RTL8721F-Realtek IoT | Wi-Fi SoC
Realtek Ameba IoT Chip Selection
Ameba IoT wireless solutions, featuring high integration, stable performance, low power consumption, and enhanced security
Highlights
RTL8721F adopts dual-core processor architecture with Real-M300 core (compatible with Arm Cortex-M55), supporting Wi-Fi 6 dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz, up to 114.7Mbps PHY rate) and Bluetooth LE 5.x wireless connectivity. The chip features significantly enhanced security, integrating ECDSA/ECDH, EdDSA, and RSA public key encryption hardware engines, equipped with complete security mechanisms including Arm TrustZone, Secure Boot, AES/SHA encryption, Flash real-time decryption, OTP secure storage, true random number generator, HUK key derivation and authenticated debug access. Bluetooth functions support 20dBm high-power transmission mode for long-range communication, featuring LE 2Mbps high-speed mode, long-range Coded PHY, Scatternet multi-point connection and SIG Mesh network support, while Wi-Fi supports R-MESH multi-hop networking, CSI channel state information, MCC multi-channel concurrency, P2P/NAN direct connection and Wi-Fi Card mode. The chip also enhances display interface capabilities to support higher resolution screens, equipped with rich peripherals including Ethernet interface, A2C, USB, SDIO, multiple SPI/UART/I2C, I2S audio, infrared transceiver and keyboard scanner, suitable for long-range BLE positioning systems, outdoor smart devices, industrial control panels, smart payment terminals and various IoT applications requiring high security levels and remote communication.
Integrating various security features including Arm TrustZone®, TRNG, asymmetric encryption, HUK, OTP storage, Flash XIP decryption, etc., it provides security protection for customer's products.
Incorporating advanced technologies such as OFDMA, MU-MIMO, TWT and Extended Range, it effectively alleviates wireless resource congestion, enhances weak signal coverage, significantly improves transmission quality, reduces latency, and extends the battery life of IoT devices
Supporting 5GHz band to effectively avoid common interference sources (Bluetooth, Zigbee, and microwave devices etc.) through spectrum isolation, leveraging abundant non-overlapping channel resources to significantly reduce co-channel interference risks, delivering high-speed, low-interference stable transmission performance
Multi-hop and multi-branch intelligent networking, significantly extending the AP connection range; underlying layer forwarding and control, transparent to application layer development, eliminating traditional Mesh adaptation constraints; rapid fault self-healing, ultra-low latency, and ultra-high stability, comprehensively breaking through traditional Mesh performance bottlenecks
Equipped with a UI rendering hardware accelerator and an MJPEG hardware decoder enhance HMI performance on smart panels. It supports standard display interfaces, flexibly adaptable from small LCDs to HD screens.
Integrated Ethernet interface ensures reliable critical data transmission in industrial environments and high-interference scenarios, ideal for industrial automation, security monitoring and other applications requiring high network stability.
Supporting ultra-low-power WoWLAN and enabling rapid restoration of the original runtime contexts, it empowers battery-powered devices with network listening wake-up functionality
USB 2.0 High-Speed Host/Device, SDIO Host/Device, SD card/eMMC, Ethernet interface, A2C
System Architecture
- Armv8.1-M Architecture
- Arm Cortex®-M55 ISA compatible
- Up to 320MHz, 3-stage pipeline
- 16KB I-Cache
- 16KB D-Cache
- Arm TrustZone®-M
- Armv8.1-M Architecture
- Arm Cortex®-M55 ISA compatible
- Up to 320MHz, 3-stage pipeline
- 16KB I-Cache
- 16KB D-Cache
- 512KB SRAM
- QSPI NOR/NAND Flash: Up to 104MHz
- DQ8/DQ16 DDR PSRAM: Up to 200MHz
Part Number
| Part number | RTL8721FAF-VT2-CG | RTL8721FAF-VA3-CG | RTL8721FAM-VA2-CG | RTL8721FAM-VT2-CG | RTL8721FCM-VA2-CG | RTL8721FCM-VA3-CG | RTL8721FCM-VA4-CG | RTL8721FLM-VA4-CG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-M300 (KM4TZ) | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz |
| Real-M300 (KM4NS) | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz | 320MHz |
| On-chip SRAM | 512KB | 512KB | 512KB | 512KB | 512KB | 512KB | 512KB | 512KB |
| Arm TrustZone | ||||||||
| NOR Flash | 4MB | 8MB | ||||||
| PSRAM | 4MB | 4MB | 4MB | 8MB | 16MB | 16MB | ||
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (Dual Band) | Wi-Fi 6 (Dual Band) | Wi-Fi 6 (Dual Band) | Wi-Fi 6 (Dual Band) | Wi-Fi 6 (Dual Band) | Wi-Fi 6 (Dual Band) | Wi-Fi 6 (Dual Band) | Wi-Fi 6 (Dual Band) |
| Bluetooth | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE | LE |
| Operating voltage | 2.97V ~ 3.63V | 2.97V ~ 3.63V | 2.97V ~ 3.63V | 2.97V ~ 3.63V | 2.97V ~ 3.63V | 2.97V ~ 3.63V | 2.97V ~ 3.63V | 2.97V ~ 3.63V |
| Operating temperature | -40°C ~ 105°C | -20°C ~ 85°C | -20°C ~ 85°C | -40°C ~ 105°C | -20°C ~ 85°C | -20°C ~ 85°C | -20°C ~ 85°C | -20°C ~ 85°C |
| Package (mm) | QFN48 (6 x 6) | QFN48 (6 x 6) | QFN48 (6 x 6) | QFN48 (6 x 6) | QFN68 (8 x 8) | QFN68 (8 x 8) | QFN68 (8 x 8) | QFN100 (10 x 10) |
Peripheral Interfaces
| FUNCTION | RTL8721FAF | RTL8721FAM | RTL8721FCM | RTL8721FLM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GPIO | 19 | 12 | 31 | 60 |
| SPI | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| UART | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| I2C | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| LCD Controller | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| A2C | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| I2S | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Digital microphone | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| ADC and Cap-touch | 4 | 4 | 11 | 13 |
| Infrared Transeiver | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| SWD Interface | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| General Timer | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Capture Timer | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| RTC | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| LEDC_Pro | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| PWM | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| USB | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ethernet Interface | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| SDIO_HOST | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| SDIO_DEVICE | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| IWDG | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| System WDG | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| GDMA | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Thermal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Security Features
We consistently prioritize security as the core of our products, offering our customers a rich array of security features through hardware design and providing exceptional hardware-based attack resistance, helping to create IoT products with ultimate security.
| Features | Filter | RTL8721Dx | RTL8720E | RTL8710E | RTL8726E | RTL8713E | RTL8730E | RTL8721F | RTL872xD | RTL8735B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES Hardware Engine | ||||||||||
| SHA Hardware Engine | ||||||||||
| ECDSA/ECDH Hardware Engine | ||||||||||
| EDDSA Hardware Engine | ||||||||||
| RSA Hardware Engine | ||||||||||
| Secure Boot | ||||||||||
| Flash OTF Decryption | ||||||||||
| Arm TrustZone | ||||||||||
| OTP Secure Storage | ||||||||||
| True Random Number Generator | ||||||||||
| HUK Derivation Mechanism | ||||||||||
| Authenticated Debug Access |
In addition to the essential symmetric encryption engines like AES for IoT, we also provide computationally more intensive asymmetric encryption algorithms such as ECDSA, EdDSA, and RSA. This greatly alleviates the computational burden on the CPU and improves encryption and decryption speeds
Based on asymmetric encryption and digital signature mechanisms, it verifies public key hashes and firmware signatures. This process can prevent tampering and rollback attacks, ensuring that the device only runs trusted firmware
Supports both embedded and external Flash, with independent key encryption for multiple firmware. When the CPU executes encrypted firmware, it is decrypted in real-time by hardware, with nearly imperceptible performance impact. Supports unique encryption for each device, preventing injection and cloning attacks
Based on the Arm TrustZone® architecture, coupled with a dedicated hardware access control unit, it achieves strong isolation protection for secure memory areas and secure peripherals. Meanwhile, secure firmware is decrypted by the security encryption engine and loaded into the secure RAM area, ensuring protection against leakage and tampering throughout the entire process
Physical-level anti-extraction, key area locked for access only by the security engine, tamper-resistant and read-proof. Supports independent secure zones and CRC verification
Generates high-security random numbers based on physical entropy sources. Certified by NIST for randomness. Provides unpredictability to the system, resistant to prediction attacks
Hardware Unique Key (HUK) with physical isolation protection, unreadable and unclonable, used for secure derivation of application keys
Strict control over debug interface access through authentication mechanisms. Supports authorized access and permanent closure, eliminating physical debug attacks. Meets security management requirements at different stages of the product lifecycle, effectively enhancing overall security
Security Certifications Support
We offer support for multiple security certifications. By providing these advanced security features and certification support, we aim to assist our customers in efficiently meeting various market entry requirements, ensuring the security and competitiveness of their products. Most of our chips are capable of achieving PSA Certified Level 2 and Level 3, with some chips already having completed PSA Certified Level 2 certification.
Wireless Connectivity
Wi-Fi Feature List
| Features | Filter | RTL8721Dx | RTL8720E | RTL8710E | RTL8726E | RTL8713E | RTL8730E | RTL8721F | RTL872xD | RTL8735B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | 2.4GHz/5GHz | 2.4GHz | 2.4GHz | 2.4GHz | 2.4GHz | 2.4GHz/5GHz | 2.4GHz/5GHz | 2.4GHz/5GHz | 2.4GHz/5GHz | |
| Bandwidth | 40MHz | 20MHz | 20MHz | 20MHz | 20MHz | 20MHz | 20MHz | 40MHz | 20MHz | |
| Maximum PHY rate | 150Mbps | 114.7Mbps | 114.7Mbps | 114.7Mbps | 114.7Mbps | 114.7Mbps | 114.7Mbps | 150Mbps | 72Mbps | |
| 802.11a | ||||||||||
| 802.11ax (Wi-Fi6) | ||||||||||
| 802.11b/g/n | ||||||||||
| 802.11e/i/w/d/k/v/r | ||||||||||
| WMM/WPA1~3/WPS/ 802.1X/EAP |
||||||||||
| UL LDPC | ||||||||||
| DL STBC | ||||||||||
| Auto Antenna Diversity | ||||||||||
| CSI | ||||||||||
| MCC | ||||||||||
| R-MESH | ||||||||||
| Wi-Fi Card Mode | ||||||||||
| P2P/NAN | ||||||||||
| TWT |
Bluetooth Feature List
| Features | Filter | RTL8721Dx | RTL8720E | RTL8710E | RTL8726E | RTL8713E | RTL8730E | RTL8721F | RTL872xD | RTL8735B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth Mode | Bluetooth LE | Bluetooth LE | Bluetooth LE | Bluetooth Dual Mode | Bluetooth Dual Mode | Bluetooth Dual Mode | Bluetooth LE | Bluetooth LE | Bluetooth LE | |
| Bluetooth BR/EDR | ||||||||||
| LE Audio | ||||||||||
|
Dedicated antenna for Bluetooth |
||||||||||
| Scatternet | ||||||||||
| LE 2Mpbs PHY | ||||||||||
| LE Long Range | ||||||||||
|
LE Advertising Extensions |
||||||||||
| Periodic Advertising | ||||||||||
| Periodic Advertising Sync Transfer |
||||||||||
|
Direction Finding (AoA/AoD) |
||||||||||
|
LE Isochronous Channels (CIS/BIS) |
||||||||||
| LE Power Control | ||||||||||
| SIG Mesh | ||||||||||
| High-Power Mode | TBD |
System Power Consumption
| Mode | Wi-Fi | Power Consumption | Unit | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep-Sleep | OFF | 11.3 | µA | Flash package |
| Sleep | OFF | 48.2 | µA | Flash package |
| Active | OFF | 13.1 | mA | 0.9V WFI mode, CPU=266MHz |
| WoWLAN | DTIM=3 | 168.6 | µA | 2.4G mode |
| WoWLAN | DTIM=10 | 83.3 | µA | 2.4G mode |
Note:
- Test conditions: 3.3V, 25°C
- WoWLAN: System average power consumption
Application Scenarios
Ameba IC empowers Mesh network architecture, which can significantly expand Wi-Fi coverage and eliminate signal blind spots. Intelligent multi-hop and multi-branch networking extends the AP connection range; direct underlying forwarding reduces memory and computing resource consumption, features application-layer development transparency, and fully ensures high throughput and ultra-low latency; the R-Mesh node topology management mechanism avoids traditional loop issues and eliminates routing table maintenance, enhancing network stability; an open-source multi-terminal R-Mesh simulation tool is provided as a supplement, enabling more convenient and intuitive visual testing.
Ameba IC acts as a Wi-Fi card connecting to Host MCU for network accesss. It upports multiple physical layer interfaces such as UART, SPI, SDIO, and USB, as well as mainstream development platforms including Linux, FreeRTOS, and Zephyr, enabling compatibility with diverse development scenarios; it fully implements the IEEE 802.11 MAC layer, eliminating the need to handle complex Wi-Fi protocols, with a lighter driver, lower resource consumption, and easier development and porting; the device-side TCP/IP keep-alive mechanism and low-power design ensure fast wake-up response while reducing overall power consumption.
Ameba IC supports three mainstream display interfaces: RGB, MIPI DSI and QSPI, and features an integrated LCD controller, image processing engine, and MJPEG decoder, meeting diverse needs ranging from low-power simple screens to high-definition colorful screens. Equipped with high-performance multi-core processors and support for multiple operating systems, it delivers smooth GUI operation and multi-modal interactions such as voice and touch. With built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication modules, it facilitates device connectivity and cloud communication while ensuring data reliability through the Arm® security architecture and hardware encryption engine. The accompanying SDK offers a full-stack solution spanning chip, system, and the cloud, accelerating the development of highly competitive and differentiated smart display products.
Ameba IC leverages 5GHz high-bandwidth Wi-Fi transmission capability and deeply optimized protocol stack to achieve lossless transmission, ultra-low latency and precise synchronization of multi-channel audio. It perfectly delivers the immersive sound field effect of Dolby Atmos, creating a cinema-level auditory experience for wireless home theaters. Integrated with an AES-256 hardware encryption engine and secure boot mechanism, it comprehensively protects audio transmission privacy and device firmware security. Equipped with rich peripheral interfaces and one-stop software and hardware development kits, it supports in-depth product customization, enabling rapid implementation of products such as wireless soundbars and home audio systems without complex adaptation.
Ameba IC supports WoWLAN mode and a hierarchical low-power consumption strategy, combined with a multi-source flexible wake-up mechanism, which greatly extends battery life. The dual-band Wi-Fi can switch adaptively, optimized for multiple scenarios, balancing long-distance coverage and stable, low-latency transmission of high-definition video streams. It integrates a pixel processing engine to improve image clarity, and a built-in IR transceiver directly drives infrared lamps, realizing seamless switching between full-color daytime and clear night vision. Meanwhile, it supports secure boot, wireless transmission encryption and end-to-end network encryption, and builds a privacy protection system from chip to cloud based on end-to-end security protection technologies, perfectly adapting to various wireless monitoring scenarios such as homes and shops.
Ameba IC leverages Wi-Fi and BLE dual-mode capabilities to build a smart home network hub, enabling cross-protocol interconnection between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices. It supports multi-node BLE Mesh and Matter protocol for large-scale device networking. Based on Arm® security architecture and PSA certification, it ensures encrypted transmission of device control commands and private data. The ultra-low power design meets 24-hour standby requirements, while rich peripherals can directly drive sensors, lighting modules, and actuators. Voice control, scenario linkage, and remote management create an efficient and convenient whole-house smart ecosystem.
Ameba IC integrates Arm® security architecture and hardware encryption engine, enabling encrypted storage and verification of fingerprint, password, and Bluetooth unlocking command data. Based on the BLE secure connection protocol, it achieves encrypted linkage with mobile phones; its ultra-low power consumption feature is suitable for battery-powered smart door locks, and the fast wake-up capability ensures instant unlocking; rich peripherals can directly drive touch buttons and infrared sensing modules, meeting the requirements for 24/7 standby stable operation, remote control of smart door locks.
Ameba IC empowers manufacturing digital transformation with dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and high-power Bluetooth for flexible wireless deployment. The dual-core heterogeneous architecture supports local AI/ML inference for real-time edge decision-making. Built-in R-MESH enables multi-hop networking for large-scale distributed sensor networks. Ultra-low power design with TWT enables battery-powered IoT nodes operating for years without battery replacement. Integrated Ethernet interface facilitates seamless integration with industrial gateways. Combined with enhanced security features, this chip is ideal for smart manufacturing terminals and connected industrial equipment requiring cloud collaboration.
Ameba IC seamlessly bridges external USB-to-Ethernet chips via built-in USB OTG high-speed interface and support for the CDC ECM protocol, enabling stable wired access. Meanwhile, leveraging native dual-band Wi-Fi 6 capabilities combined with OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies, it delivers high-speed, low-latency wireless coverage for multi-device environments. The high-performance processor ensures efficient and transparent packet forwarding, while hardware-level security mechanism provides chip-grade protection for data transmission. This solution is widely applicable for wireless transformation of wired devices across various network equipment, smart home, and industrial scenarios.
Ameba IC employs a multi-core heterogeneous architecture, where the high-performance application processor handles complex applications and graphical interfaces, while the co-processor continuously runs health sensor algorithms and real-time tasks at ultra-low power consumption, enabling intelligent power management. With highly integrated memory, power management unit, and rich peripherals, it significantly reduces the number of external components, meeting the miniaturization requirements of products. The integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dual-mode wireless communication capability enables seamless connectivity between wearable devices and smartphones or other smart devices. Leveraging the built-in Arm® security architecture and hardware encryption engine, it provides reliable protection for sensitive biometric data. The powerful on-device AI computing capability supports intelligent applications such as offline voice wake-up and motion recognition, making it an ideal core for smart watches, health monitoring devices, etc.
Ameba IC adopts an ultra-low power design with multiple power domains and dynamic voltage regulation, enabling battery-powered devices to operate for years without battery replacement. The multi-core heterogeneous architecture allows the co-processor to handle simple tasks independently while the main core remains in deep sleep, achieving uA-level standby power consumption. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dual-mode connectivity supports various low-power networking protocols including BLE Mesh and R-MESH, enabling flexible network topologies for large-scale IoT deployments. The chip integrates Arm® security architecture and hardware encryption engine, ensuring data security during transmission and storage. Combined with rich low-power peripherals and flexible wake-up sources, this chip is ideal for smart sensors, environmental monitors, asset trackers, and other battery-powered IoT devices.
Ameba IC integrates high-precision analog front-end and multi-channel ADC for accurate acquisition of physiological signals from various medical sensors. The dual-core processor can execute complex health algorithms including ECG analysis, blood oxygen calculation, and temperature monitoring in real-time. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dual-mode connectivity enables seamless data synchronization with cloud health platforms and mobile apps. The chip integrates Arm® security architecture, hardware encryption engine, and secure boot to protect sensitive medical data from unauthorized access, meeting medical device regulatory requirements. The ultra-low power design with intelligent power management extends device battery life, suitable for continuous monitoring scenarios such as home health monitors, medical patches, and portable diagnostic equipment.
Ameba IC adopts a highly integrated design that integrates CPU, memory, power management, and wireless functions into a single chip, significantly reducing PCB area and bill of materials. The advanced process technology combined with intelligent power management enables exceptional power efficiency, extending battery life for portable products. Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 supports stable high-speed data transmission, while Bluetooth LE enables low-latency wireless audio and accessory connectivity. The enhanced display interface supports high-resolution screens up to 720p, delivering crisp visual experiences for portable devices. Hardware-level security features including secure boot, hardware encryption, and OTP storage protect user privacy and device integrity. With its small footprint, low power consumption, and rich peripherals, this chip is ideal for portable speakers, handheld gaming devices, USB dongles, and other compact electronics.
Ameba IC provides ultra-low latency wireless connectivity required for gaming accessories, supporting Bluetooth LE 2Mbps high-speed mode and Wi-Fi 6 dual-band mode for responsive real-time gaming experiences. The powerful dual-core processor can handle complex gaming protocols, RGB lighting effects, and haptic feedback simultaneously without compromising performance. Rich peripherals including multiple UART, SPI, and I2C interfaces support various gaming input methods such as buttons, joysticks, and motion sensors. The hardware AES encryption engine ensures secure wireless communication, preventing latency caused by interference from other devices. The integrated low-power audio codec and I2S interface support high-quality wireless audio transmission for gaming headsets. Integrated power management with fast charging support minimizes downtime, making it ideal for wireless game controllers, gaming keyboards, mice, and other gaming accessories.
Ameba IC features multi-channel high-precision ADC with 16-bit resolution for voltage, current, and temperature sampling, meeting the precise monitoring requirements of new energy systems including solar inverters, battery management systems, and EV charging stations. Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth LE enable real-time data transmission and remote monitoring of distributed energy resources. The industrial-grade wide-temperature design operates reliably in harsh outdoor environments ranging from -40°C to +85°C. Hardware security features including secure boot, OTP storage, and hardware encryption ensure data integrity and prevent unauthorized access to critical energy infrastructure. Rich peripherals including Ethernet, CAN bus, and analog interfaces facilitate seamless integration with industrial control systems, making it ideal for smart meters, solar controllers, and energy storage management systems.
