PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ - 8-bit 32MHz MCU, 14KB Flash, 16-UQFN | Microchip
MPN: PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1.43 | $1.43 |
| 10 | $1.27 | $12.70 |
| 100 | $1.11 | $111.00 |
| 500 | $0.97 | $485.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.85 | $850.00 |
| 3,000 | $0.74 | $2,220.00 |
PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ Overview
An 8-bit PIC microcontroller (MCU) is a compact, deterministic embedded processor built around a RISC Harvard architecture with on-chip Flash, RAM and peripherals. MCUs serve as the central intelligence in embedded systems spanning consumer, industrial and IoT markets; the PIC16F/LF1825 specifically belongs to the enhanced mid-range PIC16 family offering standardized features including capacitive touch (mTouch™), nanoWatt XLP™ ultra-low-power technology, and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) such as CLC, NCO and PWM.
Key features include 32MHz internal oscillator, 32MHz MIPS performance, 14KB self-programmable program Flash, 1KB SRAM data memory, 256B EEPROM, 12 high-current I/O capable of direct LED drive, mTouch™ capacitive touch sensing, 12-bit ADC with computation, multiple communication peripherals (EUSART, I²C/SPI), and nanoWatt XLP™ sleep currents down to 20nA typical. The 16-UQFN (4x4 mm) package enables ultra-compact PCB layouts while the exposed pad enhances thermal performance.
The architecture combines a 14-bit instruction word PIC16 core with a rich set of Core Independent Peripherals that can operate without CPU intervention, reducing firmware complexity and power consumption. The nanoWatt XLP™ technology integrates sleep modes with selective peripheral clock gating, allowing typical sleep currents in the tens of nA range when only the WDT or RTC remains active.
Typical applications include capacitive touch user interfaces, wearable and battery-powered IoT nodes, consumer remote controls, low-power sensor hubs, LED lighting controllers, and small industrial control boards. The 32MHz performance and ample peripherals make it well-suited to mTouch button/slider panels and portable BLE nodes when paired with an external transceiver.
A key design consideration is decoupling and PCB grounding for the exposed pad: route the UQFN center pad directly to a clean GND plane with multiple thermal vias to maximize heat dissipation and minimize noise coupling into the analog ADC. Ensure ISP-capable programming pins (ICSPCLK/ICSPDAT) are accessible for in-circuit firmware updates.
This page synthesizes distributor stock, parametric comparisons, drop-in alternatives and practical design notes - engineering information not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ — 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 PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ (same form factor and footprint) — differing in ADC, Package, Program Memory (Flash), Core Architecture, Operating Temperature.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC16F1825T-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.58 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1824T-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1823T-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1.05 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1574T-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.68 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF15324-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.81 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF15325-I/JQ
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$0.99 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | PIC16 8-bit RISC (14-bit instruction word) |
| Family | PIC® XLP™ mTouch™ 16F |
| Program Memory | 14KB Flash (8K x 14) |
| Data Memory (SRAM) | 1 KB |
| EEPROM | 256 B |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 32 MHz |
| Instruction Execution | 200 ns (single-cycle) |
| Operating Voltage Range | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| I/O Pins | 12 |
| Package | 16-UQFN (4x4 mm) with exposed pad |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 12-bit with computation |
| Communication Peripherals | EUSART, I²C/SPI, mTouch capacitive touch |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA5 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 2 | RA4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 3 | RA3 — Bidirectional I/O / MCLR |
| Pin 4 | RC5 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 5 | RC4 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 6 | RC3 — Bidirectional I/O / SCL |
| Pin 7 | RC2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 8 | RC1 — Bidirectional I/O / SDA |
| Pin 9 | RC0 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 10 | RA2 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 11 | RA1 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSPCLK |
| Pin 12 | RA0 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSPDAT |
| Pin 13 | VSS — Ground |
| Pin 14 | VDD — Positive supply voltage |
| Pin 15 | RB7 — Bidirectional I/O |
| Pin 16 | RB6 — Bidirectional I/O / ICSPDAT |
Typical Applications
PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ is suitable for 6 applications: Capacitive Touch User Interface, Wearable Fitness Sensor Node, Consumer Remote Control, IoT BLE Beacon / Sensor Tag, LED Lighting Controller, Small Industrial Control Board.
Capacitive Touch User Interface
The PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ is purpose-built for capacitive touch panels via its integrated mTouch™ peripheral that uses dedicated CVD hardware and the on-chip 12-bit ADC to scan up to 12 electrodes without external touch ICs, which keeps BOM low and PCB area minimal. The 32MHz MIPS throughput lets the firmware execute debounce, gesture logic and LED feedback concurrently with touch scanning, and 14KB Flash holds full state-machine code plus calibration constants. The nanoWatt XLP™ sleep current below 20nA typical lets battery-powered touch remotes and IoT wall switches idle for years on a coin cell. Place 100nF decoupling near VDD and use guard rings around touch electrodes for best SNR. Pair with the PIC16LF1782 for sliders when more ADC channels are required.
Recommended
Wearable Fitness Sensor Node
Wearable heart-rate, step-counter and temperature patches demand micro-power operation in a 4x4 mm footprint, and the PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ fits this need: its 16-UQFN (4x4 mm) package integrates into ultra-compact designs while the 1.8V to 3.6V VDD range supports single-cell Li-ion or coin-cell chemistries directly. The nanoWatt XLP™ peripheral clock gating reduces active current to a few hundred microamps at 32MHz, and selective peripheral sleep drops quiescent draw to tens of nA between sensor reads. The 12 I/O pins drive LEDs, read push-buttons and interface to I²C sensors like accelerometers or optical heart-rate modules, while 14KB Flash is sufficient for sensor fusion and BLE beacon firmware. Pair with the PIC16LF1784T-I/PT when more RAM is required for buffering.
Recommended
Consumer Remote Control
Battery-powered IR/BLE remote controls need low standby draw, fast wake-up and reliable keypad scanning, all of which the PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ provides via the mTouch™ capacitive keypad scanner with hardware CVD that wakes the CPU only on a touch event. The 32MHz CPU executes IR protocol encoding (RC5, NEC, SIRC) or BLE HID commands in real time, while 14KB Flash holds multiple protocol tables and pairing state. The 12 I/O can directly drive 12 keys plus IR LED, status LED and a buzzer, eliminating external drivers. Sleep current under 20nA typical lets the remote sit idle for years on a coin cell, and the 1.8V-3.6V range accepts both CR2032 and 2xAAA sources. Pair with PIC16LF15323T-I/JQ for lower-cost variants when 8KB code is sufficient.
Recommended
IoT BLE Beacon / Sensor Tag
Bluetooth Low Energy beacons advertise sensor data on long intervals to maximize battery life, and the PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ acts as the controller that wakes from sleep on RTC alarm, samples sensors over I²C/SPI, hands it to an external transceiver (e.g., RN4870) and returns to sleep. The 1.8V to 3.6V VDD range aligns with coin-cell and 3.3V regulation, while nanoWatt XLP™ Sleep mode with WDT-only keeps idle current below 1µA, enabling multi-year battery life on a CR2032. 14KB Flash is ample for sensor drivers, calibration tables and BLE command parsers, and 1KB RAM buffers periodic samples. Use the ICSP pins for in-field firmware upgrades and the UQFN exposed pad as a thermal relief under heavy TX bursts. Pair with PIC16LF1768-I/ML for more RAM and ADC channels.
Recommended
LED Lighting Controller
Architectural and decorative LED lighting strips need microcontrollers that can drive PWM channels while staying cool and small, and the PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ delivers: its Core Independent Peripherals include multiple PWM/SCCP channels that can run while the CPU sleeps, freeing MIPS for protocol stacks. 12 I/O can source/sink enough current to directly drive low-power LED strings via MOSFETs, and the 12-bit ADC reads ambient light or potentiometer inputs for closed-loop brightness control. The 1.8V to 3.6V range supports direct Li-ion or USB-rail operation, and the 16-UQFN (4x4 mm) package disappears into thin LED-strip controllers. nanoWatt XLP™ sleep with PWM running allows always-on indicator LEDs at microamp-level consumption. Pair with PIC16LF1713T-I/MV for higher PWM resolution.
Recommended
Small Industrial Control Board
Compact industrial control modules (small pump drivers, valve actuators, sensor conditioners) often need deterministic 8-bit control with stable firmware and the PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ fits well: its enhanced mid-range 14-bit core executes a deterministic 200ns single-cycle instruction, easing timing analysis for PID loops and PWM updates. The -40C to +85C industrial temperature grade handles factory floor conditions. 14KB Flash holds a real-time scheduler plus device drivers for EUSART-modbus, I²C sensor reads and SPI ADC sampling, while 1KB RAM holds modbus buffers and command queues. The 12-bit ADC with computation offloads averaging/threshold checks via hardware, reducing firmware load. The 16-UQFN (4x4 mm) plus exposed pad provides robust thermal dissipation for enclosed cabinets. Pair with PIC16LF1519-I/P for larger pin-count industrial designs.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC16LF1825T-I/JQ — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC16F1825T-I/JQ | PIC16LF1824T-I/JQ | PIC16LF1823T-I/JQ | PIC16LF15325-I/JQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Package | 16-UQFN (4x4 mm, JQ) | 16-UQFN (4x4 mm, JQ) - same | 16-UQFN (4x4 mm, JQ) - same | 16-UQFN (4x4 mm, JQ) - same | 16-UQFN (4x4 mm, JQ) - same |
| Program Flash | 14 KB | 14 KB (same) | 7 KB (-50%) | 8 KB (-43%) | 14 KB (same) |
| RAM | 1 KB | 1 KB (same) | 256 B (-75%) | 1 KB (same) | 1 KB (same) |
| Operating Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V | 1.8 V to 5.5 V | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (same) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (same) | 1.8 V to 3.6 V (same) |
| Max CPU Frequency | 32 MHz | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) | 32 MHz (same) |
| I/O Pins | 12 | 12 (same) | 13 (+8%) | 18 (+50%) | 12 (same) |
| mTouch Capacitive Touch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (newer CIP) |
| Unit Price (qty 100) | $1.11 | $1.05 (slightly lower) | $0.95 (lower) | $0.90 (lower) | $1.20 (higher) |
Key Differentiators
- mTouch™ capacitive touch peripheral integrated (vs PIC16LF1574T-I/JQ)
- Larger program memory than LF1823/LF1824 drop-ins (vs PIC16LF1823T-I/JQ)
- Low-voltage optimized for 3.3V-only systems (vs PIC16F1825T-I/JQ)
Design Notes
Estimated: route the UQFN center exposed pad directly to a continuous ground plane with at least 5 thermal vias (0.3 mm drill, 0.6 mm pad) to maximize heat dissipation and minimize ground bounce. Place a 100nF X7R decoupling capacitor within 2 mm of the VDD pin and a 10µF bulk capacitor within 5 mm. Keep touch-sensing electrode traces short and surrounded by a hatched ground guard ring to improve noise immunity. Do not route digital signals under the touch electrodes - stray capacitance will shift touch thresholds.
The nanoWatt XLP™ Sleep mode holds typical quiescent current below 20nA when only the WDT remains active, but actual draw depends on whether peripherals are clock-gated. In firmware, set all unused peripherals to their SLEEP state and disable the ADC, FVR and comparators before issuing the SLEEP instruction. Use IOC (interrupt-on-change) on wake-up pins instead of polling to avoid extra current. Estimated battery life for a CR2032-powered remote (220mAh, 85% derated) waking once per second for a touch event exceeds 5 years.
Three frequent design mistakes with the LF1825: (1) using 5V logic signals on I/O pins - the LF variant is 3.6V-max and 5V on any pin can damage the part; use the F variant instead; (2) omitting the MCLR pull-up or using it as a generic I/O without enabling the internal weak pull-up - the device will fail to start; (3) failing to expose the ICSP pins (RB6/RA0/RA1) on the PCB - this makes field firmware updates impossible without rework. Per Microchip application note TB0878, ensure a 10kΩ pull-up on MCLR unless intentional external reset is used.
Keep the 32MHz oscillator traces short (<5 mm) and surround with a ground ring; route analog ADC traces away from digital lines and cross them at 90 degrees if needed. The UQFN-16 has no dedicated analog AVSS/AVDD pins - the ADC uses VDD/VSS, so a clean low-noise supply is essential. Place a ferrite bead in series with VDD upstream of the analog section if the digital section is fed from a switching regulator. Estimated analog SNR improvement of 6-10 dB is achievable with proper layout versus poor layout.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per Microchip product page and distributor listings (DigiKey, Mouser). Industrial -40C to +85C temperature grade only; no AEC-Q100 automotive variant. For automotive designs consider PIC16F1825-E/SL extended-grade or PIC16F1825 automotive-grade variants.
