Appendix A: STM32 Series Comparison
This table covers every major STM32 family as of 2025. Use it to pick the right chip for your project. Prices are approximate for single-unit quantities in Indian Rupees (INR) and will vary by distributor and availability.
The Big Table
| Series | Core | Max MHz | RAM | Flash | FPU | ~INR | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F0 | Cortex-M0 | 48 | 4–32KB | 16–256KB | No | 60–120 | Cheapest STM32, simple control |
| G0 | Cortex-M0+ | 64 | 8–144KB | 16–512KB | No | 50–150 | Modern budget replacement for F0 |
| L0 | Cortex-M0+ | 32 | 2–20KB | 16–192KB | No | 70–150 | Ultra-low-power basic |
| F1 | Cortex-M3 | 72 | 6–96KB | 16–1024KB | No | 80–200 | Legacy workhorse (Blue Pill) |
| F3 | Cortex-M4F | 72 | 16–80KB | 64–512KB | Yes | 150–300 | Mixed-signal, motor control |
| G4 | Cortex-M4F | 170 | 32–128KB | 32–512KB | Yes | 150–400 | Modern F3 replacement, fast ADC |
| F4 | Cortex-M4F | 180 | 64–384KB | 256KB–2MB | Yes | 150–500 | The mainstream workhorse |
| L4 | Cortex-M4F | 80–120 | 64–320KB | 256KB–2MB | Yes | 200–500 | Low-power with FPU |
| F7 | Cortex-M7F | 216 | 256–512KB | 512KB–2MB | Yes | 400–900 | High-performance, L1 cache |
| H7 | Cortex-M7F | 480 | 564KB–1MB+ | 1–2MB | Yes | 500–1500 | Maximum performance |
| H5 | Cortex-M33 | 250 | 256–640KB | 512KB–2MB | Yes | 300–700 | Modern successor to F4/F7 |
| U5 | Cortex-M33 | 160 | 256–768KB | 512KB–4MB | Yes | 300–600 | Ultra-low-power high-performance |
| WB | Cortex-M4F + M0+ | 64 | 96–256KB | 256KB–1MB | Yes | 300–600 | Bluetooth 5, 802.15.4, Thread |
| WL | Cortex-M4F + M0+ | 48 | 64KB | 256KB | Yes | 250–450 | LoRa/Sub-GHz radio |
How to Read This Table
Core — Higher core number generally means more capable. M0/M0+ is the simplest (no division instruction, no advanced DSP). M4F adds hardware FPU and DSP instructions. M7F adds double-precision FPU and instruction/data caches. M33 (ARMv8-M) adds TrustZone security.
FPU — "Yes" means hardware floating-point. If your application uses f32 math (sensor fusion, PID controllers, signal processing), you want an FPU. Without one, every floating-point operation is emulated in software — 10 to 50 times slower.
RAM — Ranges shown are across the entire family. Check the specific part number for exact amounts. The H7's RAM is split across multiple regions (see Chapter 15).
Best For — A quick recommendation, not a rule. You can run a simple LED blink on an H7 — it just costs more.
Fun Fact: The STM32 family has over 1,200 individual part numbers across all series. ST claims it is the broadest 32-bit MCU portfolio in the industry.
Quick Decision Guide
- Learning embedded Rust? Start with F4 (Black Pill) or G0 (Nucleo). Best documentation and community support.
- Battery-powered product? L4 or U5. Designed from the ground up for microamps of sleep current.
- Need wireless? WB for Bluetooth/Zigbee/Thread. WL for LoRa/Sub-GHz.
- Maximum compute? H7 at 480MHz with hardware double-precision float.
- Cost-sensitive volume production? G0 or F0. Under 100 INR per unit.
- Long-term product design? H5 or U5. ST's newest families with the longest guaranteed production windows.
- Motor control? G4. Built-in high-resolution timers and fast ADCs designed specifically for motor control.