At NXP, we are not just ready for the future, we are here to build it. Our commitment to microcontroller innovation is not some recent pivot nor a short-term strategy. It is a decades-long investment that began in the 1980s and continues with even greater resolve today.
While others have shifted focus or exited the industry, NXP has doubled down. We believe deeply in the transformative power of embedded technology. Few companies have had the tenacity to stay the course this long. Our dedication is driven by a deep responsibility to our customers and to the next generation of engineers shaping the future of intelligent systems. Whether it's preparing for the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) or enabling TinyML on microcontrollers, we continue to power what is next.
From the groundbreaking Motorola 68K processors to the industry's first integrated flash Arm®-based microcontroller units (MCUs), to breakthroughs in security, wireless and low-power design, NXP has proven what microcontrollers can do. We’ve been a leader in the market not by standing still, but by listening, evolving and delivering what developers need most.
Today, we are proud to be a leader in the industry with MCX—a unified platform built for the future. It is developed to scale across applications, simplify development and empower engineers to design without bounds. MCX is designed to support your development journey, whether you are building a smart sensor, a secure industrial controller or the next generation of connected devices.
MCX is more than a product line. It is the embodiment of NXP's commitment to innovation, clarity and developer freedom.
Get developing today with the MCX using the FRDM Development Platform. Explore our FRDM board offering.
From low pin count (LPC) to Kinetis, NXP has consistently delivered industry-defining microcontroller innovations:
These were not just technological milestones—they were foundational shifts that shaped the embedded landscape. With well over 1 billion units shipped and 1,000+ devices launched, we have built a legacy of trust.
MCX is the next chapter for MCU, designed to unify, scale and accelerate innovation across every embedded domain.
MCX is a scalable, secure and software-unified portfolio, purpose-built to cut through complexity. It is designed for the edge, built for intelligence and ready for the future—growing fast from a new platform in 2024 to hundreds of devices by the end of 2025, and is on track to double again by 2026.
The momentum behind MCX is powered by a diverse lineup of devices, each designed to meet specific market needs. Here is how the series breaks down.
MCX N is currently being adopted in high-performance applications where edge intelligence is critical. Our flagship MCU features:
The N series wins in data centers, industrial control, electric meters and building automation, where performance, security and integration are imperative.
MCX A has quickly become our most popular microcontroller—a mainstream workhorse with a rapidly expanding roadmap. It offers:
Already being designed into a wide range of applications—from smart sensing to motor control—the A series builds automation and general embedded systems. What's next for MCX A? Higher performance for more advanced control systems, upgraded peripherals for intelligent sensing, advanced security, expanded memory and added packaging options.
MCX W is purpose-built for Matter, Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) and Bluetooth Channel Sounding:
The W series redefines smart home, asset tracking and connected industrial applications.
In direct response to the needs of our industrial customers, we have brought proven automotive-grade intellectual property (IP) into the MCX portfolio with MCX E.
MCX E delivers:
While others retrofit consumer-grade silicon for industrial use, we take the opposite approach, designing microcontrollers with industrial-grade robustness and reliability from the start.
Built on a proven platform that’s reliable, affordable and widely adopted across industrial and consumer entry-level applications. Key features include:
This is just the beginning of our investment in the MCX C roadmap with new IP and breakthrough features on the horizon. This platform will continue to evolve, but what is consistent is our focus on delivering cost-effective innovation without compromise.
As part of our long-term strategy, MCX L is set to launch as our ultra-low-power series optimized for always-on sensing and battery-powered designs. Key features include:
The MCX L Series is ideal for everything from industrial metering and metrology to wearables and environmental sensors.
What sets MCX apart is how it demonstrates our commitment to developers—beyond the silicon—through the MCUXpresso developer experience and ecosystem.
MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code (VS Code) delivers a modern, optimized development experience tailored for embedded engineers. Built on the popular Microsoft VS Code platform, it combines powerful editing tools with deep integration into NXP's MCUXpresso software development kit (SDK) and Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS).
Whether you are working with MCX, LPC, Kinetis or i.MX Real-Time (RT) devices, MCUXpresso for VS Code provides:
MCUXpresso for VS Code empowers developers to build, debug, and scale embedded applications with confidence and efficiency. It features built-in Git integration and support for FreeRTOS, Azure RTOS ThreadX and Zephyr.
NXP is fully committed to Zephyr RTOS—an open source, real-time operating system purpose-built for resource-constrained, edge-connected devices. As a founding and platinum member of the Zephyr Project since 2015, NXP has played a pivotal role in shaping its evolution.
Zephyr is more than just a kernel. It includes a rich set of middleware for networking, wireless communication, device management and testing. Its modular architecture and cross-platform support make it ideal for everything from simple sensor nodes to complex IoT systems.
NXP's MCX portfolio supports Zephyr out of the box, enabling developers to:
Beyond device support, NXP actively contributes upstream code, maintains key features like Bluetooth Classic and participates in working groups that guide the project roadmap. In the March 2025 release, NXP ranked among the top three contributors to Zephyr—underscoring our deep investment in the community and the future of open embedded development.
Zephyr empowers developers with flexibility, scalability and freedom from vendor lock-in while ensuring long-term confidence in their software stack. It is a cornerstone of NXP's software strategy for the edge.
NXP's FRDM development boards are compact, low-cost platforms designed to simplify prototyping and accelerate time to market. Built for flexibility, they support a wide range of MCUs and microprocessors units (MPUs) and are backed by a rich ecosystem of modular hardware, software and tools and community support.
Each FRDM board is:
To complement the hardware, NXP's Application Code Hub (ACH) provides a centralized repository of software examples, Zephyr applications and demos developed by NXP and our partners. With intuitive filtering, GitHub integration and direct IDE import, ACH makes it easy to:
Together, FRDM boards and the Application Code Hub empower developers to go from idea to prototype in hours—not weeks.
MCX is more than a product line—it is a platform for innovation.
Whether you are building a smart sensor, a secure industrial controller, a wireless IoT device or a next-gen AI-enabled system, MCX has something just for you.
We are not just delivering silicon. We are delivering:
To every developer, engineer and innovator—this is your invitation.
Explore the MCX portfolio, grab a FRDM board or fire up MCUXpresso in VS Code and start building—with freedom, with confidence, and without bounds.
Justin Mortimer is a Senior Director responsible for Technical Marketing and Sales Enablement for our Secure Connected Edge Products at NXP. A graduate with honors from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelors of Science degree in Physics, you'll find Justin spending time outdoors in Austin, Texas. Justin was also a former member of the United States National Swim Team.