Particle Photon

Name: Particle Photon
Brand: Particle Photon

A tiny Wi-Fi development kit for creating connected IoT devices and prototypes.

hardwareDevelopment BoardsIoTMicrocontroller Wi-Fi

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Our Verdict

Best for

Makers building Wi-Fi connected IoT prototypes and devices.

Skip if

Projects requiring ultra-low-power Bluetooth or cellular connectivity.

What is Particle Photon?

The Particle Photon is a powerful 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 microcontroller combined with a Broadcom Wi-Fi chip, designed to make building internet-connected hardware accessible to everyone. It integrates seamlessly with the Particle cloud ecosystem, allowing developers to manage devices, push over-the-air firmware updates, and write code using an online or offline IDE. Equipped with numerous digital and analog I/O pins, the Photon easily interfaces with sensors, motors, and displays. Whether you are an experienced engineer prototyping a commercial product or a hobbyist building a smart home gadget, the Photon provides all the necessary tools to bring connected hardware ideas to life quickly.

SpecificationsAI-estimated

msrp$19

weight9g

warranty1 year

dimensions38.1 x 20.3 x 3.8 mm

open source✅ Yes

connectivityWi-Fi 802.11b/g/n

power sourceUSB Powered

Key Features of Particle Photon

Features a STM32F205 120MHz ARM Cortex M3 core for reliable and fast processing performance.

Includes a Broadcom BCM43362 Wi-Fi chip supporting 802.11b/g/n networks for seamless internet connectivity.

Supports over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates, allowing you to deploy code remotely without physical access to the device.

Comes with free access to the Particle Device Cloud for secure device management and messaging.

Provides 18 mixed-signal GPIO pins for connecting a wide variety of external sensors and actuators.

Offers a web-based and desktop IDE supporting C/C++ development alongside a robust REST API.

Features a small form factor designed to plug directly into standard breadboards for easy prototyping.

Use Cases for Particle Photon

Smart Home Automation

Build custom connected sensors and switches that integrate with home automation platforms over Wi-Fi.

Environmental Monitoring

Deploy remote sensor nodes to track temperature, humidity, and air quality with data sent directly to the cloud.

Industrial Prototyping

Rapidly prototype connected machinery monitors and data loggers before moving to custom printed circuit boards.

Educational Projects

Teach students the fundamentals of IoT, embedded programming, and cloud connectivity using an accessible hardware platform.

Pros & Cons of Particle Photon

Pros

Extremely easy to set up and connect to the cloud
Robust over-the-air firmware update capability
Active developer community and extensive documentation
Breadboard-friendly form factor for rapid prototyping

Cons

Relies on the Particle cloud service for certain advanced management features
Lacks built-in Bluetooth on the original standard model
Higher power consumption compared to ultra-low-power BLE or cellular alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions

What programming languages can I use with the Particle Photon?

You can write firmware using C/C++ within the Particle Web IDE, Desktop IDE, or Workbench.

Can I use the Photon without the Particle Cloud?

Yes, you can compile code locally and run firmware offline, though you will miss out on cloud-dependent features like OTA updates.

How do I power the Particle Photon?

The Photon can be powered via its Micro-USB port or by supplying 5V directly to the VIN pin.

Is the Particle Photon open source?

Yes, both the hardware design files and the firmware are open source.

Pricing Overview

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Paid (One-time)

Detailed plans are not listed. Visit the official website for pricing information.

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