Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. It’s intended for anyone making interactive projects. There are now many various types of Arduino/Genuino you can buy. From use in small, medium or large projects.
You can build your own Arduino PCB or on a circuit board using very basic components and an Atmel ATMega chip – As seen in our DIY Arduino Article.
This table shows a quick comparison between the characteristics of all the Arduino and Genuino boards, from the Arduino website.
Name
|
Processor
|
Operating/Input
Voltage |
CPU Speed
|
Analog In/Out
|
Digital IO/PWM
|
EEPROM [kB]
|
SRAM [kB]
|
Flash [kB]
|
USB
|
UART
|
Intel® Curie
|
3.3 V/ 7-12V
|
32MHz
|
6/0
|
14/4
|
–
|
24
|
196
|
Regular
|
–
|
|
ATSAM3X8E
|
3.3 V / 7-12 V
|
84 MHz
|
12/2
|
54/12
|
–
|
96
|
512
|
2 Micro
|
4
|
|
ATtiny85
|
3.3 V / 4-16 V
|
8 MHz
|
1/0
|
3/2
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
8
|
Micro
|
0
|
|
ATmega168V
ATmega328P |
2.7-5.5 V /
2.7-5.5 V |
8MHz
|
6/0
|
14/6
|
0.512
|
1
|
16
|
–
|
–
|
|
ATmega328P
|
2.7-5.5 V /
2.7-5.5 V |
8 MHz
|
4/0
|
9/4
|
1
|
2
|
32
|
–
|
–
|
|
ATmega32U4
|
3.3 V / 3.8-5 V
|
8 MHz
|
4/0
|
9/4
|
1
|
2.5
|
32
|
Micro
|
–
|
|
ATmega2560
|
5 V / 7-12 V
|
16 MHz
|
16/0
|
54/15
|
4
|
8
|
256
|
Regular
|
4
|
|
ATmega2560
|
5 V / 7-12 V
|
16 MHz
|
16/0
|
54/15
|
4
|
8
|
256
|
Regular
|
4
|
|
ATmega32U4
|
5 V / 7-12 V
|
16 MHz
|
12/0
|
20/7
|
1
|
2.5
|
32
|
Micro
|
1
|
|
SAMD21 Cortex-M0+
|
3.3 V/ 5V
|
48MHz
|
7/1
|
8/4
|
–
|
32
|
256
|
Micro
|
1
|
|
ATmega168
ATmega328P |
5 V / 7-9 V
|
16 MHz
|
8/0
|
14/6
|
0.512
1 |
1
2 |
16
32 |
Mini
|
1
|
|
ATmega168
ATmega328P |
3.3 V / 3.35-12 V
5 V / 5-12 V |
8 MHz
16 MHz |
6/0
|
14/6
|
0.512
1 |
1
2 |
16
32 |
–
|
1
|
|
ATmega328P
|
3.3 V / 3.35-12 V
5 V / 5-12 V |
8 MHz
16 MHz |
6/0
|
14/6
|
1
|
1
|
32
|
–
|
1
|
|
ATmega328P
|
5 V / 7-12 V
|
16 MHz
|
6/0
|
14/6
|
1
|
2
|
32
|
Regular
|
1
|
|
ATmega32U4
AR9331 Linux |
5 V
|
16 MHz
400MHz |
12/0 |
20/7 |
1 |
2.5
16MB |
32
64MB |
Micro |
1 |
|
ATSAMD21G18
|
3.3 V / 7-12 V
|
48 MHz
|
6/1
|
14/10
|
–
|
32
|
256
|
2 Micro
|
2
|
Where to buy?
You can get Ardunios, Genuino’s and various clones of the Arduino board pretty much anywhere. From the official Arduino website, or from places such as Amazon and eBay.
Prices range depending on the manufacturer, as the Arduino is an open-source design pretty much anybody with PCB fabrication tools can make them. We would suggest sticking to a reputable manufacturer to ensure your board is built with high quality components.
One of the most popular types of Arduino is the Uno R3, Mega and various small form factors such as the Nano, Micro, Trinket etc.