/n/ax (Wi-Fi 6) dual-band | 802.11a/b/g/n/ax dual-band | 802.11a/b/g/n/ax dual-band | 802.11a/b/g/n/ax dual-band | 802.11a/b/g/n/ax dual-band | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax dual-band |
| Bluetooth | BLE v5.3 | BLE v5.3 | BLE v5.3 | BLE v5.3 | BLE v5.3 | Bluetooth 5.x (BLE) |
| 802.15.4 Support | Yes (Thread, Zigbee) | Yes (Thread, Zigbee) | Yes (Thread, Zigbee) | Yes (Thread, Zigbee) | Yes (Thread, Zigbee) | Yes (Thread, Zigbee) |
| On-Module Flash | 16 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB (on-board module) |
| Platform | NXP RW612 Open CPU | NXP RW612 Open CPU | NXP RW612 Open CPU | NXP RW612 Open CPU | NXP RW612 Open CPU | NXP RW612 Open CPU |
| Antenna | Antenna pin (external antenna NOT included) | Antenna pin (external antenna NOT included) | Antenna pin (external antenna NOT included) | Integrated chip antenna | Integrated chip antenna | On-board chip antenna plus SMA |
Key Differentiators
- Antenna-pin variant enables flexible antenna placement for metal enclosures (vs IRIS-W106-10B)
- Tri-radio Wi-Fi 6 + BLE + 802.15.4 on a single Open-CPU module (vs EVK-IRIS-W101)
- Pre-certified FCC/ISED/RED/Telec radio sub-system (vs Discreet RW612 silicon design)
Design Notes
Estimated: The IRIS-W101-10B is a pre-certified RF module, but adding any change to the antenna chain (cable, connector, antenna vendor, or host-board keep-out) voids the FCC/RED/Telec modular approval and forces a fresh regulatory submission. If you must re-route the antenna, re-test radiated spurious and SAR per the u-blox System Integration Manual UBX-23003263 before shipping. Do not substitute a higher-gain antenna without re-running the OEM integrator checklist.
Place the IRIS-W101-10B antenna-pin pad on the host PCB at the edge of the board with a 50 ohm controlled-impedance trace to a U.FL/MHF4 connector or directly to a chip antenna, following the keep-out dimensions in u-blox SIM UBX-23003263. Maintain at least 6 mm clearance from digital ground copper under the radiating structure to preserve EIRP and avoid pattern distortion. Add a ground via fence along the RF trace for noise isolation.
The 16 MB on-module flash in the IRIS-W101-10B supports OTA staging, but the Open CPU firmware must implement a dual-bank A/B update scheme and a rollback path to recover from a corrupted image. Reserve a GPIO for the bootloader status LED and a second GPIO for the factory-reset button so that field units can be re-provisioned without JTAG. Reference the u-blox EVK-IRIS-W1 schematic for recommended reset and boot-mode circuits.
Compliance Information
RoHS and lead-free confirmed via u-blox product page. Module carries FCC/ISED/RED/Telec modular approvals per IRIS-W10 datasheet UBX-23002331. AEC-Q100 not applicable - this is a wireless MCU module, not an automotive-grade IC.
