“The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W is a fantastic microcontroller that brings Wi-Fi connectivity to the already impressive Pico lineup. It’s more compact and affordable than the Pi Zero W, but with a little more setup effort required. Getting started isn’t as plug-and-play as the Pi Zero W, but once you get used to working with MicroPython or C, it’s incredibly rewarding.
I paired it with the Pimoroni RGB Keypad Base to create an interactive Simon Says game and a Hue light controller. The Pico 2 W handles the RGB Keypad beautifully, processing inputs quickly and allowing seamless integration of game logic or IoT commands. The addition of Wi-Fi means I can even use it to connect to my Hue Bridge for smart home control.
Despite being slightly fiddlier to set up than a Pi Zero W, the Pico 2 W shines in terms of flexibility and performance. It’s perfect for projects where size and cost matter, and its GPIO pins and Wi-Fi capabilities make it versatile enough for IoT, robotics, and creative electronics. If you’re up for a little extra configuration effort, the Pico 2 W offers incredible value and potential.”
