Seeeduino XIAO - 32-bit Arduino-compatible Microcontroller

Meet the Seeeduino XIAO, a tiny 32-bit Arduino-compatible microcontroller that can be had for only five dollars. This low-current device outperforms the Arduino Uno and can also run CircuitPython!
Article with code and references - dronebotworkshop.com/seeeduin...
More articles and tutorials: dronebotworkshop.com
Join the conversation on the forum: forum.dronebotworkshop.com
Subscribe to the newsletter and stay in touch: dronebotworkshop.com/subscribe/
The SAMD21 processor has been used in several popular microcontrollers, and today we’ll look at an extremely tiny and inexpensive implementation - the Seeeduino XIAO.
For only 5-dollars you can get an extremely tiny board that runs at 48MHz, has 11 digital I/O and analog input ports, plus an analog output as well. It has 10 PWM-capable ports, an integrated USB-C jack that also provides power, and every pin supports interrupts.
You can program this little gem using the Arduino IDE or CircuitPython. Today we will be using the Arduino IDE, and I’ll show you how to set it up and use common Arduino code with the XIAO.
Just the basics today, but by the end of the video (and article) you'll understand the basic differences between the XIAO and Arduino, and you’ll probably get lots of ideas for using the XIAO in your next project - I know I’m going to do exactly that!
Here is what we are covering in today's video:
00:00 - Introduction
02:24 - Seeeduino XIAO Intro
08:52 - XIAO size compare
11:20 - XIAO Online Resources
13:41 - Setting up the Arduino IDE
15:39 - Hooking up the XIAO & Blink
18:43 - XIAO - Test Hookup
20:01 - Analog Input Test
24:32 - Digital I/O and Built-in LED test
28:38 - Analog Output Test
33:43 - Using Arduino Libraries (AM2302)
Note that the XIAO is a bit different than the Arduino AVR boards, it is a 3.3-volt logic device and the built-in LED’s are active on LOW signals and not HIGH ones. But for many applications, such as portable or wearable projects, the XIAO’s small size, and minuscule current consumption, will make it an ideal choice.
You’re sure to be seeing more of the XIAO here in the DroneBotWorkshop. Hope you enjoy the video!

[@JoseAntonio-jf5lz]

My english is awful and my electronics even more, but you, with your very clear explanations, make both very easy to understand for me. Thanks.

[@richard_wenner]

Well I can't detect it this end. Thank you.

[@BarackBananabama]

Several Chinese words that pronounced xiao: 小 : small 晓: know something 孝: be good to one's parents 笑: laugh 校: school 啸: shouting out loud 消: usually vanish, e.g. 消失 xiaoshi 宵: night time 硝: saltpeter 削: shave something with a knife 枭: usually an owl 哮: roaring

[@bsheldon2000]

I automatically thought it was probably small.

[@stephenthrower440]

you beat me to the meaning. I spent 7 years in China

[@bsheldon2000]

@@stephenthrower440 I am in the early stages of learning. 小 tiny, was one of the first ten words I learned, right after the easy to remember 大 big, person with arms wide.

[@kmark4163]

xiao=小=small

[@baganatube]

That's why Chinese characters exist. Romanized Chinese words all look the same. In addition to Barack's list, here are some more Xiao's for daily uses: 效: effectiveness 销: sell 肖: portrait 淆: to confuse 箫: the musical instrument mentioned in the video 霄: sky 嚣: noisy 骁: brave

[@scottstevens7569]

Glad you're back and once again providing such high quality content! Very informative, detailed and understandable on currently available toys/stuff/modules and electronics. It's such a BONUS to NOT be bombarded by crappy music and irrelevant adverts constantly.

[@taobaomaicai8592]

As a Chinese, let me tell you what Xiao means. Xiao can mean small. This board is so small, Xiao means small, I think my understanding should be correct.

[@NewAgeDIY]

Welcome back. It’s getting late, so I will finish this video tomorrow. Glad you were off building something and not hit by the bug!

[@dougscott284]

So glad to see a new video and that you are well! Very good presentation, and great intro to the xieo! I wouldn’t be as nuts as I am now about mcu’s if I hadn’t started watching you a bit over a year ago - hope to share a little on the forum sometime. Thanks for your vMentorship sir!!

[@Richardj410]

No problem life gets in the way of some things we do. Glad to see you made this video. Thank you, always worth the wait.

[@n0madfernan257]

glad to see other microcontrollers being used. thanks for this.

[@vegeta920508]

Really wanted to learn about Seeeduino XIAO so was really glad this came out :)

[@LevyCarneiro]

That was the most easy to understand tutorial I found so far on any Arduino videos.

[@OsoPolarClone]

Glad to see you back. I enjoy and learn a lot from your videos.

[@ahmedgaafar5369]

this one of the best channels on youtube, very practical and detailed learning, on behalf of myself and everybody here , i thank you very much sir on these great tutorial videos.

[@jean-marczenhausern5928]

Another great video, that shows me news from the electronic world, that I would never know without your video. Many thanks for that!

[@apbosh1]

First time i've heard of the xiao, Thank you. enjoyed. and learned a lot!

[@4473021]

Actually bought one of these lil guys the other day, thanks as always for the excellent video and tutorials!

[@fvgoya]

Sir, this is the best video EVER about Seeeduino. Thank you very much for making this video.

[@embedder6344]

Thanks, look forward to seeing more of the xiao. Very easy to understand, no accent diction.

[@marc6003]

Glad to see you again! Thanks for the video.

[@Bigal62]

So impressed with your presentations. Keep up the fantastic workmate!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Another great video, well explained and so relaxed in style. I watch them to chill as well as learn.

[@Frightline777]

If nobody has ever told you...I think you are just AWESOME!!!Just a foutain of information !!!BRAVA!!!

[@ytfanlingeric]

Your video is very superb! Very well made with informative and clearly explained contents. Yes, the XIAO likely refers to small as other have mentioned.

[@rissole7229]

WOW! What an amazing little device. I can't wait to procure one to experiment with. Thanks for a great video as usual. Hope to see more projects using the Seeeduino Xiao

[@jbeard3390]

I want to build an adjustable desk with linear actuators with a arduino and a potentiometer as a height value based on the value. I know i can just use a double position switch but i won't learn what i want from that. So back to the ardiuno. I wrote all the code for it got out working as intended but never build the actual desk. But this bew seediuno will let me get a more accurate height adjustment. It was actually a really fun programming project for a beginniner like myself.

[@Bonjour-World]

Thank thee ;-) This is the first reference I have seen of the 12 (vs 10) ADC. Good job

[@WillHartley]

You're videos are always a big help. Thanks 🙏

[@TMS5100]

I love using xiao for projects. It's everything you need but nothing more. No silly bullshit features and no wasted space.

[@hebrewhammer1000]

Thanks for sharing! Great video. The perfect level of detail.

[@nethostinc.1670]

Hoping you would give a tour of your extended workshop. Great learning channel. Excellent job!

[@TRETT1956]

hello bill, I am Werner from southern Germany. I love to watch your video. These are very well done and very educational. Thank you keep it up - I'm always there. Greetings Werner

[@emmanuelacquah4059]

I have been waiting for your videos

[@scottiusnevious5143]

Wow this thing is so beefy, i am excited to get mine. I am not suprised i didnt know about it, i dropped the hobby after highschool and just found some of my old stuff, its even smaller than the micro mega board! Insane!

[@MrKiwiKelly]

Your content is always A+, i thankyou for your contribution to knowledge .

[@lucvanhove9639]

As usual, always very clear 👍👍👍👍👍

[@khodrakkaoui1069]

it cannot be better , well done thank you

[@peterthinks]

Now that's a confused search result! Tried to find them on Amazon and got the strangest mix of dried caterpillars, Asian flutes, herbs and seeds!

[@andriesholtzhausen5182]

Awesome intro to the XIAO. Thanks. :)

[@ME-dg5np]

The best Duino advisor !

[@InvertLogic]

happy to see your new video

[@user-um3ui1gu9t]

Thanks for the effort ! One question : should we use SerialUSB (AD converter exemple) or Serial as usual like in the 2320 sensor example ?

[@JonathanDeWitt1988]

Bill, This is a very exciting microcontroller. It's capabilities in memory and processing speed versus the standard Arduino are impressive. And for a much cheaper price and size factor as well! My thought with any new microcontroller that outperforms the Arduino has always been that they don't have the documentation (educational material) out there like the Arduino Uno has. Your point in this video about a lot of the code from the Arduino being compatible with the XIAO makes the XIAO leaps and bounds above the rest of the microcontrollers that have been introduced lately. A XIAO tutorial series like Paul McWhorter's New Arduino Tutorials still wouldn't go amiss. It wouldn't even have to be as developed as that to launch the XIAO off. It could just be short videos showing differences between using the XIAO for that video versus the Arduino Uno if there are any differences at all. Thank you for introducing us to such a promising and interesting new microcontroller. As always I enjoyed your thorough explanation of everything you put up on the screen. I didn't feel rushed and like I had time to absorb what you were teaching us.

[@damo7800]

Hi mate, Your tutorials are awesome and easy to follow. I’m preparing my project and I have a few questions regarding the Arduino range of controllers for which my research has me looking at the Arduino Leonard! but now I’m confused as I’ve seen the Mega Arduino board! So what would you suggest for my project?.... my project requirements are a controller that would be suited to a multi (48) button box with (5) rotary and (5) potentiometers for my flight sim pit. Do you have a video already on this topic? Thanks in advanced Damo

[@SpottedEagleOwls]

Thank you for explaining so simple

[@KAYAPOGAN]

Tnx a million, fantastic videos... I don't remember when my jaw has dropped! It's incredible.

[@stmohir]

Thank you for this video, In the first sketch, why is A0 connected to A4? and why is the need for the pullup resistors on the temperature sketch?

[@richard_wenner]

Delightful as usual. Welcome back! Thank you. May I ask - What program do you use to create your graphics (eg wire drawing) please?

[@lehnertak]

I also am curious about this. Bill's graphics are excellent. I want to copy his approach.

[@pierluigizattra2983]

Agree with you Richard! Hello Bill from a viewer in Melbourne AU. Do share your secret with us when convenient.

[@J4FChannel]

+1!!!!

[@captainpugwash4100]

Bill has mentioned elsewhere that he uses “Keynote” for graphics.

[@lehnertak]

@@captainpugwash4100 Can the wiring simulations be done in Keynote? I will have to figure that out.

[@anokhautomation4453]

👍 very useful information. Thanks for sharing such new technology. Appreciable.🙏

[@gordslater]

27:40 to tone down an LED output for photography / filming, three quick methods: Sharpie - dab a sharpie on the LED. The ink can be cleaned off later with alcohol on a swab. May require a couple of applications 20 seconds apart to build up a blob of dark ink over the emitter. Nail varnish/laquer - use an opaque neutral colour like (nonmetallic) grey. This is permanent. Works best if you place a drop on a hard surface and let it partly dry before transferring to the LED. Correction fluid (WhiteOut/Tippex) this is extremely messy and permanent.

[@TechProbe]

Hello !, I appreciate your tech contents, I like your clear English pronunciation to comprehend easily as a foreigner. I am not a Chinese but Xiao (小), a Chinese character means small, tiny, mini,...such as in XiaoMi (pronounced Xiao also has many other characters having other meanings though) . So I guess Seeeduino XIAO was named from it.

[@albedo0point39]

Good stuff... does the temp sensor need a separate pull up? I thought most processors had them integrated. Also check out the Adafruit version of this - the QT Py. Same form factor, similar price, but proper reset button, RGB led and a ‘stemma’ i2c connector on board.

[@stevewalker9994]

Thanks for this. I've tried to transfer these projects to an ESP32 using MicroPython but have only got LCD1602 displays and can't find the drivers (sad). This is a brilliant channel, please keep this up I'm learning so much.

[@pgabrieli]

another excellent video, thanks! btw, did you ever publish the video on the ATTiny85 which you promised in the 2017 video on the arduino family? I'd be still very interested in that, since I mostly do very simple projects and that chip is all I need. thanks again

[@duncanrayson4621]

Great tutorial. Interesting option to the Arduino products. Thanks for the excellent information.

[@stylesoftware]

Preserving i2c for a screen, and keeping the usb tx/rx unused for debugging, I wonder if it's possible to set it up with 4x sercom uart TTL tx/rx pins.

[@brendanowen7563]

Another great video. Thank you

[@NicoDsSBCs]

I love your videos. Enjoying to watch. Well paced. Now I want this seeeduino xiao too. Mighty little microcontroller. I'd love to play with it. I review ARM Single Board Computers and servers on YT. So little time for Arduino like boards. I've got loads of microcontrollers, but my viewers are not interested in them. Well, they seem not to be interested in much anymore lately. Sometimes I wonder if I wouldn't better do something else I like. But then I find something else to make a video about and stay working with SBCs. A human can only do so much, even when in lock-down I've got a shortage of time. Greetings.

[@ianbertenshaw4350]

Packs a lot into such a small board !

[@jnorris8649]

Anyone else irked with the pliers situation? Lol Great vid

[@bitschips]

Really educative! Thanks for time. Best regards.

[@WINGNUT307]

Nice video. Why the pullup resistors in the final section? I noted that the sketch did not define the pins to use so presumably they are in the built in AM2302 module and don't use pullup. Could you overide and choose other pins AND define them as pullup. Asking just so i get the bigger picture.

[@arthurh.b.atkinson1660]

Thank you. This is great

[@poepflater]

DIGIKEY already stocking some parts from them, recognised it from a real time clock module I ordered yesterday.

[@wishicouldarduino8880]

This is a cool little micro controller. 👍

[@danblankenship5744]

Thank you for introducing us to this power-house. I see that they are becoming rare and the price is climbing, so I just bought 10 boards. I wonder if my OLEDs will work or do I need some level-shifters? I see it's easy to drive an LED so I wonder how much current a pin can source. I see they have additional development and wireless boards available. Are you going to explore those too?

[@igmpvgoa1837]

Right on time. Just got a seeduino!

[@pierluigizattra2983]

How coincidental sir ah! 🤣

[@jamescullins2709]

Good job. I like this one, but how does it compare to the PICO of the same physical size?

[@isidronilsson5804]

Love having you back. You must spend countless hours rehearsing for these videos. They are so well thought out and perfectly executed. OK, enough for the accolades. Now my question. I am trying to measure and monitor a voltage between 0.1mv and 5mv. The arduino uno does not seem to be able to measure less than 4.9mv and not sure how to use the internal ref that would let me measure lower voltages. Is there a simple way to measure 0.1 to 5mv range? Perhaps the seeeduino xiao?

[@connerblah]

If you need a high resolution reading of that range, you'll probably need an amplifier circuit. For something that low I'd do it anyway. Then you can use whatever microcontroller you want!

[@qnaman]

The best thing for me it has 10 analog inputs. Perfect for my robot with 5 axis limbs

[@jamesabernathy9744]

I just ordered a 3 pack of the Xiao. This should be fun.

[@shahrozKhan4u]

Beauty unleashed

[@MrBobWareham]

Hi Bill very nice thanks for the video

[@PJElliot]

I love using the XIAO. I just wish they did a XIAO Pro with a couple of extra pins on each side.

[@danielroibert5631]

That look great, thank-you.

[@patrickmclaughlin6013]

Thanks Bill!

[@ender77769]

Next time you want to film the little LED effect, I think a thin transparent piece of green or blue plastic or saran wrap would filter out the blue/green LED and accentuate the red/yellow LED more. Thank you for the informational videos!!!

[@CraftyOldGit]

I've been thinking about getting a XIAO so this video was very helpful -- thank you. Seeed Studio also offer a useful looking expansion board with socket for XIAO, Grove connectors, battery charge circuit and 0.96" OLED screen.

[@Enigma758]

5:47 Can't a single interrupt routine be used for both pins if the first thing the interrupt does is to check both pin states to determine which transition caused the interrupt and then branch to the appropriate handler code?

[@hippopothomas1980]

nope, it's call xiao because the word “小” it means small..

[@RobertMcKenzie]

LOL I also headed here to see if anyone had corrected him on meaning of 'xiao'.

[@perchepourquoi508]

@@RobertMcKenzie yep me too

[@duncanwalduck7715]

Hmm, 'piccolo' would mean small flute, according to English Wikipedia, but 'small [Italian - detected]' according to Google translate. At least he got the pronunciation right: until now I've always been saying what I see - (ouch) 'Zhau' - despite the fact that a guy, Xiang, whom I knew is now Shane colloquially.

[@SeanAlcorn]

@@duncanwalduck7715 - yeah points for pronouncing the x correctly. I’ve lost count of the number of incorrect pronounciations of Xi Jing Ping that I have heard!

[@JLCPCB]

Very nice explanation and cool video! 😊

[@jim5148]

Good video, thanks! One note. You appear to have the anode and cathode reversed inside the LED body.

[@zeffster2]

great video. I see the have expanded their lineup now, and its actually a little confusing which model to pick.

[@MartinWillems19051967]

Thanks Again for your Good information 👍

[@Mecatronicgarage]

Hello, why do you use the "#define" instead of "pinMode" ? Very good video, thanks for sharing information!

[@CPLBSS88]

thinking about using this to control and power a RCWL-0516, possible a PIR sensor, and some sort of a transmitter... leaning towards a COTS 433mhz transmitter for simplicity... basically building an outdoor motion sensor. The RX side will probably be an Raspberry PI that displays an led and vibration for alarms... do you think this would be enough for the sensor side control?

[@bakedbeings]

With SAMD21, from what I've read recently, it should be able to host usb OTG. Feed power in on that voltage in on the bottom and you're good?

[@passenger000]

cool thingy! Just what I need to nail my upgrade project for instrument. I need a higher frequency analog input monitoring, and was looking forward ESP32, but arduino-compatible code in this little thing is what I need! thank you \

[@H0t.5tuff]

Brilliant. Thank you for the simplicity. I'd like to learn how to use relays with this 3.3v logic

[@sugarbooty]

You can buy relay boards that have the circuitry built in to switch them with 3.3v, you just connect them to 5v and can have a 3.3v signal wire that switches them

[@superliegebeest544]

Samething I run into I have a uno en have it working so far. But everything is on 5v. I want to use a nano board but how I get it.from 3.3 to 5v

[@istvanvamos734]

Thank you! very good video!

[@Tollyman69]

You should check out the arduino Pico from mellbell. More expensive but another alternative to a small microcontroller. Great content!

[@lawrencefloyd5411]

First, Thanks for your videos. Certainly among the best on KZbin. My question; I would like to connect a Adafruit SCD30-NDIR - CO2 sensor to the Adafruit PyPortal Titano. Since the Titano has a 12C connector and does accept CuircuitPy, do you think this is possible? Thanks for your time.

[@martinvernon4571]

Hiya, yes as some have mentioned, Xiao is also used for little / small. My Daughter (whose Mum is Chinese) has a Cousin called Xiao Xin Yue 'Xin Yue' being her name and she was a little baby... My Daughter's name came from Wales (where I grew up).

[@JohnDoe-he6eb]

Xiao is amazing !!

[@scifimodelshop]

I just got 3 of these to use in model building, all the videos I have found on you tube do not explain what the usb is plugged into the out put shows 3.3 (watch battery) can this be plugged into a computer usb port or phone charger without frying the board??? thank you for your help

[@Tim_Small]

Recently I've been impressed with the "WeAct Studio" STM32F4x1 MiniF4. Not dissimilar to this, but with more io, and higher maximum clock rate. Works well with Arduino, and MicroPython, but I've been using them for embedded Rust. As a nice bonus, if you buy two, you can program one to be an (Arm CMSIS-DAP) in-circuit debug probe for the other one! Good build quality and design. They also have some very nice STM32H7 boards.

[@Tim_Small]

Btw, there are already lower quality pirate copies on the market, but I'd urge people to go for the originals, they're good quality, and cheap enough already!

[@dannyjensen4954]

Thanks. Excellent video.

[@shortcutkumar]

Good & useful explanation

[@rich1051414]

Xiao supports HID mode as well. That's huge.

[@metalhead3ecr]

i've got a few of these and they are great so far! I can't figure out how to change the I2C clock speed though. I don't think their SoftwareI2C library supports it.

[@sumopanda5070]

Do you think i could add multiple hardware to be used at the same time such as ...Speedometer, clock, temperature & a gif anima?

[@taylorshin]

This is just soooo small!! I guess I can even make a product with this board!

[@massimobattaglia5093]

Hi Bill, nice video as always. Why there was no need to add a resistor in series with the LED in the first schematic?

[@AgentOffice]

Might be built in?

[@dieSpinnt]

@@AgentOffice SAMD21's pins can only source 2mA unless you set the appropriate DRVSTR bit in the pin configuration register (PINCFG) which gives you 7mA. Without a series resistor you possibly kill your MCU. While otherwise we always say: Using a LED without a series resistor will be punished with death! see ATSAMD21G18A-MU-Datasheet.pdf page 966

[@AgentOffice]

@@dieSpinnt then how's the video do it

[@AgentOffice]

@@dieSpinnt i hope he figures out that he might get the death penalty before it's too late ☠️