Chip
SX1268 vs SX1262 — Feature & Advantage Comparison
| Category | SX1268 | SX1262 | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Semtech | Semtech | — |
| LoRa Modulation | Yes (LoRa only) | Yes (LoRa only) | Tie |
| FSK Modulation | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Frequency Support | 410–810 MHz | 150–960 MHz | SX1262 (wider) |
| Coverage Bands | 433 / 470 / 868 | 433 / 868 / 915 | SX1262 |
| Package | QFN-24 | QFN-24 | Tie |
| Pin Compatibility | Same family | Same family | Tie |
| BUSY Pin Required | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Reset Pin | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| IRQ Pins | DIO1–DIO3 | DIO1–DIO3 | Tie |
| SPI Interface | Mode 0, BUSY handshake | Mode 0, BUSY handshake | Tie |
| Max TX Power | +22 dBm (external PA) | +22 dBm (external PA) | Tie |
| RX Sensitivity | ~ -148 dBm | ~ -148 dBm | Tie |
| Sleep Current | < 200 nA | < 200 nA | Tie |
| RX Current | ~4.6 mA | ~4.6 mA | Tie |
| TX Efficiency | High | High | Tie |
| RF Switch Control | Internal | Internal | Tie |
| TCXO Support | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Register/Command API | Command-based | Command-based | Tie |
| LoRaWAN Support | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C → +85°C | -40°C → +85°C | Tie |
| Development Ecosystem | Growing | Mature | Slight SX1262 |
| Typical Use | Sub-GHz LoRa IoT | Broad LoRa IoT | SX1262 (flexible) |
Key Differences
🌐 Frequency Range
-
SX1262 covers more bands:
- 150–960 MHz
- Allows 433, 868, 915, and some 780 MHz
-
SX1268 covers:
- 410–810 MHz
- Good for 433 / 470 / 868 (region-dependent)
👉 SX1262 wins for global flexibility
📡 Regional Flexibility and Certification
-
SX1262 is widely supported in:
- EU (868 MHz)
- US (915 MHz)
- AS (433 MHz)
-
SX1268 is often tuned for:
- China / Asia sub-GHz bands
👉 SX1262 better for multi-region deployment
SX1278 vs SX1268 — Feature & Advantage Comparison
| Category | SX1278 | SX1268 | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Semtech | Semtech | — |
| LoRa Modulation | LoRa, FSK, OOK | LoRa, (G)FSK | Tie |
| Frequency Band | 137–525 MHz | 410–810 MHz | Depends on region |
| Typical Use Band | 433 MHz | 433 / 470 / 868 MHz | SX1268 wider |
| Package | QFN-28 | QFN-24 | SX1278 easier breakout |
| Pin Compatibility | ❌ No | ❌ No | — |
| SPI Interface | SPI Mode 0 | SPI Mode 0 + BUSY pin | SX1278 simpler |
| BUSY Pin Required | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | SX1278 simpler |
| Reset Handling | Simple RESET | RESET + BUSY handshake | SX1278 simpler |
| IRQ Pins | DIO0–DIO5 (flexible) | DIO1–DIO3 (fixed roles) | SX1278 more flexible |
| Max Output Power | +20 dBm (PA_BOOST) | +22 dBm (external PA) | SX1268 |
| RX Sensitivity | ~-148 dBm | ~-148 dBm | Tie |
| RX Current | ~10–12 mA | ~4.6 mA | SX1268 |
| TX Efficiency | Moderate | High efficiency PA | SX1268 |
| Sleep Current | ~1 µA | < 200 nA | SX1268 |
| Wake-up Time | Slow | Very fast | SX1268 |
| RF Switch Control | External logic | Internal control pins | SX1268 |
| TCXO Support | Limited | Native TCXO control | SX1268 |
| Packet Engine | Older | Improved | SX1268 |
| Register Map | Direct register access | Command-based API | SX1278 simpler |
| Driver Complexity | Simple | More complex | SX1278 easier |
| Arduino / Pi Libraries | Very mature | Mature but newer | SX1278 |
| LoRaWAN Support | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Power Optimization | Basic | Advanced sleep & duty-cycle | SX1268 |
| Production Status | Legacy | Current generation | SX1268 |
Summary
SX1278 — Strengths
- Simple hardware design
- No BUSY pin required
- Very mature libraries
- Easy for hobby & legacy projects
SX1268 — Strengths
- Much lower power consumption
- Better TX efficiency
- Internal RF switch control
- Native TCXO support
- Modern architecture
- Better for battery-powered devices