U2600

U2600 is a family of embedded processors and system-on-chip devices developed by Meridian Microelectronics. Announced in 2023, the U2600 line targets edge computing, industrial automation, and smart devices. The name reflects the mid-range position in Meridian’s U-series, with higher-end models under the U4600 line and lower-end under the U1800.

Architecture and features: The U2600 family uses a multi-core RISC-based CPU (dual- or quad-core) clocked up to 1.4 GHz, built on a 28-nm process. It includes integrated memory controllers for up to 8 GB of LPDDR4, embedded PCIe Gen2 x1, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and standard I/O like CAN, SPI, and I2C. A hardware cryptographic engine supports secure boot and encrypted data paths. The platform supports Linux and real-time operating systems.

Variants: U2600-L (low power), U2600-M (mid-range), and U2600-H (high performance) differ primarily in core count, clock, and thermal design. Typical active power ranges from 0.6 W for the L variant to around 4–5 W for the H variant, depending on workload and cooling.

Development and ecosystem: Meridian provides the U2600-DevKit with reference boards, a Yocto-based SDK, and GCC/Clang toolchains. Peripheral drivers were released progressively, with Linux mainline support and vendor-provided RTOS ports. The platform is used in industrial controllers, intelligent cameras, and robotics, where compact form factors and hardware security are advantageous.

Reception and market position: Analysts describe the U2600 as competitive in energy efficiency and integration for small-form-factor edge devices, though ecosystem maturity and wide developer community remain relatively limited compared with some rival architectures.