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Nordic Semiconductor’s March 2, 2026 announcement added the nRF92 and nRF93 series to its cellular IoT lineup and updated the nRF91 story. As of Nordic’s August 2026 updates, the nRF93M1 has the clearest near-term evaluation path: its development kit is available through distributors, and the multi-regional LABA variant has reached general availability. The nRF92 remains a future product on Nordic’s stated schedule, while the nRF9151 provides a route to cellular and satellite non-terrestrial network (NTN) connectivity when the required service and deployment conditions are met.
What Nordic announced
At Mobile World Congress on March 2, 2026, Nordic described a three-part expansion: the new nRF92 and nRF93 series, plus additions to its existing nRF91 family. The announced portfolio spans LTE-M and NB-IoT, satellite NTN, LTE Cat 1 bis, edge AI and a future 5G eRedCap direction. These are company product announcements and positioning, not independent comparative tests. Nordic’s March announcement provides the overview.
How the nRF92, nRF93M1 and nRF9151 differ
| Product path | Radio and architecture | Status Nordic reported |
|---|---|---|
| nRF92 series | LTE-M/NB-IoT and satellite NTN, with an application MCU, Axon neural processing unit for edge AI, multi-constellation GNSS, Wi-Fi locationing and sensor co-processing. | Nordic said lead-customer sampling was underway in March 2026 and expected general availability from early 2027. This is a forecast, not confirmation of shipment. |
| nRF93M1 | LTE Cat 1 bis smart modem intended to pair with a host MCU. Nordic’s March announcement lists 10 Mbps downlink and 5 Mbps uplink, along with Wi-Fi location features, nRF Cloud integration, FOTA, observability and remote debugging. | In August, Nordic said the multi-regional LABA variant had reached general availability and its development kit was available globally through distribution. The global-band LACA variant had entered sampling; Nordic expected September 2026 volume shipment for the variants and LACA volume production by year-end. |
| nRF9151 | Nordic describes support for LTE-M/NB-IoT, NB-NTN and NR+, with an integrated application-MCU approach. NTN access depends on a compatible service and deployment. | Nordic’s August 2026 update reported Skylo certification. That establishes a described certified ecosystem path, not universal or guaranteed satellite coverage. |
The nRF93M1’s 10 Mbps downlink and 5 Mbps uplink are figures Nordic published in its March 2, 2026 announcement; they are not independent test results. Nordic’s August update gives the variant and kit status and timing. Read Nordic’s nRF93M1 update.
Is the nRF93M1 available?
Nordic said on August 21, 2026 that the nRF93M1-LABA multi-regional variant had achieved general availability with GCF compliance. It also said sampling had begun for the pin- and software-compatible global-band LACA variant. The company’s stated plans included September 2026 volume shipment for the variants and LACA volume production by year-end; those are schedules, not evidence that every distributor or region has stock.
#1 Best Overall
- EVALUATION BOARD: NRF9151-DK development board from Nordic Semiconductor designed for cellular IoT and GNSS applications
- CONNECTIVITY: Features both cellular connectivity and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) capabilities for location-based applications
- DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM: Ideal for prototyping and testing IoT devices, supporting cellular network communications
- COMPATIBILITY: Designed to work with Nordic Semiconductor's development tools and software development kit
- APPLICATIONS: Perfect for creating IoT solutions, asset tracking systems, and location-aware connected devices
Nordic also reported that the nRF93M1 Development Kit was available globally through distributors. It pairs the modem with an nRF54L15 host MCU, and Nordic says it can also be used with other embedded or rich-OS hosts. The kit includes examples, a preloaded Onomondo SIM and an LTE antenna. Check distributor stock, supported cellular bands and local service availability before choosing hardware.
What the smart-modem architecture means
Unlike a design that integrates its own application MCU, the nRF93M1 is a modem path that works with a separate host. That can suit a product already built around an embedded processor or a richer operating system. Nordic’s listed cloud, FOTA and debugging features are relevant to device management, but a project still needs to validate the host integration and its own connectivity requirements.
Rank #2
- INTEGRATED SOLUTION: Nordic Semiconductor NRF9151-LACA-R combines RF transceiver, MCU, and cellular connectivity in a single IC for efficient wireless applications
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY: Features cellular capabilities alongside integrated RF transceiver functionality for comprehensive wireless communication
- PROCESSING POWER: Built-in microcontroller unit (MCU) enables standalone operation and local processing capabilities
- COMPACT DESIGN: Single-chip solution that integrates multiple communication functions to reduce board space and complexity
- APPLICATIONS: Ideal for IoT devices, wireless sensors, remote monitoring systems, and cellular-connected embedded applications
What the nRF92 is intended to add
Nordic positions the nRF92 as an integrated route for LTE-M/NB-IoT and satellite NTN, with local processing for application tasks, sensor co-processing and edge AI. Its stated location features include multi-constellation GNSS and Wi-Fi locationing. Those capabilities make the announced direction distinct from the nRF93M1’s Cat 1 bis smart-modem approach, but the nRF92 was not presented as generally available: Nordic’s March schedule anticipated availability from early 2027 after lead-customer sampling.
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Can the nRF9151 connect to satellite?
Nordic says the nRF9151 supports NB-NTN as well as terrestrial LTE-M/NB-IoT and NR+. Its August 6, 2026 update reports Skylo certification and describes Skylo’s 3GPP NB-NTN service as available through mobile-network-operator partnerships, with devices able to switch between terrestrial and satellite coverage. The modem, certification and network service are separate parts of the path: certification does not guarantee that service is offered everywhere or that a particular finished device will work in every condition.
Rank #3
- COMPATIBILITY: Development board supporting multiple wireless protocols including Bluetooth
- Thread, Matter, Zigbee, ANT, and NFC at 2.4GHz frequency
- PROCESSOR: Features the advanced nRF54L15 transceiver chip from Nordic Semiconductor for reliable wireless communications
- WIRELESS STANDARDS: Implements IEEE 802.15.4 protocol support for Matter, Thread, and Zigbee networking applications
- DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM: Comprehensive evaluation board designed for testing and prototyping wireless connectivity solutions
Actual use depends on service availability and commercial arrangements, geography, applicable certification, antenna and device design, and operating conditions. Nordic’s March announcement also discussed GEO and LEO satellite NTN and sub-GHz fallback; check the exact supported bands and service configuration for a planned deployment. Nordic’s nRF9151 and satellite update describes the company’s certified ecosystem path.
A cited deployment example
Nordic reports that LooUQ’s MTC2-N9151 embedded modem builds on the nRF9151 and inherited Skylo certification at module level. Nordic also describes Remsight using that modem in HydroProxy, a remote water-infrastructure monitoring platform across the American West. This is a named deployment reported by Nordic, not an independent performance evaluation or a guarantee of coverage for other projects.
Rank #4
- COMPATIBILITY: Nordic Semiconductor NRF9160 module features cellular and GPS capabilities, ideal for IoT and wireless applications
- FREQUENCY RANGE: Supports wide frequency spectrum from 700MHz to 2.2GHz, enabling versatile communication options
- PACKAGE TYPE: Comes in a 127-PowerTFLGA module format, offering compact and efficient board integration
- INTEGRATED SOLUTION: Combines RF transceiver with MCU functionality in a single module for streamlined design
- APPLICATIONS: Perfect for cellular IoT devices, GPS tracking systems, and wireless communication equipment
What Nordic means by 5G eRedCap
Nordic’s March announcement describes collaboration with lead customers on next-generation 5G eRedCap technology. It is a future-development direction in the cited announcement, not evidence of a currently shipping Nordic eRedCap product. Treat the statement as roadmap context rather than a present-day purchasing option.
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How to choose a path for an IoT product
- Match the radio to the use case: Compare LTE-M/NB-IoT, Cat 1 bis and NTN requirements, including the coverage and service partners needed in target markets.
- Choose the processing architecture: Consider whether the design needs an integrated application MCU, as described for nRF92 and nRF9151, or a smart modem such as nRF93M1 paired with an existing host.
- Check geography and certification: Confirm bands, regional variant, network operator or satellite-service availability, device certification and antenna design for each intended market.
- Model power around the product: Evaluate battery goals against the actual data cadence, signal conditions and operating profile. Nordic’s announcements do not provide independent side-by-side power or battery-life measurements, so they do not support ranking these products by measured endurance.
- Assess location and management needs: Review whether GNSS, Wi-Fi locationing, sensor processing, nRF Cloud integration, FOTA, observability or remote debugging are required in the device and its lifecycle.
- Verify what can be evaluated now: Nordic reported distributor availability for the nRF93M1 Development Kit in August 2026, while nRF92 availability remained a stated future expectation. Confirm current stock and variant status with distributors.
Nordic’s portfolio positioning
Nordic CEO Vegard Wollan said the company’s goal is “to make globally connected products easier to build, deploy, and scale – from chip to cloud.” That is Nordic’s description of its strategy, not an independent assessment of product performance. For developers, the practical distinction is between the available Cat 1 bis evaluation path, the announced integrated nRF92 direction, and the nRF9151’s cellular-plus-NTN ecosystem route, each of which needs to be assessed against a real deployment’s host, radio, location, power and coverage requirements.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Development Platform: nRF52833-DK evaluation board designed for prototyping and testing Bluetooth
- BLE, Thread, and Zigbee applications using the nRF52833 SoC
- Wireless Connectivity: Supports multiple protocols including Bluetooth
- (BLE), 802.15.4 (Thread, Zigbee) operating at 2.4GHz frequency for versatile wireless development
- Integrated Antenna: Features PCB trace antenna built directly on-board for immediate testing and development without requiring external antenna components
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