nRF52840 BLE Module Sourcing from China
1 resources tagged with "Nrf52840"
The nRF52840 is Nordic's flagship BLE 5.x SoC with 1MB flash, 256KB RAM, native USB, and an 802.15.4 radio that opens the door to Thread and Matter — which is why it shows up against the ESP32 in most BLE module sourcing comparisons. Chinese factories sell pre-certified nRF52840 modules carrying FCC and CE grants, but BLE certification still costs real money (a full FCC + CE pass for a custom radio design runs into the low thousands of USD). The deciding factor versus ESP32 is usually power budget: nRF52840 wins on coin-cell battery life, ESP32 wins on WiFi and price.
When auditing an nRF52840 module factory, check that the FCC/CE grant matches the antenna you ship and that the part is genuine Nordic silicon, not a relabeled clone. A grant tied to a reference antenna doesn't cover your custom layout without a permissive change.
Guides (1)
FAQ
nRF52840 or ESP32 for a battery BLE product?
For coin-cell or low-power battery designs the nRF52840 has far lower sleep current and better BLE efficiency. Choose ESP32 only if you also need WiFi or want the lowest BOM cost and can tolerate higher power draw.
How much does certifying an nRF52840 product cost?
Using a pre-certified module you inherit FCC/CE for the radio and avoid most RF lab fees. A fully custom nRF52840 board needing its own FCC + CE RED testing typically runs into the low thousands of USD plus several weeks of lab time.
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