IRIS-W106-00B - Tri-Radio Wi-Fi 6/BLE/802.15.4 Module | u-blox
MPN: IRIS-W106-00B ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $14.9 | $14.90 |
| 10 | $13.8 | $138.00 |
| 100 | $12.45 | $1,245.00 |
| 500 | $11.1 | $5,550.00 |
| 1,000 | $9.95 | $9,950.00 |
IRIS-W106-00B Overview
A wireless MCU module (sometimes called a combo or tri-radio module) is a single hardware assembly that combines a microcontroller core, an embedded wireless radio, regulatory-certified RF matching networks, and an antenna, so product designers can add multi-protocol wireless connectivity without implementing each radio stack separately. The IRIS-W106 sits in the broader taxonomy as: combo wireless module -> RF module -> wireless MCU -> embedded wireless SoC -> semiconductor. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) brings OFDMA, MU-MIMO, BSS coloring, and target wake time (TWT) efficiency improvements that reduce latency, extend battery life, and raise network density compared to 802.11ac.
Key features of the IRIS-W106-00B include dual-band operation across the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) bands, integrated PCB trace antenna (no external RF connector required), -40 °C to +85 °C industrial operating range, and an open CPU architecture with the wireless drivers, stacks, and protocols hosted together with the customer application on the on-board Cortex-M33 core. The IRIS-W101 variant of the same family accepts an external antenna via a coaxial pin instead of the PCB trace antenna. Both variants share the same PCB footprint, host MCU, and SDK.
Technically, the module runs the NXP RW612 (tri-radio dual-band Wi-Fi 6 + BLE + 802.15.4 SoC), integrates 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz RF chains with on-module RF front-end matching, and provides regulatory pre-certification for many regions, which simplifies end-product compliance. The design uses dual-band simultaneous operation so a single host MCU can serve simultaneous Wi-Fi, BLE, and 802.15.4 sessions, reducing bill-of-materials count and PCB area versus discrete multi-radio designs.
Typical applications are Matter-ready smart-home gateways, industrial IoT bridges between Thread/Zigbee sensor meshes and Wi-Fi backbones, low-power battery sensors using BLE or Zigbee Green Power, connected appliances, HVAC controllers, smart lighting, asset tracking, and POS terminals. The open CPU model lets developers host their application firmware on the module itself, eliminating an external host MCU.
A key design consideration is antenna placement: although the module includes a PCB trace antenna, plastic-housing proximity, ground clearance, and co-located antennas (especially 2.4 GHz) can detune performance. Customers targeting the highest RF link budget should evaluate the IRIS-W101 with an external antenna on a controlled impedance feedline.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives within the u-blox IRIS-W10 family, common use cases, and practical design notes not assembled in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for IRIS-W106-00B — 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-W106-00B (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 →EVK-IRIS-W106
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
USB-IRIS-W1
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
IRIS-W106-00B Specifications (manufacturer-published)
| Series | IRIS-W10 |
| Module Type | Tri-radio dual-band wireless MCU module |
| Wi-Fi Standard | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth Low Energy v5.3 |
| 802.15.4 Support | Thread, Zigbee |
| Frequency Bands | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz |
| Antenna | Integrated PCB trace antenna |
| Host MCU | NXP RW612 (Cortex-M33) |
| CPU Architecture | Arm Cortex-M33 (open CPU) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
IRIS-W106-00B Interfaces & Connectors
IRIS-W106-00B 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/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth Low Energy v5.3 |
Refer to the manufacturer documentation for the full expansion header pinout and connector pin numbering.
Power & Thermal Characteristics
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C |
Power input and thermal parameters for IRIS-W106-00B as published by the manufacturer.
Typical Applications
IRIS-W106-00B is suitable for 7 applications: Matter-Ready Smart Home Gateways and Hubs, Industrial IoT Bridges (Thread/Zigbee to Wi-Fi), Connected Appliances and White Goods, HVAC Controllers and Smart Thermostats, Smart Lighting and Luminaire Controllers, POS Terminals and Retail Peripherals, Asset Tracking and Condition Monitoring Sensors.
Matter-Ready Smart Home Gateways and Hubs
The IRIS-W106-00B integrates Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE 5.3, and IEEE 802.15.4 on a single NXP RW612 chipset, so a Matter gateway can speak to Thread/Zigbee devices, provision them over BLE, and backhaul traffic over Wi-Fi concurrently without an external companion MCU. The -40 °C to +85 °C industrial temperature range allows deployment in utility rooms, attics, and unheated basements. The integrated PCB trace antenna removes the need for an external RF connector, shrinking the gateway BOM.
Recommended
Industrial IoT Bridges (Thread/Zigbee to Wi-Fi)
Industrial sites increasingly need a bridge between IEEE 802.15.4 mesh sensors (Thread or Zigbee) and an existing Wi-Fi backbone. The IRIS-W106-00B provides the 802.15.4 radio for the sensor mesh and a dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi 6 link for uplink, both running simultaneously on a single silicon. Wi-Fi 6 OFDMA and BSS coloring improve coexistence in dense industrial Wi-Fi environments. The open CPU model allows the gateway application, the Thread border router, and the Wi-Fi station to share the same firmware image.
Recommended
Connected Appliances and White Goods
Major appliances increasingly ship with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for setup, monitoring, and OTA updates. The IRIS-W106-00B's tri-radio flexibility lets manufacturers run BLE provisioning from a phone app, fall back to Wi-Fi 6 for cloud telemetry, and even support Thread / Zigbee Green Power with the same module footprint across product lines. The integrated PCB antenna keeps mechanical design simple and removes the cost of an antenna cable and connector, which is meaningful at appliance production volumes.
Recommended
HVAC Controllers and Smart Thermostats
HVAC controllers and thermostats typically mount on walls near metal back-boxes, which can detune a small antenna. The IRIS-W106-00B combines Wi-Fi 6, BLE 5.3, and 802.15.4 radios so a single module handles Wi-Fi backhaul, phone-app BLE setup, and Thread/Zigbee compatibility for use as part of a multi-vendor Matter ecosystem. The module's integrated PCB antenna is optimized for the typical plastic wall-mount housing used for thermostats. Open CPU firmware support keeps total BOM and PCB size lower than discrete radios + external MCU designs.
Recommended
Smart Lighting and Luminaire Controllers
Smart luminaires increasingly support Matter over Wi-Fi or Thread, plus BLE for commissioning, all from a small driver-board-mounted module. The IRIS-W106-00B tri-radio plus open CPU on the same silicon lets a single hardware design serve multiple SKUs (Thread-only, Wi-Fi-only, dual-mode) by changing only firmware. The surface-mount form factor and integrated PCB trace antenna fit inside compact driver enclosures. Wi-Fi 6 link budget and 5 GHz support let fixtures offload high-bandwidth telemetry when available.
Recommended
POS Terminals and Retail Peripherals
POS terminals and retail peripherals need reliable Wi-Fi backhaul to the store network and Bluetooth to pair with barcode scanners, payment terminals, and customer-facing displays. The IRIS-W106-00B's Wi-Fi 6 + BLE 5.3 radios support simultaneous operation on the NXP RW612 chipset, and the industrial temperature range handles kitchen, warehouse, and outdoor retail environments. Dual-band operation lets the device select the cleaner of 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz in congested retail stores. The integrated antenna minimizes the manufacturing touch points.
Recommended
Asset Tracking and Condition Monitoring Sensors
Asset tracking and condition-monitoring devices in factories or logistics chains increasingly use 802.15.4 mesh (Thread / Zigbee / Wirepas) for low-power uplink to gateways, with BLE for short-range local readout, and Wi-Fi 6 only when high-bandwidth firmware updates are pushed. The IRIS-W106-00B delivers this protocol flexibility on one piece of silicon, so a single PCB can serve multiple product tiers. The industrial -40 °C to +85 °C range supports refrigerated, outdoor, or chemical process environments.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for IRIS-W106-00B — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | IRIS-W101-00B | EVK-IRIS-W106 | USB-IRIS-W1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | IRIS-W10 module with integrated PCB antenna | IRIS-W10 module, external antenna pin (same module footprint) | IRIS-W10 evaluation board carrier (EVK) | USB stick with IRIS-W106 module + USB/UART |
| Brand | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox | u-blox |
| Wi-Fi Standard | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) - same | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) - same | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) - same |
| Bluetooth | BLE v5.3 | BLE v5.3 - same | BLE v5.3 - same | BLE v5.3 - same |
| 802.15.4 Support | Thread, Zigbee | Thread, Zigbee - same | Thread, Zigbee - same | Thread, Zigbee - same |
| Antenna | Integrated PCB trace antenna | External antenna via pin | On-module PCB antenna + onboard test points | Integrated PCB antenna inside USB stick housing |
| Host MCU | NXP RW612 (Arm Cortex-M33) | NXP RW612 (Arm Cortex-M33) - same | NXP RW612 (Arm Cortex-M33) - same | NXP RW612 (Arm Cortex-M33) - same |
| Operating Temperature | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C - same | 0 °C to +70 °C (evaluation board) | 0 °C to +50 °C (consumer-grade USB stick) |
| Form Factor | Surface-mount module (production) | Surface-mount module (production) | Evaluation PCB with headers | USB Type-A stick (lab only) |
Key Differentiators
- Single silicon tri-radio with industrial temp grade (vs IRIS-W101-00B)
- Integrated PCB antenna simplifies BOM (vs IRIS-W101-00B)
- Open CPU model eliminates external host MCU (vs Wi-Fi-only modules requiring an external MCU)
Design Notes
Place the IRIS-W106-00B at the edge of the host PCB with the integrated PCB trace antenna pointing into free space. Maintain at least 5 mm of clearance from metal enclosures, batteries, large ground planes, or other antennas. Avoid placing tall components directly above the antenna keep-out area. Provide a copper keep-out under the antenna trace defined in the IRIS-W10 data sheet for optimal radiation pattern and regulatory pre-certification retention.
If the housing is metal or causes detuning of the onboard PCB trace antenna, choose the IRIS-W101-00B variant with an external antenna instead. Route the antenna feed over a 50 Ω controlled-impedance microstrip, with the antenna mounted clear of metal. Refer to the u-blox system integration manual (IRIS-W10_SIM_UBX-23003263.pdf) for the exact microstrip stackup recommended for the host PCB. Re-using the IRIS-W106-00B schematic with the W101 footprint is a low-cost, drop-in PCB change.
Estimated: the IRIS-W106-00B is not a battery-first module; the Wi-Fi 6 active current draw makes it best suited to line-powered or rechargeable applications. For multi-year battery sensors, prefer BLE-only or 802.15.4-only mode and budget for the Wi-Fi 6 chain to be deep-sleeped during most duty cycles. The open CPU firmware should disable the Wi-Fi 6 macro explicitly to enter low-power states; leaving the Wi-Fi macro enabled will dominate sleep current.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance per u-blox product page; the module is industrial-grade (-40 °C to +85 °C) and is not AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive. Regulatory pre-certification for FCC, ISED, CE, UKCA, and other regions is held on the module, which simplifies end-product compliance.
