LPCXpresso Boards

Pioneered by NXP® and Embedded Artists, the LPCXpresso development platform includes low-cost LPCXpresso target boards to get you up and running quickly. Designed for simple, rapid prototyping and evaluation, LPCXpresso development boards work with the MCUXpresso or common partner toolchains.

The target portion of LPCXpresso boards can be connected to expansion boards to provide a variety of interfaces and I/O devices. The onboard debug probe can be used to debug other targets (all board types except MAX versions).

Product Details

LPCXpresso V3 Boards

LPCXpresso V3 boards are the latest generation of the highly successful LPCXpresso family, offering extended expansion options and power measurement. These boards provide a wide range on peripherals, depending on the LPC family they feature. All variants provide Arduino® UNO Rev3 compatible shield connectors and a PMod/host connector, with access to additional I/Os via the extended expansion connectors. The onboard Link2 based debug probe provides a high speed USB connection, compatible with the MCUXpresso IDE and all popular 3rd party IDEs that support Arm® CMSIS-DAP, and also provides a VCOM port. Power measurement hardware is supported on several boards, and this is complemented by MCUXpresso IDE’s power visualization tools. SEGGER’s J-link OB firmware can also optionally be used via a simple firmware update. These boards can also be configured to act as a standalone probe to allowing debugging of your own board. Using a 3rd party debug probe (such as SEGGER J-link or P&E probes) is also simple, via the 10-pin debug connector.

LPCXpresso V2 Boards

LPCXpresso V2 boards build upon the original and highly successful V1 design, but upgrade debug probe performance and extend the expansion options. These boards provide Arduino® UNO Rev3 compatible shield connectors on the board top side, as well as a standard LPCXpresso/mbed expansion connectors on the board bottom side. The onboard Link2 based debug probe provides a high speed USB connection, compatible with the MCUXpresso IDE and all popular 3rd party IDEs that support Arm CMSIS-DAP, and also provides SWO profiling and a VCOM port. SEGGER’s J-link OB firmware can also optionally be used via a simple firmware update. These boards can also be configured to act as a standalone probe to allowing debugging of your own board. Using a 3rd party debug probe (such as SEGGER J-link or P&E probes) is also simple, via the 10-pin debug connector.

LPCXpresso8xx / LPCXpresso8xx MAX Boards

Designed to provide an economical, flexible hardware platform for low-end LPC MCUs, these boards feature a full speed, onboard debug probe (based on the LPC11U35) supporting CMSIS-DAP protocol, a virtual COM (VCOM) port for easy debug, and have the option to be used with an external probe. All of these boards provide Arduino® UNO Rev3 compatible shield site, plus access to other device ports.

LPCXpresso CD

Designed to replace the original LPCXpresso board, this CMSIS-DAP (or CD) version replaces the original onboard debug probe called "LPC-Link" with a CMSIS-DAP probe implemented using an LPC11U3x MCU. The board still seamlessly connects the MCUXpresso (version 7.9 onwards required) to the target MCU via full speed USB. The target includes a small prototyping area and easily accessible connections for expansion. An RGB LED is fitted as standard, as are reset and ISP buttons for easier operation. Other features (such as peripheral connectors) are dependent on the variant used.

LPCXpresso V1 Boards

Since first introduced in 2009, the original LPCXpresso family of boards, along with the associated MCUXpresso, has reenergised the whole MCU evaluation board market. Each LPCXpresso board includes an onboard debug probe called "LPC-Link" and a target MCU. LPC-Link seamlessly connects the MCUXpresso to the target MCU via USB, and can also be modified to allow debugging of an external board. The target includes a small prototyping area and easily accessible connections for expansion. An LED is also fitted as standard, with some board variants having additional fittings such as an RGB LED, potentiometer or USB device connector.


The popular LPCXpresso V1 boards have been replaced with LPCXpresso CD boards. Other original boards are still available while stocks last.

LPCXpresso Shields

NXP has developed specialized shield boards for use with LPCXpresso V3 boards to provide functionality beyond the standard digital interfaces offered by Arduino® UNO. Note that Arduino® UNO shields can also be used with LPCXpresso V2/V3 boards, and also LPCXpresso boards for the LPC800 series.

Onboard debuggers

The onboard JTAG/SWD debug probe portion of an LPCXpresso board is referred to as LPC-Link on the original boards. LPCXpresso V2 and V3 boards feature the Link2 debug probe (based on the LPC432x MCU), and low cost boards for the LPC800 family feature a basic debug probe based on an LPC11U35 MCU. In early LPC-Link boards, the traces between the LPC-link and the target can be cut to use the LPC-Link as a standalone JTAG debugger. On LPCXpresso V2 and V3 boards this can be accomplished with a simple jumper setting, enabling the LPCXpresso board to be connected to an external target and used to develop for a wide variety of NXP's Cortex®-M0, Cortex-M3, Cortex-M4 and Cortex-M33 based applications. Link2 based debug probes feature a high speed USB connection, compatible with the MCUXpresso IDE and all popular 3rd party IDEs that support Arm CMSIS-DAP, and also provide SWO trace/profiling and a VCOM port. SEGGER’s J-link OB firmware can also optionally be used via a simple firmware update made using the LPCScrypt utility from NXP. The LPC11U35 debug probe firmware can also be easily updated using a simple drag and drop operation.