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Texas Instruments announced the MSPM0C1104 on March 11, 2025, calling it the world’s smallest microcontroller. Its eight-ball wafer chip-scale package (WCSP) has an area of 1.38 mm²—about the size of a black pepper flake. TI says that is 38% smaller than the industry’s current smallest MCU; that size comparison is the company’s claim, not an independently audited ranking.
How small is the TI MSPM0C1104?
The MSPM0C1104’s 1.38 mm² measurement refers to the area of its eight-ball WCSP package, not the complete circuit board or the space needed to mount and route it. TI’s announcement says the package is 38% smaller than the industry’s current smallest MCU. Those are TI’s stated figures, rather than an independently verified industry comparison. TI announcement, March 11, 2025.
What can the MSPM0C1104 do?
The MCU is built around an Arm Cortex-M0+ core, which operates at up to 24 MHz. TI lists up to 16KB of embedded flash, 1KB of SRAM, a 12-bit ADC with three channels, six GPIOs, and UART, SPI, and I²C interfaces. The “up to” figures describe the device’s stated maximum capabilities. TI MSPM0C110x application brief.
TI describes the MSPM0C110x family as suitable for focused support tasks rather than necessarily serving as the main processor in a product. Potential roles include monitoring power, controlling timers, expanding I/O, handling housekeeping functions, reading sensors, and transferring data between protocols. The application brief also describes a high-precision internal oscillator, so an external crystal is not required for that clock source.
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Where could a very small MCU be useful?
A compact package can help when board area is tight, leaving more room for sensors, power components, or mechanical design. TI names medical wearables, earbuds, medical probes, electric toothbrushes, stylus pens, portable sensors, and other personal electronics as possible applications. The package’s small footprint does not by itself determine whether it will suit a particular design: engineers also need to account for assembly, routing, firmware, power requirements, and the interfaces a product needs.
How to evaluate it for a project
Package area is only one part of an MCU comparison. For the MSPM0C1104, check the requirements that matter to the design:
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- SupportThree Modes: AP, STA, and AP+STA
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- Board and assembly: Confirm that the eight-ball WCSP can be assembled and routed within the project’s manufacturing constraints.
- Processing and memory: Compare the application’s workload with the Arm Cortex-M0+ operating at up to 24 MHz, up to 16KB of flash, and 1KB of SRAM.
- Sensing and connectivity: Check whether the three-channel, 12-bit ADC, six GPIOs, and UART, SPI, or I²C interfaces cover the required signals and peripherals.
- Clocking: Consider whether the internal oscillator described by TI meets the application’s timing needs without an external crystal.
- Power and sourcing: Verify power-mode needs and current regional availability with TI or a supplier before committing to a design; the announcement’s initial availability statement does not establish current stock or production quantities.
Availability, price, and development board
TI’s March 2025 announcement said preproduction quantities of the WCSP device were available through TI.com. It listed a price of US$0.20 at a quantity of 1,000 units. This is the announcement’s quoted quantity-based price, not a guarantee of current pricing or regional stock. TI announcement.
For evaluation, TI’s product page lists the LP-MSPM0C1104 LaunchPad evaluation module. TI describes it as including an onboard debug probe for programming and debugging, and the 2025 announcement listed the kit at US$5.99. Check the product page for current availability and price. LP-MSPM0C1104 product page.
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What “world’s smallest” does—and does not—establish
TI’s announcement calls the MSPM0C1104 the world’s smallest MCU and states that it is 38% smaller than the industry’s current smallest MCU. The cited announcement and application information support reporting those as TI’s claims; they do not provide an independent audit of the ranking. Nor do they establish current regional inventory or quantities beyond the announcement’s preproduction availability statement.
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