NXP Unlocks Higher IoT Efficiency and Security With New MCUs

Announced at CES today, NXP's new series of MCUs consume 3x less power than previous MCX devices with its ultra-low-power sense domain.

Today, at CES 2025, NXP Semiconductors announced the latest additions to its microcontroller portfolio: the MCX L14x and L25x. Designed to address the surging demands of ultra-low-power solutions in industrial and IoT applications, the MCX L series introduces architectural innovations aimed at minimizing energy consumption while maximizing functionality.

All About Circuits interviewed NXP’s senior MCX product marketing manager Raphael Apfeldorfer to learn more about the new microcontrollers.

NXP’s new MCX L series MCUs.

Dual Power Domain Architecture

The MCX L series implements a dual power domain architecture, a feature that separates its real-time and low-power sensing operations. The architecture integrates an Arm Cortex-M33 core dedicated to real-time, high-performance tasks, and a Cortex-M0+ core operates as an independent ultra-low-power sensing domain.

With this setup, the system features a sensing domain with continuous operation for always-on applications, maintaining data acquisition and basic processing while the primary Cortex-M33 core remains in sleep mode. Always-on performance is particularly important for mission-critical tasks like industrial automation.

“More and more, we want real-time reactions to anomalies and failures,” Apfeldorfer explained. “It’s important that these sensors are always on, meaning continuous operation for data collection, monitoring, and anticipation of failures to act locally and mitigate risks.”

This dual-domain approach provides physical and logical isolation so sensing tasks can run uninterrupted, even under cybersecurity constraints. TrustZone technology on the Cortex-M33 adds an additional layer of protection by isolating sensitive code and processes.

Ultra-Low-Power Performance 

According to Apfeldorfer, the MCX L series sets new benchmarks in low-power operation. Specifically, its Cortex-M33 core achieves active power consumption as low as 24 µA/MHz when executing from Flash memory, operating at up to 96 MHz. In contrast, the Cortex-M0+ core, which operates at up to 10 MHz, consumes a mere 14 µA in active mode to support continuous sensing tasks with minimal power draw.

Block diagram of the MCX L. 

In its lowest power mode, the MCX L series operates at sub-microamp levels. The ultra-low-power sense domain consumes only 1.85 µA during always-on operations, such as background data acquisition. With its real-time clock (RTC) enabled, power consumption is further reduced to approximately 0.7 µA. NXP also introduces an Adaptive Dynamic Voltage Control (ADVC) algorithm to facilitate power-saving features by dynamically adjusting the core voltage based on environmental conditions and workload demands.

“When you lower the voltage and approach near-threshold operation, any deviation can induce a malfunction,” Apfeldorfer said. “Our innovation lies in monitoring process speed, temperature, and chip aging to dynamically select the most reliable voltage, ensuring consistent performance while reducing energy by up to 50%.”

More information is availble on the joint product pages for the MCX L14x and L25x.

Security-Driven Design

With the increasing regulatory emphasis on cybersecurity, the MCX L series incorporates EdgeLock security capabilities to comply with frameworks like the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act and the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark. These features include secure boot, debug access, and manufacturing processes. Hardware-accelerated cryptographic functions improve the power efficiency of secure communications, particularly for battery-powered wireless devices.

The separation of power domains also enhances security by enabling software isolation between tasks. For example, developers can run cryptographic or metrology software on the Cortex-M33 while maintaining sensing functions on the Cortex-M0+ without interference.  

To simplify development, NXP’s FRDM development boards and MCUXpresso IDE support the MCX L series. Developers can leverage pre-configured software examples, an extensive GitHub code repository, and expansion board compatibility. The platform also supports secure provisioning and configuration tools, along with middleware for specialized applications.  

Low-Power IoT Innovation

“The MCX L series allows us to think beyond individual devices,” Apfeldorfer said. “It’s about creating interconnected sensor networks that can autonomously collect, analyze, and act on data, transforming industrial processes and residential experiences."

NXP expects to begin sampling the MCX L series in the first half of 2025, with general availability expected later in the year.