STM32WLE5C8 - 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4 LoRa SoC | STMicroelectronics
MPN: STM32WLE5C8 β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $8.5 | $8.50 |
| 10 | $7.65 | $76.50 |
| 100 | $6.8 | $680.00 |
| 500 | $6.12 | $3,060.00 |
| 1,000 | $5.44 | $5,440.00 |
Drop-in alternatives for STM32WLE5C8 β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
STM32WLE5J8
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32WLE5C8U6
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32WLE5CC
β‘ Same Packageπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32WLE5CB
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32WLE5JB
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
STM32WLE5C8 Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core | Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU |
| Max CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 64 KB |
| Supply Voltage | 1.8 V to 3.6 V |
| Package | UFQFPN-48 (7x7 mm) |
| Radio Frequency Range | 150 MHz to 960 MHz |
| Modulation | LoRa, FSK, GFSK, MSK, GMSK, BPSK |
| Receiver Sensitivity | -123 dBm (LoRa) |
| Link Budget | 151 dB |
| Active Current | 4.6 mA at 48 MHz |
| Standby Current | 1.4 uA |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| ADC | 12-bit, 1 MSPS |
| Communication Interfaces | SPI, I2C, USART |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
STM32WLE5C8 Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD β Power supply |
| Pin 2 | PA0 β GPIO / ADC input |
| Pin 3 | PA1 β GPIO / ADC input |
| Pin 4 | PA2 β GPIO / USART2_TX |
| Pin 5 | PA3 β GPIO / USART2_RX |
| Pin 6 | PA4 β GPIO / SPI1_NSS |
| Pin 7 | PA5 β GPIO / SPI1_SCK |
| Pin 8 | PA6 β GPIO / SPI1_MISO |
| Pin 9 | PA7 β GPIO / SPI1_MOSI |
| Pin 10 | PB0 β GPIO / ADC input |
| Pin 11 | PB1 β GPIO / ADC input |
| Pin 12 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 13 | PB2 β GPIO / BOOT1 |
| Pin 14 | PB10 β GPIO / I2C2_SCL |
| Pin 15 | PB11 β GPIO / I2C2_SDA |
| Pin 16 | PB12 β GPIO / SPI2_NSS |
| Pin 17 | PB13 β GPIO / SPI2_SCK |
| Pin 18 | PB14 β GPIO / SPI2_MISO |
| Pin 19 | PB15 β GPIO / SPI2_MOSI |
| Pin 20 | PC13 β GPIO / RTC |
| Pin 21 | PC14 β GPIO / OSC32_IN |
| Pin 22 | PC15 β GPIO / OSC32_OUT |
| Pin 23 | PH0 β OSC_IN |
| Pin 24 | PH1 β OSC_OUT |
| Pin 25 | NRST β Reset |
| Pin 26 | VDD β Power supply |
| Pin 27 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 28 | PA8 β GPIO / USART1_CK |
| Pin 29 | PA9 β GPIO / USART1_TX |
| Pin 30 | PA10 β GPIO / USART1_RX |
| Pin 31 | PA11 β GPIO / USB_DM |
| Pin 32 | PA12 β GPIO / USB_DP |
| Pin 33 | PA13 β SWDIO |
| Pin 34 | PA14 β SWCLK |
| Pin 35 | PA15 β GPIO / JTDI |
| Pin 36 | PB3 β GPIO / JTDO |
| Pin 37 | PB4 β GPIO / NJTRST |
| Pin 38 | PB5 β GPIO / I2C1_SMBA |
| Pin 39 | PB6 β GPIO / I2C1_SCL |
| Pin 40 | PB7 β GPIO / I2C1_SDA |
| Pin 41 | PB8 β GPIO / I2C1_SCL |
| Pin 42 | PB9 β GPIO / I2C1_SDA |
| Pin 43 | VDD β Power supply |
| Pin 44 | VSS β Ground |
| Pin 45 | RF β RF input/output |
| Pin 46 | GND β RF ground |
| Pin 47 | GND β RF ground |
| Pin 48 | GND β RF ground |
Safe Operating Area (SOA) & Thermal Characteristics
No official SOA curve available for this digital IC. Always operate within absolute maximum ratings specified in the datasheet. Ensure adequate cooling and derate as needed.
Typical Applications
STM32WLE5C8 is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Agriculture, Asset Tracking, Smart Metering, Industrial IoT, Smart City, Environmental Monitoring.
Smart Agriculture
The STM32WLE5C8 is ideal for smart agriculture applications such as soil moisture monitoring, weather stations, and irrigation control. Its long-range LoRa communication (up to 151 dB link budget) enables data transmission from remote fields to a central gateway. The ultra-low standby current of 1.4 uA allows battery-powered sensors to operate for years without maintenance. In a typical deployment, the STM32WLE5C8 reads soil moisture sensors via I2C, processes the data, and transmits it over LoRaWAN. The device's wide supply voltage range (1.8V to 3.6V) supports direct battery operation, simplifying power design. The integrated radio eliminates the need for an external transceiver, reducing system cost and board space. Designers should ensure proper antenna matching for the 868 MHz or 915 MHz ISM bands to achieve optimal range.
Recommended
Asset Tracking
The STM32WLE5C8 is well-suited for asset tracking applications, providing real-time location updates for containers, vehicles, and equipment. Its low power consumption (4.6 mA active, 1.4 uA standby) ensures long battery life, while the long-range LoRa link allows tracking over vast areas. The device can interface with GPS modules via UART to obtain location data and transmit it periodically. The 256 KB flash memory is sufficient for storing tracking logs and firmware updates. The compact UFQFPN-48 package enables small form-factor trackers. Designers should consider using the STM32WLE5J8 variant if more memory is needed for extended logging. The device's support for multiple modulations (LoRa, FSK, etc.) provides flexibility in choosing the optimal protocol for the tracking network.
Recommended
Smart Metering
The STM32WLE5C8 is an excellent choice for smart metering applications, including electricity, water, and gas meters. Its integrated LoRa transceiver enables reliable communication with utility networks over long distances, even in urban environments. The device's low power consumption is critical for battery-operated meters, with standby current of 1.4 uA extending battery life to 10+ years. The 12-bit ADC can accurately measure analog sensor outputs, while the multiple timers support pulse counting for flow meters. The STM32WLE5C8's wide operating temperature range (-40C to +85C) ensures reliable operation in outdoor meter installations. Designers can use the STM32CubeWL software to implement LoRaWAN protocol stacks, reducing development time. The device's security features, including AES encryption, protect metering data from tampering.
Recommended
Industrial IoT
The STM32WLE5C8 is designed for industrial IoT applications such as predictive maintenance, process monitoring, and factory automation. Its robust radio link (151 dB link budget) ensures reliable communication in harsh industrial environments with interference. The device's multiple communication interfaces (SPI, I2C, USART) allow connection to a wide range of industrial sensors and actuators. The Arm Cortex-M4 core with FPU provides sufficient processing power for real-time control and data analysis. The STM32WLE5C8's industrial temperature range (-40C to +85C) and high reliability make it suitable for continuous operation. Designers should implement proper ESD protection and power supply filtering to ensure robust operation in industrial settings. The device's low power consumption also enables battery-powered wireless sensor nodes for condition monitoring.
Recommended
Smart City
The STM32WLE5C8 is ideal for smart city applications, including smart lighting, waste management, and environmental monitoring. Its long-range LoRa communication enables city-wide coverage with minimal infrastructure. The device's low power consumption is essential for battery-powered streetlight controllers and waste bin sensors. The STM32WLE5C8 can interface with light sensors, motion detectors, and other peripherals to enable intelligent control. The compact package allows integration into existing infrastructure. Designers can leverage the STM32WL ecosystem and LoRaWAN networks to deploy scalable smart city solutions. The device's support for FSK and GFSK modulations provides compatibility with legacy systems. The wide supply voltage range simplifies power design for solar-powered or battery-backed installations.
Recommended
Environmental Monitoring
The STM32WLE5C8 is well-suited for environmental monitoring applications, such as air quality monitoring, weather stations, and water quality analysis. Its long-range LoRa link allows data collection from remote or distributed sensor nodes. The device's low power consumption enables solar-powered or battery-operated monitoring stations. The 12-bit ADC can interface with various analog sensors, while the I2C and SPI interfaces support digital sensors. The STM32WLE5C8's wide operating temperature range ensures reliable operation in outdoor environments. Designers should consider using the STM32WLE5J8 variant if extensive data logging is required. The device's multiple low-power modes allow adaptive sampling rates to conserve energy. The integrated radio simplifies the design of compact, self-contained monitoring devices.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for STM32WLE5C8 β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | STM32WLE5J8 | STM32WLE5C8U6 | STM32WLE5CC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | UFQFPN-48 (7x7 mm) | UFQFPN-48 (7x7 mm) - same | UFQFPN-48 (7x7 mm) - same | UFQFPN-48 (7x7 mm) - same |
| Brand | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics | STMicroelectronics |
| Flash Memory | 256 KB | 512 KB | 256 KB | 256 KB |
| SRAM | 64 KB | 128 KB | 64 KB | 64 KB |
| Max CPU Frequency | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz | 48 MHz |
| Receiver Sensitivity | -123 dBm | -123 dBm | -120 dBm | -123 dBm |
| Standby Current | 1.4 uA | 1.4 uA | 1.4 uA | 1.4 uA |
| Pin Compatibility | Reference | Yes | Yes | No |
Key Differentiators
- Integrated LoRa transceiver (vs STM32WLE5C8U6)
- Higher memory capacity (vs STM32WLE5CB)
- Pin-compatible with higher-memory variant (vs STM32WLE5CC)
Design Notes
For optimal RF performance, match the antenna to the 50-ohm output impedance. Use a pi-network for impedance matching and place the antenna away from noisy digital traces. Follow the layout guidelines in the STM32WL application note AN5457 to minimize losses and ensure the link budget is achieved.
Decouple the VDD pins with 100 nF ceramic capacitors placed as close as possible to the pins. Add a 4.7 uF bulk capacitor for low-frequency stability. For battery-powered designs, use the low-power modes (Sleep, Stop, Standby) to reduce current consumption. The standby current is 1.4 uA, but ensure the RTC is configured correctly to wake the device.
Use a 32 MHz crystal for the radio and a 32.768 kHz crystal for the RTC. Place the crystals close to the MCU with proper load capacitors. Keep the RF trace short and use a ground plane underneath. Avoid routing digital signals near the RF section to prevent interference.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per STMicroelectronics product page. Not AEC-Q100 qualified; for automotive, consider STM32WLE5J8 with AEC-Q100 option.
