Analyst(s): Olivier Blanchard
Publication Date: October 22, 2025
Qualcomm acquires Arduino, launching UNO Q and Arduino App Lab to give 33+ million developers access to a full-stack edge AI platform while retaining Arduino’s open community and brand identity.
What is Covered in this Article:
- Qualcomm to acquire Arduino; Arduino retains independent brand, tools, and mission while supporting multiple semiconductor providers.
- Launch of Arduino UNO Q: Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 + real-time microcontroller; Debian Linux support; AI-ready vision/sound use cases.
- Introduction of Arduino App Lab IDE unifying Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI flows; integrated with Edge Impulse.
- The 33+ million Arduino community gains access to Qualcomm’s technology stack and reach; transaction subject to regulatory approval.
- Pricing and availability: UNO Q at US$44 (2GB/16GB, ships October 25) and US$59 (4GB/32GB, preorders in November, on sale later this year).
The News: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. announced it will acquire Arduino to expand developer access to its edge products and tools. The move follows Qualcomm’s integrations with Edge Impulse and Foundries.io, and is intended to create a full-stack edge platform that includes hardware, software, and cloud services. Under the deal, which still needs regulatory approval, Arduino would keep its brand, tools, and mission, continue supporting multiple chip vendors, and maintain its open approach and community focus for its 33+ million active users.
Alongside the announcement, Arduino launched the new UNO Q – a dual-processor single-board computer that uses Qualcomm’s Dragonwing QRB2210 chip (capable of running Debian Linux) together with a real-time microcontroller. The board is designed to connect high-performance computing with real-time control for AI-related vision and sound applications. Arduino also introduced Arduino App Lab, a unified development environment combining Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI workflows with built-in Edge Impulse integration.
Qualcomm’s Arduino Acquisition Expands Edge AI Access for Developers
Analyst Take: Qualcomm’s planned acquisition of Arduino combines Qualcomm’s hardware and AI capabilities with Arduino’s accessible platform and broad community. The deal aims to support developer workflows across hardware, software, and cloud tools. Arduino will continue to operate independently, keeping its mission and support for multiple chip providers. For developers, the agreement could mean broader access to Qualcomm technologies and a smoother link between prototyping and product development. Overall, the acquisition centers on improving access, alignment, and scalability across developer ecosystems.
Developer Access and Full-Stack Platform
The acquisition links Qualcomm’s processing and AI capabilities with Arduino’s user-friendly tools, with the goal of simplifying developer access to edge technologies. It builds on earlier collaborations with Edge Impulse and Foundries.io. This setup allows developers to design, test, and deploy projects more efficiently without extensive customization. For Arduino’s community, the partnership emphasizes unified workflows and easier integration with existing tools.
UNO Q: Dual-Brain Edge Board With Clear Specs and Timing
The UNO Q pairs a Debian-capable processor with a real-time microcontroller, combining computing power with responsive control. It’s built on Qualcomm’s Dragonwing QRB2210, designed for AI-driven vision and sound tasks in areas such as smart devices and industrial systems. The board includes an STM32U585 microcontroller and comes in two models – 2GB/16GB for $44 and 4GB/32GB for $59. The lower-cost version ships October 25, while the higher-end model will be released later this year, with preorders in November. UNO Q remains compatible with the Arduino IDE and UNO ecosystem and is the first to work with App Lab across Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI workflows. It offers a clear roadmap with defined specs, pricing, and availability for developers working with edge and AI solutions.
App Lab and Edge Impulse Integration
Arduino App Lab is introduced as a development environment that connects Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI workflows in one place. It helps developers move from early prototypes to working applications. Through its Edge Impulse integration, App Lab supports model training and optimization for tasks like object and sound detection, image classification, and anomaly monitoring. Supporting both MCUs and MPUs, it brings different stages of development into a single workspace, helping streamline testing and deployment.
Community, Brand, and Multi-Vendor Support
Arduino will keep its independent brand, tools, and mission, continuing to support chips from multiple vendors. It will maintain its open-source approach and community-driven model while gaining access to Qualcomm’s broader technology base. Any shifts in sourcing, licensing, or manufacturing could influence the ecosystem, but access to improved supply and production resources may also offer practical benefits. Balancing openness with scale will remain important as Qualcomm and Arduino work together, shaping how their 33+ million-member community uses the platform in the future.
What to Watch:
- Regulatory approval and customary closing conditions before the transaction can close.
- UNO Q pricing tiers and timelines: $44 (2GB/16GB) ships Oct. 25; $59 (4GB/32GB) preorders in November and on sale later this year.
- App Lab’s availability status and rollout, including its listing in Arduino’s downloads.
- Legal/licensing posture toward “-duino” clones and any shifts in openness, registrations, or licensing terms.
- Integration details and timing across Foundries.io within the broader toolchain.
See the complete press release on the acquisition of Arduino on the Qualcomm website.
Disclosure: Futurum is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of Futurum as a whole.
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Author Information
Olivier Blanchard is Research Director, Intelligent Devices. He covers edge semiconductors and intelligent AI-capable devices for Futurum. In addition to having co-authored several books about digital transformation and AI with Futurum Group CEO Daniel Newman, Blanchard brings considerable experience demystifying new and emerging technologies, advising clients on how best to future-proof their organizations, and helping maximize the positive impacts of technology disruption while mitigating their potentially negative effects. Follow his extended analysis on X and LinkedIn.
