Silicon Labs Intros “Lite” SoCs for Bluetooth LE Connectivity

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Wireless

Silicon Labs, global experts in the design, development, and supply of secure, intelligent wireless technology, has introduced two new SoCs for Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity.

The BG22L and BG24L SoC, and with “L” representing the company’s new application-optimized Lite devices, are optimized for common Bluetooth applications like asset tracking tags and small appliances.

The BG22L SoC brings the most competitive combination of security, processing power, and connectivity for high-volume, cost-sensitive, and low-power applications. The BG24L SoC includes the Silicon Labs accelerator for AI/ML applications and support for Bluetooth Channel Sounding for asset tracking and geofencing, even in the most crowded areas like packed warehouses and multi-family housing units.

The new BG24L SoC from Silicon Labs enables sub-meter Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding, AI/ML acceleration, and secure access control, while the BG22L SoC delivers ultra-low power Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, optimized for long battery life and cost-sensitive applications. (Photo courtesy of Silicon Labs)

“We know that our customers are always looking for ways to keep pace with the demands of the evolving IoT market while reducing costs,” said Ross Sabolcik, senior vice president of the Industrial and Commercial business unit at Silicon Labs. “The BG22L and BG24L expand our portfolio to match those customer needs and concerns by providing an optimized set of industry-leading Bluetooth features with our signature IoT capabilities like high RF sensitivity, low power, robust security, and powerful compute.”


BG22L Offers Up to Ten Years of Battery Life on a Coin Cell

Advancements like Channel Sounding and AI/ML are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with Bluetooth applications. However, core Bluetooth strengths—such as low power consumption, cost efficiency, and widespread adoption—continue to drive demand for billions of connected devices, including simple sensors, asset tracking, beacons, and streamlined Wi-Fi setup for appliances.

The BG22L is optimized for these common wireless applications, where robust, secure Bluetooth connectivity is required. BG22L SoCs offer an exceptional balance of low cost, ultra-low power consumption, high reliability, and strong performance. The device features an ultra-low power receive mode and a Precision Low-Frequency RC Oscillator (PLFRCO), which eliminates the need for an external oscillator—conserving space in the host device while reducing both costs and bill of materials (BOM) requirements. These power-saving optimizations enable the BG22L to operate for up to ten years on a single coin cell battery.

The BG22L also supports Bluetooth 5.4 and Bluetooth Direction Finding. It features an ARM Cortex-M33 processor at 38.4 MHz, with up to 352 kB of Flash and up to 24 kB of RAM, all housed in a 4 mm x 4 mm QFN32 package.


BG24L Accelerating Bluetooth 6.0 Adoption and Channel Sounding 

Channel Sounding was among the most notable innovations introduced when the Bluetooth SIG announced Bluetooth® 6.0 in September 2024. The feature enables Bluetooth 6.0 devices, such as the BG24L SoC, to use two-way connections to determine device-to-device distances with sub-meter accuracy. This functionality expands applications into new areas, including item finding and access control. For example, end users can locate keys, wallets, or other Bluetooth 6.0-enabled items at a fraction of the power required by other ranging technologies. In commercial and industrial environments, Channel Sounding enhances item-finding capabilities for retail shelves, distribution centers, and asset tracking.

Another key Channel Sounding application is wireless access control. Bluetooth 6.0-enabled devices can communicate with vehicles, package lockers, and secured systems that typically require an interaction or passcode. By detecting an authorized device in proximity, a locker or vehicle can unlock automatically, recognizing the secure Bluetooth signal of the approaching device.

With a 78 MHz ARM Cortex-M33 processor, 768 kB of Flash, and 96 kB of RAM in a 5 mm x 5 mm QFN40 package, the BG24L delivers a cost-effective SoC solution for high-volume Bluetooth Channel Sounding applications. Visit the Silicon Labs YouTube channel to watch a demonstration of Bluetooth Channel Sounding using a comparable SoC.

For AI and machine learning applications, the BG24L also integrates Silicon Labs’ proprietary Matrix Vector Processor (MVP) AI/ML accelerator. With the embedded MVP accelerator, the BG24L delivers up to 8x faster inferencing performance while consuming only 1/6th of the power compared to Cortex-M-based execution of the same calculations. This efficiency further extends battery life, making the BG24L an ideal ML inferencing platform for time-series data in IoT applications, such as sensor monitoring and predictive maintenance. Using AI/ML development tools from Silicon Labs and its partners, the BG24L provides a commercially accessible IoT platform for edge AI technology development.


Product Availability & Getting Started

Both the BG22L and BG24L SoCs are planned for general industrywide commercial availability in Q2 2025. In anticipation of the release, Silicon Labs invites developers to:


About Silicon Labs

Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) is a global expert in secure, intelligent wireless technology, providing cutting-edge connectivity solutions for IoT, industrial automation, smart home, and infrastructure applications. The company specializes in low-power wireless technologies, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Matter, enabling next-generation devices with enhanced performance, security, and energy efficiency. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Silicon Labs serves a global customer base with a focus on scalable hardware, software, and development tools designed to accelerate innovation.

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Source/Photo Credit: Silicon Labs


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