PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR - 16-bit 256KB Flash MCU | Microchip
MPN: PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4.85 | $4.85 |
| 10 | $4.32 | $43.20 |
| 100 | $3.78 | $378.00 |
| 500 | $3.34 | $1,670.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.95 | $2,950.00 |
PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR Overview
What is a 16-bit microcontroller? A microcontroller (MCU) is a single-chip computer that combines a CPU, memory (Flash for program, RAM for data), and peripherals (timers, ADC, communication interfaces). The 16-bit PIC24F family sits between 8-bit MCUs and 32-bit Cortex-M parts in computational power and price, making it a sweet spot for industrial, consumer, and medical designs that need more headroom than 8-bit but not the cost of ARM Cortex-M4. Within this family, the 'FJ' prefix denotes low-power variants with deep-sleep currents well under 1 microamp and the Live Update feature, which lets firmware swap Flash partitions without a full reboot.
Key features include a 10-bit ADC, multiple serial interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), up to 53 I/O pins, and a low-power management unit with multiple sleep modes. The QFN-64-EP package exposes a thermal pad that drops junction-to-ambient thermal resistance significantly versus leaded packages, enabling higher CPU throughput without thermal throttling.
Architecturally, the PIC24FJ256GA606 uses a 16-bit modified Harvard architecture with separate program and data buses, delivering predictable deterministic execution useful in real-time control. The dual-partition Flash is engineered for Live Update firmware swaps, which is rare in this price segment and especially valuable for industrial and IoT devices that must update without service interruption.
Typical applications include industrial sensor hubs, portable medical/fitness devices, low-power IoT edge nodes, USB peripherals, and consumer HMI products. The wide operating range (2.0V to 3.6V) and low sleep current also suit battery-powered wearables where standby life dominates.
When designing with this device, pay close attention to the Live Update partition layout when defining bootloaders, and ensure the exposed pad on QFN-64-EP is properly soldered with adequate thermal vias to meet the datasheet thermal envelope under maximum CPU load.
This page synthesizes XAIPART distributor pricing, drop-in compatible alternates, and practical design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, helping procurement and firmware engineers shortlist validated substitutes.
Drop-in alternatives for PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR — 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 PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, ADC, Core Architecture, USB Interface, Program Memory (Flash).
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
PIC24FJ256GA606-I/MR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ256GB606-I/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$2.65 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ128GA606-I/MR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
PIC24FJ256GA406-I/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.79 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ128GB606-I/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$3.62 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256DA106-I/MR
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$6.25 / Unit
View Datasheet →PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | 16-bit PIC24F (modified Harvard) |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 256 KB |
| Data RAM | 32 KB |
| Maximum CPU Speed | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage Range | 2.0 V to 3.6 V |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit |
| I/O Pins | 53 |
| Package | QFN-64-EP (9x9 mm) |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40C to +85C (Industrial) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| MSL Level | 3 (168 hours) |
| Flash Partitions | Dual-partition with Live Update |
| Communication Interfaces | UART, SPI, I2C |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
| Lead-Free | Yes |
PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | RA0 — I/O port A bit 0 / analog input |
| Pin 2 | RA1 — I/O port A bit 1 / analog input |
| Pin 3 | RA2 — I/O port A bit 2 / analog input |
| Pin 4 | RA3 — I/O port A bit 3 / analog input |
| Pin 5 | VDD — Positive supply (2.0V to 3.6V) |
| Pin 6 | VSS — Ground reference |
| Pin 7 | OSCI — Oscillator input / external clock |
| Pin 8 | OSCO — Oscillator output |
| Pin 9 | RA4 — I/O port A bit 4 |
| Pin 10 | RA5 — I/O port A bit 5 |
| Pin 11 | RB0 — I/O port B bit 0 |
| Pin 12 | RB1 — I/O port B bit 1 |
| Pin 13 | RB2 — I/O port B bit 2 |
| Pin 14 | RB3 — I/O port B bit 3 |
| Pin 15 | RB4 — I/O port B bit 4 |
| Pin 16 | RB5 — I/O port B bit 5 |
| Pin 17 | RB6 — I/O port B bit 6 / programming clock |
| Pin 18 | RB7 — I/O port B bit 7 / programming data |
| Pin 19 | RC0 — I/O port C bit 0 |
| Pin 20 | RC1 — I/O port C bit 1 |
| Pin 21 | RC2 — I/O port C bit 2 |
| Pin 22 | RC3 — I/O port C bit 3 |
| Pin 23 | RC4 — I/O port C bit 4 |
| Pin 24 | RC5 — I/O port C bit 5 |
| Pin 25 | RC6 — I/O port C bit 6 |
| Pin 26 | RC7 — I/O port C bit 7 |
| Pin 27 | RD0 — I/O port D bit 0 |
| Pin 28 | RD1 — I/O port D bit 1 |
| Pin 29 | RD2 — I/O port D bit 2 |
| Pin 30 | RD3 — I/O port D bit 3 |
| Pin 31 | RD4 — I/O port D bit 4 |
| Pin 32 | RD5 — I/O port D bit 5 |
| Pin 33 | RD6 — I/O port D bit 6 |
| Pin 34 | RD7 — I/O port D bit 7 |
| Pin 35 | RE0 — I/O port E bit 0 |
| Pin 36 | RE1 — I/O port E bit 1 |
| Pin 37 | RE2 — I/O port E bit 2 |
| Pin 38 | RE3 — I/O port E bit 3 |
| Pin 39 | RE4 — I/O port E bit 4 |
| Pin 40 | RE5 — I/O port E bit 5 |
| Pin 41 | RE6 — I/O port E bit 6 |
| Pin 42 | RE7 — I/O port E bit 7 |
| Pin 43 | RF0 — I/O port F bit 0 |
| Pin 44 | RF1 — I/O port F bit 1 |
| Pin 45 | RF2 — I/O port F bit 2 |
| Pin 46 | RF3 — I/O port F bit 3 |
| Pin 47 | RF4 — I/O port F bit 4 |
| Pin 48 | RF5 — I/O port F bit 5 |
| Pin 49 | RF6 — I/O port F bit 6 |
| Pin 50 | RF7 — I/O port F bit 7 |
| Pin 51 | RG0 — I/O port G bit 0 |
| Pin 52 | RG1 — I/O port G bit 1 |
| Pin 53 | RG2 — I/O port G bit 2 |
| Pin 54 | RG3 — I/O port G bit 3 |
| Pin 55 | RG6 — I/O port G bit 6 |
| Pin 56 | RG7 — I/O port G bit 7 |
| Pin 57 | RG8 — I/O port G bit 8 |
| Pin 58 | RG9 — I/O port G bit 9 |
| Pin 59 | MCLR — Master clear reset (active low) |
| Pin 60 | AVDD — Analog positive supply |
| Pin 61 | AVSS — Analog ground |
| Pin 62 | VUSB — USB internal regulator output (3.3V) |
| Pin 63 | D+ — USB D+ data line |
| Pin 64 | D- — USB D- data line |
Typical Applications
PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR is suitable for 6 applications: Industrial Sensor Hubs, Portable Medical and Fitness Devices, Low-Power IoT Edge Nodes, USB Peripherals (HID, CDC, Mass Storage), Consumer HMI with Display, Battery-Powered Data Loggers.
Industrial Sensor Hubs
The PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR is a strong fit for industrial multi-sensor hubs because its dual-partition Flash with Live Update enables in-field firmware swaps without service interruption - critical for systems mounted in remote or hard-to-access locations. With 256 KB Flash and 32 KB RAM, the MCU can simultaneously buffer several sensor streams (temperature, pressure, flow) while running an industrial protocol such as Modbus RTU or CAN. Its 53 I/O pins let the board designer assign dedicated channels to each transducer without muxing, and the -40C to +85C industrial range covers most factory-floor environments. Performance at 32 MHz is sufficient for 1 kHz control loops.
Recommended
Portable Medical and Fitness Devices
For portable medical and fitness devices, the PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR provides the right mix of low-power sleep modes (sub-microamp standby), a 32 KB RAM for buffering biosignal data, and 256 KB Flash for holding DSP-style filter routines. Its 2.0V minimum supply means it can run directly from a single coin cell or Li-Po battery without boost conversion. The 10-bit ADC is sufficient for heart-rate and pulse-oximetry front-ends, while the integrated timers handle precise sample-rate control. Live Update firmware swaps keep devices safe during regulatory-certified updates.
Recommended
Low-Power IoT Edge Nodes
The PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR is engineered for low-power IoT edge nodes where battery life drives BOM choices. Its sub-microamp sleep current combined with the Live Update dual-partition Flash allows Over-The-Air firmware upgrades that the device can roll back automatically if the new image fails to boot, removing the need for a service technician visit. The 32 MHz CPU is more than enough for sensor aggregation and BLE/Wi-Fi co-processor hand-off via UART or SPI, while the 53 I/O pins support multiple low-energy peripherals on the same PCB.
Recommended
USB Peripherals (HID, CDC, Mass Storage)
The PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR serves well in USB peripheral roles because its 256 KB Flash and 32 KB RAM comfortably host the Microchip USB device stack (CDC, HID, MSD, or vendor classes). The MCU can enumerate as a composite device, freeing the host from driver changes. Adding an external 3.3V LDO and USB ESD array is standard; the MCU then handles enumeration, descriptor requests, and bulk transfers. 53 I/O pins let the designer drive LEDs, buttons, and a small character LCD without extra I/O expanders.
Recommended
Consumer HMI with Display
For consumer HMI products with a small TFT or OLED display, the PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR offers enough headroom for graphics rendering and touch handling. Its 32 KB RAM holds a frame buffer for low-resolution displays, while 256 KB Flash accommodates the GUI library and asset tables. The integrated timers handle touch-sampling and display-refresh duties, and the SPI peripherals drive common OLED controllers directly. Live Update lets the manufacturer push UI revisions after launch without bricking devices in the field.
Recommended
Battery-Powered Data Loggers
Battery-powered data loggers benefit from the PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR's low sleep current, 32 KB RAM buffer for log aggregation, and Live Update feature that enables field firmware refresh without physical access. The 10-bit ADC samples slow-changing analog signals (battery voltage, temperature, vibration envelopes) at rates up to 500 ksps, while the dual UART/SPI/I2C peripherals let the logger wake periodically, record, and return to deep sleep. 256 KB Flash stores the logging state machine and a small file system for SD-card writing.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for PIC24FJ256GA606T-I/MR — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | PIC24FJ256GA606-I/MR | PIC24FJ256GB606-I/MR | PIC24FJ128GA606-I/MR | PIC24FJ256GA406-I/MR | PIC24FJ128GB606-I/MR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | QFN-64-EP (9x9 mm) | QFN-64-EP (9x9 mm) - same | QFN-64-EP (9x9 mm) - same | QFN-64-EP (9x9 mm) - same | QFN-64-EP (9x9 mm) - same | QFN-64-EP (9x9 mm) - same |
| Brand | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology | Microchip Technology |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB | 256 KB | 128 KB |
| RAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Maximum Clock | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz | 32 MHz |
| Operating Voltage | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V | 2.0V to 3.6V |
| ADC Resolution | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit | 10-bit |
| Cryptography Engine | No | No | Yes (crypto accelerators) | No | No | Yes (crypto accelerators) |
| Live Update Flash | Yes (dual-partition) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Key Differentiators
- Largest Flash in the GA606 QFN-64-EP family (vs PIC24FJ128GA606-I/MR)
- Available with hardware crypto engine at same footprint (vs PIC24FJ256GB606-I/MR)
- Wider peripheral mix with USB on-board (vs PIC24FJ256DA106-I/MR)
Design Notes
The QFN-64-EP exposed thermal pad must be soldered to a copper pour on the PCB. Use an array of thermal vias (typically 9 to 25 vias, 0.3 mm drill, 0.5 mm pitch) under the pad to drop junction-to-ambient thermal resistance. Missing or under-via'd pads will cause the silicon to throttle under continuous 32 MHz load, reducing deterministic performance.
Place a 100 nF decoupling capacitor as close as possible to every VDD pin and a bulk 10 uF ceramic near the supply entry point. Place an additional 1 uF near the AVdd pin for clean ADC reference. The USB VUSB pin needs a 0.1 uF capacitor to ground per the Microchip hardware design checklist. Inadequate decoupling will inject noise into the ADC and corrupt analog readings.
Do not leave the MCLR pin floating - tie it to VDD through a 10 kohm resistor and add a button to ground for manual reset. The PIC24FJ bootloader uses RB6/RB7; if those pins are reassigned to user I/O without bootloader management, in-system programming over ICSP will fail. Plan the pin map before committing to the schematic.
Keep analog traces (AVdd, AVss, ADC inputs) away from high-speed digital lines such as the oscillator and SPI clock. Route the oscillator traces short and symmetric, with a ground guard ring around the crystal. Add a 4-layer PCB stack-up if possible; if not feasible, route analog on one side and digital on the other to minimize coupling.
USB DP and DM traces must be 90-ohm differential and length-matched within 150 mil. Add a series ferrite bead on VBUS if the design is bus-powered, and use the USBLC6-2SC6 ESD array at the connector. USB signal-integrity violations are the most common reason for USB enumeration failures on first prototypes.
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliant per Microchip product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; not recommended for automotive safety-critical applications.
