Makers, some of our favourite electronics brands have the most interesting news you need to know. Keep watch for what’s coming to South Africa in the near future. 2025 is turning out jam-packed with new gadgets and gizmos for electronics enthusiasts to tinker. If you get as excited about the world of tech as we do, then buckle up. We’re diving into standout new electronic releases to look out for this year from DF Robot, Raspberry Pi, Arduino, and Espressif.
Last month, the DIY world descended upon Nuremberg, Germany, for the Embedded World convention. Favourite Maker brands made an appearance and unveiled the latest microcontrollers, single-board computers, and cutting-edge components! We can imagine the sparks of excitement at each shiny new goodie and showstopper announcement. Get ready to add some new must-have items to your wishlist this year.
DF Robot: LattePanda & LoRaWAN Showcases
One spotlight from Embedded World 2025 was DF Robot’s splash of an entrance, unveiling unforgettable electronic releases. We enjoy this brand for all their amazing products, from sensors to full-on Maker kits. This time, DF Robot unveiled new members of the LattePanda family with compact computing solutions. Catering to diverse project needs, DF Robot demonstrated a scalable range of x86 single-board computers, including:
- LattePanda Mu: A micro x86 compute module for customisable designs.
- LattePanda Sigma: The powerful x86 single-board server to run Windows or Linux and excel in graphics with an Intel Core i5-1340P processor.
- LattePanda 3 Delta: Fastest panda powered by the Intel 11th-gen Celeron N5105 processor for 2x faster CPU and 3x faster GPU, plus improved cooling and 42 expandable interfaces.
- LattePanda VI: The world’s smallest single-board computer with x86 Windows for lightweight projects like space-constrained IoT gateways and mobile AI.
In addition to the LattePanda family, DF Robot put their LoRaWAN ecosystem front and centre, which included the LoRaWAN gateway, LoRaWAN control terminal, Gravity: LoRaWAN Node, etc. Their showcase highlighted secure and efficient long-range wireless communication for IoT applications. With a clear focus on streamlining development and offering solutions for industrial-grade innovation, DF Robot’s presence at Embedded World highlighted their dedication to empowering creators with powerful and adaptable tools.
Raspberry Pi: Expanding Horizons with CM4, RP2350, and Image-Gen
We have always loved Raspberry Pi for their constant innovations that let everyday hobby tinkerers build amazing projects. And this year is no different. The Pi team introduced a new variant of the Compute Module 4 (CM4) featuring extended operating temperatures of -40°C to +85°C. This makes a big difference for dependable functionality under extreme conditions that was otherwise impossible. We certainly can’t wait to pick up another CM4 for our more daring prototypes.
On the software side, Raspberry Pi announced a new powerful tool that sent Pi enthusiasts into a buzz. Rpi-image-gen finally gives you complete control over their Raspberry Pi software images. This alternative pi-gen opens the possibilities to customise image creation. Cater to your specific needs of embedded systems, industrial controllers, and tailored OS from home users. Maya Posch on Hackaday has already put this system into practice with their article: Build Customised Raspberry Pi OS Images with RPI-Image-Gen.
Lastly, Raspberry Pi announced the worldwide availability of the RP2350 microcontroller! You might have heard about this high-performance MCU a few months ago with its dual Arm Cortex-M33 processors, floating-point and DSP support, and enhanced security features. Despite its impressive capabilities, the RP2350 maintains Raspberry Pi’s commitment to affordability. This new tiny powerhouse is a choice solution for many automation or tinker electronic projects.
Arduino: 20 Years Celebration & New Reveals
Two decades of Arduino have flown by, and we would never be the same without this amazing brand of Maker masterminds. Arduino arrived at Embedded World 2025 with a vibrant showcase of electronic releases that blew our minds hearing about it. Partnering with many others, Arduino is continuing to evolve the Maker community with new innovations. Let’s take a look at each astonishing reveal:
- E/E Starter Kit (with Bosch): A new prototyping platform for software-defined vehicles and automotive E/E architectures, designed for universities, startups, and carmakers.
- Portenta UWB Shield & Arduino Stella (with Truesense): Leveraging Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology for high-precision tracking, indoor navigation, and advanced human-machine interfaces in IoT and IIoT.
- Arduino Pro Portenta Proto Kit VE: A comprehensive kit for streamlined advanced prototyping, particularly for motion-focused applications, including Portenta H7 and Nicla boards.
- Portenta AGV Kit (with Analog Devices): An all-in-one solution for building Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for industrial automation, research, and education.
Espressif: New SoCs and AI Solutions
Last but not least, Espressif had exciting news to share at their booth for this awesome event. This brand is a consistent innovator in the world of IoT and wireless communication. Makers often enjoy linking a network of IoT devices to create epic home automation and other DIY projects. Espressif announced their latest in System-on-Chips (SoCs) developments and their growing focus on artificial intelligence for human-machine interface applications.
The ESP32-C5 and ESP32-H4 were showcased as new IoT devices with plenty next-generation connections and lower power consumption. Most impressively, Espressif demonstrated how their existing ESP32-P4 and ESP32-3S SoCs are revolutionising the fields of embedded AI and HMI. Their cutting-edge AI integrations enable more creative solutions for seamless home automations and more. Keeping an eye on these new features and IoT boards is definitely worth the wait until these treasures come to South Africa.
We hope you find these new electronic releases interesting. And if you are burning to get them in your hands, then join our monthly newsletter to be the first to know when we might stock new developments like this. If you enjoyed this post, then check out our other blog posts. We have a growing collection of guides and project posts up right now. To keep up to date on everything DIYElectronics related such as new products, projects, and Maker news, check out our social media, Facebook, and Instagram. Have a look at our website or browse our promotions category to see this month’s specials.
Copywriter | Digital Artist | Dungeon Master
My greatest passion lies in storytelling, be it through writing, art or playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends and family. I dove into 3D printing a few years ago and earned a lifetime obsession of experimenting, learning, and making new things!
