ARM announces 32-bit Cortex-A32 embedded processor

Earlier today, ARM announced its latest mobile processor core. Dubbed Cortex-A32, it provides a new upgrade path over the older Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A7 cores. This 32-bit only part is currently the smallest and lowest power ARMv8-A processor and comes one week after its maker announced the Cortex-R8, the most powerful member of the Cortex-R series.

According to the official press release, the Cortex-A32 "builds on the trail blazed by the Cortex-A5 and Cortex-A7 processors in embedded applications such as single-board computing, IoT edge nodes and wearables." This new core delivers improved performance and efficiency to ARM partners, thus allowing them "to innovate on for richer, more secure embedded systems." The same source reveals that Cortex-A32 is 25 percent more efficient than the Cortex-A7, also providing increased performance for less power.

The Cortex-A32 can be configured from single- to quad-core and also includes ARM TrustZone and can work together with CryptoCell-700 series products to provide cryptographic hardware acceleration capabilities. While aimed at IoT gateways and industrial applications, the Cortex-A32 will surely make it into various consumer devices as well. However, there is no information on specific future products powered by it yet.