FRDM i.MX 8M Plus Development Board

2025.9.16by debix.io

Are you looking to build the next-generation of smart industrial devices or AI-driven IoT applications? Look no further. We're thrilled to introduce the FRDM i.MX 8M Plus development board, a powerful collaboration between DEBIX and NXP. This compact and cost-effective platform is purpose-built to overcome the challenges of edge computing, giving you the perfect launchpad for your most ambitious projects.

At the Core: The i.MX 8M Plus Processor

The heart of this board is the i.MX 8M Plus applications processor, a powerhouse built for high-performance edge computing. For a complete view of the system's architecture, refer to the block diagram.

It's a true multi-core system, featuring:

Application Cores: A quad-core Arm® Cortex-A53 cluster clocked up to 1.8 GHz, optimized for running complex operating systems like Linux and handling general-purpose application processing.

Real-Time Core: A single Arm® Cortex-M7 core at 800 MHz, dedicated to real-time control and management of low-power operations. This core is essential for ensuring deterministic performance in industrial and safety-critical applications.

AI Acceleration: The integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) delivers a formidable 2.3 TOPS of performance, specifically designed to offload machine learning inference tasks from the main cores.

Signal Processing: The Cadence® Tensilica® HiFi4 DSP provides a dedicated hardware block for accelerating advanced audio and signal processing.

By offloading specialized tasks to dedicated cores, the i.MX 8M Plus ensures a significant improvement in overall system performance, power efficiency, and reliability. This unique heterogeneous architecture allows you to handle complex tasks like AI-driven vision and audio processing while simultaneously dedicating the M7 core to time-critical industrial functions, making it an ideal choice for your most complex, multi-faceted projects.



Next-Gen Connectivity and Storage

The FRDM i.MX 8M Plus ensures your applications are connected and responsive from the get-go. With the onboard IW612 module, you get NXP’s powerful Tri-Radio solution featuring Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and 802.15.4 for Thread and Zigbee. This comprehensive wireless suite is essential for today's connected devices.

Beyond wireless, the board offers a rich array of wired interfaces:

Dual 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, with one supporting Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) for low-latency, industrial-grade communication.

USB 3.0 Type-A and Type-C ports.

A PCIe M.2 interface for high-speed expansion.

Boot-up times are lightning fast thanks to the included 4 GB LPDDR4 memory and 32 GB eMMC 5.1 storage.



Built for Versatility and Expansion

The board's design is all about flexibility. For advanced vision and display capabilities, it includes a variety of interfaces such as MIPI-DSI, MIPI-CSI, LVDS, and HDMI 2.0a. The 2x20 Expansion Interface (EXPI), along with I²C and CAN headers, provides endless possibilities for adding sensors, actuators, and other peripherals to fit your specific project needs.

Processor

i.MX 8M Plus Quad applications processor

4x Arm® Cortex-A53 up to 1.8 GHz

1x Arm® Cortex-M7 up to 800 MHz

Cadence® Tensilica® HiFi4 DSP up to 800 MHz

Neural processing unit

Memory

4 GB LPDDR4

32 GB eMMC 5.1

32 MB Quad Serial Peripheral Interface (QSPI) NOR

Display and Camera Interfaces

1x Mobile Industry Processor Interface -Display Serial Interface (MIPI-DSI) interface (Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) 22-Pin connector)

2x Low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface (40-Pin header)

2x Mobile Industry Processor Interface - Camera Serial Interface (MIPI-CSI) interfaces (FPC 22-Pin connector)

1x HDMI 2.0a connector with enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC)

Wireless

u-blox MAYA-W276-00B Tri-Radio Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4 and 802.15.4 module; 802.15.4 radio supporting Thread and Zigbee

Audio

Audio digital-to-analog converter (DAC)

Microphone/headphone jacks

Connectivity

2x 10/100/1000 Ethernet port (1x with Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN))

USB 3.0 Type A

USB 3.0 Type C

Peripheral Component Interconnect express (PCIe) M.2 interface

2x20 Expansion Interface (EXPI)

I²C and Controller Area Network Header (CAN HDR)

Debug

JTAG Connector

UART via USB-Type C

Applications Across Industries

The FRDM i.MX 8M Plus is not just a tool; it's a solution for a wide range of real-world problems. Its features are tailored for:

Industrial Automation: From factory automation and industrial HMIs to power grid converters.

Vision and Advanced Sensing: Ideal for building security and surveillance systems, automatic vehicle identification, and other vision-based applications.

IoT: Powering smart home energy displays and general IoT gateways.

And more, including fleet management and avionics.

The FRDM i.MX 8M Plus isn't just a development board; it's your launchpad for the future of industrial and IoT innovation. With its powerful AI capabilities, extensive connectivity, and developer-friendly design, it gives you the freedom to build smarter, faster, and more efficient solutions.

Ready to innovate? Visit the product page now and secure the tool that will power your next big idea.