Introducing the Arduino Uno, the little brother of the Mega and the Due. Sporting an 8-bit processor, 14 I/O pins, six analog inputs, 32 KB of flash memory, 2 KB of SRAM, and a maximum output voltage of 5 V, this board is a great introduction into the world of microcontrollers.

With the low price of about $23, this is the most popular board for makers – beginners and experts alike – who are looking to add some SBC power to their projects.

The Uno is only limited by its small amount of processing power, so it’s less practical for high-intensity projects. But that doesn’t stop you from making awesome projects like a water rocket.

You can upload files to the board via a USB Type-B connector to your computer.  The upload process is so simple that managing more than one board is easy.

The Uno features the ATmega328P microcontroller. With a maximum clock speed of 16 MHz, this rounds out the features of this board, making it perfect for smaller projects.

Arduino Uno R3

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and 

Meet the Arduino Mega, the 5 V behemoth of our line-up. This workhorse of a board features a whopping 54 I/O pins, 16 analog inputs, an 8-bit processor, 256 KB of flash memory, and 8 KB of SRAM; it’s perfect for higher-intensity projects.

The price of this board is about $40, making it the ideal candidate for your large-scale Arduino projects.

This board requires the standard input voltage of 7-12 V and connects to your computer via the same USB Type-B cable as the Uno. It’s a great upgrade for more challenging projects, like this remote control lawnmower.

The Mega has an ATmega2560 microcontroller and a maximum clock speed of 16 MHz, providing the necessary processing power so you can make the most of this board.

Arduino Mega

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and 

Say hello to the Arduino Due, the 32-bit powerhouse of the line-up. Featuring the same jaw-dropping 54 I/O pins of the Mega, 12 analog inputs, 512 KB of useable flash memory, and 96 KB of SRAM this board is perfect for your more demanding projects.

For about $40, it’s becoming a very popular model among makers looking for a powerful SBC.

Like the Mega, it requires 7-12 V to operate, but this board’s use cases are more limited because of its small output voltage of 3.3 V.

The board connects to your computer via micro-USB and has an AT91SAM3X8E microcontroller. With a maximum clock speed of 84 MHz, it’s faster than the Uno and the Mega. Virtual reality headset, here we come!

Now that we know a bit more about each of these boards, let’s take a look at the numbers.

Microcontroller

• Uno: 8-bit ATmega328P 16 MHz
• Mega: 8-bit ATmega2560 16 MHz
• Due: 32-bit AT91SAM3X8E 84 MHz

Flash memory

• Uno: 32 KB
• Mega: 256 KB
• Due: 512 KB

SRAM

• Uno: 2 KB
• Mega: 8 KB
• Due: 96 KB

Pins

• Uno: 14 I/O, 6 analog inputs
• Mega: 54 I/O, 16 analog inputs
• Due: 54 I/O, 12 analog inputs

Voltage

• Uno: 7-12 V input, 5 V output
• Mega: 7-12 V input, 5 V output
• Due: 7-12 V input, 3 V output

Price 

• Uno: ~$23
• Mega: ~$40
• Due: ~$40

As far as specs are concerned, the Due comes out on top with 54 I/O pins, a 32-bit microprocessor, and the most flash memory. However, coupled with its low output voltage, this board isn’t usable for some projects.

The Uno’s strengths lie in its massive community and its low price, making it ideal for smaller projects you want to electrify. Its limited number of I/O pins is its biggest weakness, but you can easily get around this.

For large-scale projects, the Mega is the board for you. With its high number of pins and high output voltage, this board is perfect for people making advanced projects with lots of moving parts.

While all of these boards have their pros and cons, it’s important to know the use case of the board before you buy one.