Best IoT hardware platforms and how to add cellular connectivity

For IoT developers, choosing the right hardware is always a critical concern. A dependable device must have dependable hardware components, from routers to sensors to SIM cards.

You already know what your device needs to do. This guide saves you research time by covering the core components of IoT hardware and comparing today's leading platforms and prototyping kits. It also explains how to add cellular connectivity to your device.

Key takeaways

• IoT hardware combines a microcontroller, a connectivity module, sensors, power management, and security hardware.
• Define your device's data, processing, and connectivity needs before you choose a platform.
• Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Particle, Adafruit, SparkFun, and Espressif have distinct strengths. Particle, Arduino (MKR NB 1500, Portenta shield), and SparkFun (Digi XBee 3) offer cellular paths.
• To add cellular, pick an LTE-M, NB-IoT, or Cat-1 bis module and SIM form factor, then plan antennas and certification (PTCRB in North America).
• Power saving mode (PSM) and extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) help cellular devices extend battery life.

Recommended reading: What is an eSIM and how is it used?

What to look for in an IoT hardware platform

When considering IoT hardware platforms, start by defining your goals for the IoT device you're developing. Account for details such as performance requirements, timeline and expected number of prototypes, and the use case and operating environment where you'll deploy your devices. Here are a few questions to think about during this early planning stage:

What is the purpose of the device, and how will it acquire and control data?

There are a huge variety of IoT products in development today, from soil moisture sensors to computer vision video security systems. Define the objectives for your device and how it will gather and manage data at the edge.

How will the device process and store the data, and how much data are we talking about?

A water meter will need to process much less data than a smart video system. Consider the hardware needs of your specific device and how much processing power and storage it will need on-board.

What kind of connectivity will your device need?

If you'll deploy devices in urban areas and they won't move around, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth may be viable choices. Cellular connectivity will give better mobile coverage for devices on the go, such as fleet management devices, while low-power wide area network (LPWAN) cellular options are great for devices deployed in remote areas that need to limit their power consumption.

Essential IoT hardware components

Every IoT device draws on the same core building blocks. Here's what each one does.

Microcontrollers

The microcontroller runs your device's firmware, reads sensor inputs, and decides when to process or send data. Arduino and Espressif build their boards around microcontrollers, while a Raspberry Pi single-board computer runs Linux. Pick one with enough processing power and memory for your data needs.

Connectivity modules

Cellular hardware comes in three levels of integration: the chipset, the module that packages it, and the modem. Most IoT designers prefer to start with a module, which includes other features such as an antenna port, processor, and memory. Cellular modules give devices wide-area coverage on the move, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth suit fixed devices near a local network.

Sensors

Sensors capture the data your device exists to collect, such as soil moisture, light, ultrasonic range, GPS location, or video. Your sensor choices shape your processing, storage, and power needs, so match them to your use case early.

Power management

Batteries, power regulation, and sleep-capable chips decide how long a device runs in the field. Sleep mode support varies widely across the platforms below. On cellular devices, PSM and eDRX can extend battery life even more.

Security hardware

Secure elements store keys and credentials in dedicated hardware. IoT SIMs also securely authenticate devices to the cellular network. Embedded eSIM and integrated SIM (iSIM) designs add tamper resistance because they sit on the board or inside the chip.

Top IoT hardware platforms and prototyping kits

Let's take a look at some of the best IoT hardware providers currently in the market:

• Raspberry Pi: A single-board computer that runs Linux, the Raspberry Pi is one of the most popular and accessible IoT development platforms out there.
• Arduino: Well-known in the IoT development arena, Arduino makes many different kinds of microcontrollers, open-source development tools, kits, and software.
• Particle: With a variety of development kits and connectivity modules, Particle designs its hardware to work with the company's software platform, Particle IoT Device Management, which includes tools to help you build and connect your IoT device.
• Adafruit: An open-source hardware company, Adafruit offers a variety of IoT development boards and kits with varying features and capabilities.
• SparkFun: SparkFun's microcontroller development and breakout boards allow you to create and test IoT device prototypes, and they sell additional hardware items such as cables, LTE antennas, and more.
• Espressif: Espressif's microcontrollers are popular among IoT developers. The company specializes in creating chips with a high level of integration, helping you design IoT devices that are easy to manufacture and deploy.

Here's how the six platforms compare at a glance:

Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi makes single-board computers, microcontroller boards and chips, and personal computer kits. Developers know and value Raspberry Pi products for their accessibility, and they're popular among younger users but also useful for IoT development projects. There are plenty of active online communities where developers can share successes, ask questions, and collaborate on projects, helping to fuel rapid growth in the development of new IoT solutions.

Here's how Raspberry Pi products measure up in the key areas discussed in the first section:

• Data acquisition and control: Standard Raspberry Pi boards come with multiple data input options and built-in memory. The company's products have a good reputation for dependability. Rating: Strong
• Data processing and storage: Depending on the product, Raspberry Pi boards offer a range of data storage and processing capabilities, and you can add more. Rating: Strong
• Connectivity: You can connect all Raspberry Pi boards via Ethernet cable, and most also let you connect over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. You can add cellular connectivity with the Raspberry Pi cellular adapter and a cellular modem. Airgain now sells the adapter, so check model compatibility before you buy. Rating: Strong
• Power management: Raspberry Pi products lack power management capabilities such as sleep or suspend mode, and the Raspberry Pi 5 PCIe connector standard lists the sleep state as untested and unsupported. If you need these functions, you'll want to look at other hardware options. Rating: Weak

Arduino

Developers know and respect Arduino as a maker of DIY prototyping products. Because it's an established brand, there are a lot of support resources available along with community support similar to what you'll find around Raspberry Pi's products. Arduino also designs their own open-source software that works with their products.

Here's how Arduino products measure up:

• Data acquisition and control: Arduino boards can be great for data acquisition, with a little design know-how. You can send data to the cloud over Wi-Fi or read it in real time through the hardware's serial port. Arduino's documentation also shows how to log sensor data to an SD card. This process is generally simple. Rating: Strong
• Data processing and storage: Arduino hardware generally saves data onto a connected SD card or by sending it to a connected computer. Most pieces have built-in RAM that temporarily stores data. Rating: Strong
• Connectivity: Arduino products allow a lot of options for adding wired or wireless connectivity, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Some boards, such as the MKR family's form factor, include support for NB-IoT. The MKR WAN 1310 adds LoRa. For cellular, the MKR NB 1500 supports NB-IoT and LTE-M, and the Portenta Cat. M1/NB IoT GNSS Shield adds both to Portenta boards. Rating: Strong
• Power management: At least some of Arduino's products have sleep modes for saving power, including options for standby, idle, and power-save modes. Rating: Strong

Particle

Particle hardware offerings include industrial-grade connectivity modules and development kits created for IoT developers. The company also has its own platform for building and managing IoT devices. Their starter kit includes a Wi-Fi-capable development board and several modules that gather different types of information, such as light and ultrasonic range.

Here's how Particle IoT hardware measures up:

• Data acquisition and control: Particle designs its hardware for easy data extraction and control. You can direct data to flow into your own business system, and the hardware is compatible with many of the top cloud management systems. Rating: Strong
• Data processing and storage: Particle's IoT starter kit and other development boards include on-board flash drives for data storage, and you can easily add SD cards. Rating: Strong
• Connectivity: Particle products support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and cellular, with LTE Cat M1 and LTE Cat 1 options across the M-SoM, B-Series, Boron, and Monitor One lines. See the Particle hardware overview for details on each device. Rating: Strong
• Power management: Particle's Device OS sleep documentation describes three sleep modes: STOP, ultra-low power (ULP), and HIBERNATE. Choose the lowest-power mode that still gives you the wake options you need. Rating: Strong

Adafruit

Adafruit open-source hardware gives newbies an easy entry to the DIY electronics space. The company sells IoT hardware from other companies along with their own Adafruit Feather line of products. The Feather allows engineers to create IoT projects of all kinds, including remote monitoring and control, pet tracking, and air quality detection. The board is ideal for embedded development, and it's a low-energy computer that you can put into "sleep" mode to save power.

Here's how Adafruit's products measure up:

• Data acquisition and control: Adafruit's Feather line of development boards makes datalogging easy, and you can add on different sensors and shields (called "wings") to collect different types of data, such as GPS geolocation. Rating: Strong
• Data processing and storage: Adafruit's Feather boards include some built-in storage, depending on the model, and some have spots to add on SD cards for additional storage capabilities. Rating: Strong
• Connectivity: Adafruit sells boards that include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, and radio connectivity options. Adafruit's one cellular Feather, the Adafruit Feather 32u4 FONA, is now discontinued. Rating: Moderate
• Power management: The Feather can get power either from a computer via a MicroUSB cable or with a lithium battery. You can configure the Feather to enter a power-saving mode, especially when it uses Wi-Fi (which can drain power quickly). Rating: Strong

SparkFun

SparkFun is on a mission to make the world of electronics more accessible and has opened up a whole subcategory dedicated to cellular IoT products and accessories. Everything from LTE antennas to their own cellular IoT board is available for purchase through their online store. SparkFun's guides, forums, and support are ready to help you get your IoT projects up and running smoothly.

Here's how SparkFun's products measure up:

• Data acquisition and control: SparkFun's IoT development boards and starter kits are often simple but include everything you need for adding on data acquisition components. Rating: Strong
• Data processing and storage: SparkFun offers a range of data processing and storage add-on components, including the MicroMod nRF52840 processor, which also adds Bluetooth and Zigbee connectivity. Rating: Strong
• Connectivity: SparkFun boards support Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and its Digi XBee 3 cellular modules add LTE-M and NB-IoT. Rating: Strong
• Power management: SparkFun also makes power management add-ons that allow you to run your prototype in power-saving mode. Rating: Strong

Espressif

Espressif makes microcontrollers that enjoy a lot of popularity among IoT developers. Their all-in-one approach allows you to get one product and acquire a number of capabilities without having to purchase as many add-ons as some other boards need. For example, Espressif's entry-level development board, the ESP32-S3-DevKitC-1, includes a built-in module for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Here's how Espressif's products measure up:

• Data acquisition and control: Espressif designs its IoT boards to acquire sensor data and transmit it to an add-on MicroSD card or the cloud via cable or wireless connectivity. Rating: Strong
• Data processing and storage: As noted, some of Espressif's IoT kits include MicroSD slots, and all include port-to-USB bridges and wireless communication capabilities. Rating: Strong
• Connectivity: Espressif chips such as the ESP32-S3 integrate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE but no cellular radio. To add cellular, pair the board with an external LTE-M, NB-IoT, or Cat-1 module, which Espressif supports through its esp_modem component. Rating: Moderate
• Power management: Espressif emphasizes its low-power IoT hardware solutions, and most hardware includes several sleep mode options: light sleep, modem sleep, and deep sleep. Rating: Strong

How to add cellular connectivity to IoT hardware

Choose a cellular module

Start with the cellular technology that fits your data and power needs. LTE-M (LTE Cat M1) offers speeds around 1 Mbps, 10-15 ms latency, and handoff between towers, so it suits mobile use cases. NB-IoT uses less power and gives strong in-building penetration, which suits devices that send small, intermittent amounts of data.

Cat-1 bis is a newer option. According to Telit Cinterion's comparison of Cat 1 and Cat 1 bis, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardized Cat-1 bis in Release 13 in 2016. It needs only one antenna, where LTE Cat 1 needs two. To weigh the tradeoffs in more detail, compare LTE-M, NB-IoT, and Cat-1.

Pick a SIM form factor

Removable SIMs come in 2FF (mini), 3FF (micro), and 4FF (nano) sizes, which make swapping cards easy during prototyping. Embedded SIMs use the machine form factor (MFF2), and manufacturers solder some MFF2 cards directly onto the board. An iSIM builds the SIM into the device's chip.

With an eUICC, you can update carrier profiles over the air without swapping hardware.

Plan for antennas and certification

Check that your module and antenna support the bands in each country where you'll deploy. In North America, devices typically need PTCRB certification, and carriers such as Verizon also run their own certification. CTIA Certification administers PTCRB, which certifies that devices deliver reliable connectivity and interoperability across wireless networks.

Verizon's device certification process, for example, needs a final PTCRB or Global Certification Forum (GCF) report as an input. Choosing a pre-approved module speeds up certification.

Reduce power consumption

Cellular IoT networks offer eDRX and PSM power-saving modes that extend battery life. PSM lets a device enter deep sleep while it stays registered on the network. eDRX stretches the interval between the times a device listens for incoming data.

You can also cut power use by duty cycling hardware, batching transmissions, and processing data at the edge so the device sends less.

IoT cellular connectivity with Hologram

No matter what kind of hardware you choose to build your IoT device, you'll need dependable connectivity. Deploy and manage your IoT devices with Hologram's secure, future-proof IoT SIM cards , global network, and a cloud-based dashboard. Hologram IoT SIMs are hardware-agnostic and connect to 550+ carriers in 190+ countries, with a contractual 99.95% uptime service level agreement through Outage Protection. Through the dashboard and Hologram's APIs, you manage connectivity across your entire SIM fleet, while your own application platform handles your device data.