BLE chip choice to pair with nRF9151

[gmassana]

Hi,

We're planning to design a custom board using the nRF9151 for LTE connectivity. We'd like to add basic BLE support, with the following constraints:

• The BLE chip will act as a slave to the nRF9151 (controlled externally).
• We do not want to implement application logic inside the BLE chip.
• The goal is simply to provide connectivity to nearby mobile phones or potentially emit a signal like an AirTag for localization.

We're currently evaluating the nRF52 series, specifically the nRF52805 and nRF52810, looking for the best balance between minimal BLE functionality, cost, and low power consumption, which is a very important factor in our design.

Are these two chips good candidates for our use case? Which one would you recommend?

We also wanted to ask:
Would you recommend using UART as the communication protocol between the nRF9151 and the BLE chip in this setup, or is there a better alternative for our minimal use case?

Thanks,

[Susheel Nuguru]

Gerard, 

This is probably not the right platform (forum) to ask these things. Usually the regional sales manager (Roger) in your area is equipped with the knowledge and information to aid you with the choices. I have dropped a message to Roger requesting to reach to you to be able to assist you.

[gmassana]

Hi Susheel,

Thank you for your quick reply and for reaching out to Roger.

I understand that pricing and availability are typically handled by the sales team. However, from a technical perspective, especially regarding power consumption and the minimal BLE functionality we require, I thought this forum would be a good place to ask for input from Nordic engineers or community members with experience using the nRF52805 vs nRF52810 in similar use cases.

Would it be okay to still ask for your opinion on which of these two chips might be better suited purely in terms of technical fit, assuming cost is handled separately?

Thanks,

[Susheel Nuguru]

Gerald,

If you’re really pressed for space and budget, and all you need is basic BLE, think simple beaconing, advertising or a phone connection, then, the nRF52805 is your best bet. It’s small, lean and does exactly what you need without any extras.

On the other hand, if you think you might want things like PWM, PDM or other peripherals down the road, the nRF52810 gives you a bit more room to grow. It’s slightly bigger and could cost a touch more, but you’ll have those extra interfaces at your disposal.

In short, both chips will work for a minimal BLE peripheral setup, but for the absolute smallest power- and cost-sensitive design, I’d go with the nRF52805. And yes, using UART between the nRF9151 and your BLE chip is perfectly fine and well supported.