NXP MCX L Series of Microcontrollers
Ultra-low-power MCUs with a dedicated sense domain
The MCX L series microcontrollers by NXP are well-suited for Industrial and IoT (IIoT) applications, offering a high-efficiency architecture built around an Arm® Cortex®-M33 core running at up to 96 MHz, alongside a secondary Cortex®-M0+ core operating at up to 10 MHz.
This product line integrates Adaptive Dynamic Voltage Control (ADVC), a feature designed to minimize power consumption during low-frequency operation. It also includes a dedicated ultra-low-power Sense Domain, which supports peripheral activity while the main core remains in Deep Power Mode—allowing for energy-efficient data collection without requiring core wakeup.
Thanks to a dual-domain setup, developers can achieve physical separation of tasks, in addition to software-level isolation provided by TrustZone technology on the M33 core. This is particularly beneficial for simplifying the design and certification of metering and other safety-critical systems.
Security is also a key focus, with built-in EdgeLock® features enabling secure boot and hardware-based cryptographic acceleration, ensuring reliable performance for both wired and wireless low-power data exchanges.
Features
| Dual Core Architecture Arm® Cortex-M33 for real-time computing and connectivity stacks and an Arm Cortex-M0+ ultra-low-power sense domain for continuous data collection and processing using minimal power. | Ultra-low-power design Addressing fundamental challenges in sensor technology by enabling more efficient data collection and reporting with minimal energy consumption. | IoT Security EdgeLock® security capabilities including secure manufacturing, fast and secure boot, secure debug access and configuration. |
Applications
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Ultra-low-power and sense domain
- Optimized Power Efficiency
MCX L series delivers power-efficient performance in run mode, consuming as little as 23 µA/MHz at 3.3 V (room temperature). - Flexible Low Power Modes
With support for up to seven low power modes, users can fine-tune which peripherals and clocks remain active, balancing average power consumption and wake-up latency. - Dedicated Ultra-Low-Power (ULP) Sense Domain
A separate ULP Sense domain featuring an open Cortex-M0+ core (up to 10 MHz) handles data acquisition, pre-processing, and thresholding at extremely low power.- Peripherals can operate independently of the main Cortex-M33 core.
- Cortex-M0+ assistance can be leveraged to minimize time spent in high-power real-time operation.
- Connectivity Ready
The MCX L25x series pairs easily with connectivity solutions such as the external UBX100 sub-GHz transceiver for data transmission to the cloud. - Robust Security with EdgeLock®
Integrated NXP EdgeLock® security capabilities include:- Secure manufacturing
- Fast, secure boot
- Secure debug access and configuration
- Advanced Cryptographic Support
- Pre-provisioned unique device identity
- Hardware acceleration for public key cryptography
- Arm TrustZone® technology for isolating sensitive code (e.g., cryptographic stacks or metrology applications)
