TOKYO, Japan, Oct 26, 2026 – Renesas Electronics has launched the RX74M and RX74N, 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) with operating speeds up to 600 MHz and embedded MRAM. The devices are the first in the RX family built on a 22nm process. The new MCUs deliver more than twice the performance of their respective 240 MHz predecessors, the RX72M and RX72N.
The RX74M is designed for industrial and factory automation equipment, including AC drives, industrial robots and programmable logic controllers (PLCs). The RX74N is intended for industrial equipment such as smart meters, power conditioners, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
The 600 MHz devices combine an RXv3e core with 1 MB of MRAM, 256 KB of zero-wait-state tightly coupled memory (TCM) and 1.5 MB of SRAM. The architecture supports real-time processing in workloads with frequent interrupts and branches.
MRAM writes data without first performing an erase operation. This supports faster code and data updates, shorter programming times and reduced system downtime, including in applications that frequently store parameters and logs.
Industrial Networking and Security
The RX74M integrates an EtherCAT slave controller, a TSN-capable Gigabit Ethernet switch and CAN FD. It supports EtherCAT, PROFINET and EtherNet/IP on a single chip, including communication via TSN. It also supports redundant network configurations such as EtherNet/IP Device Level Ring, which previous generations did not support.
Both microcontrollers incorporate ProtectZone in the RX CPU to separate secure and nonsecure regions on a single chip. The next-generation Renesas secure IP extends public-key cryptography beyond the company’s conventional TSIP and supports encryption and multiple hash algorithms. These capabilities support security implementations including post-quantum cryptography.
“Industrial equipment development requires three key elements: advanced real-time performance, diverse industrial networking and robust security,” said Yoshi Ishikawa, senior director of the EP advanced MCU business division at Renesas. “By integrating these requirements into a single chip, the new products simplify the design of increasingly complex industrial equipment and support the evolution of industrial automation.”
Configurations and Development Support
Additional features include:
- Lower-speed variants: 300 MHz products are also available. Renesas reports more than 20% lower power consumption, without specifying the operating conditions.
- Packages: 176/224/320-pin LFBGA, and 100/144/176-pin LFQFP packages.
- Operating conditions: Supply voltages from 1.62 V to 3.6 V and junction temperatures from −40°C to +125°C (Tj)
- External memory: eXecute-in-Place (XiP) operation from external Octa Flash, with on-the-fly decryption.
- Software: A development environment using the Flexible Software Package (FSP) common to the RX, RA and RZ families.
Renesas collaborates with partners to provide solutions for the RX74M and RX74N:
- Software: Codewerk, RT-Labs
- Development Tools: IAR
- Real-Time OS: eForce, Zephyr RTOS
Renesas has also combined the microcontrollers with compatible devices from its portfolio in its Maglev Conveyor System and Smart HVAC Control with Integrated Slave Actuator.
Source: Renesas Electronics
About Renesas Electronics
Renesas Electronics is a semiconductor manufacturer that develops and supplies microcontrollers, analog devices, power semiconductors, system-on-chip products, and connectivity components used in embedded systems. The company provides semiconductor devices and related software for automotive systems, industrial equipment, infrastructure, consumer electronics, and IoT applications. Renesas serves automotive suppliers, electronics manufacturers, device makers, and industrial system developers worldwide. The company designs, manufactures, and markets semiconductor components used in control systems, sensing, power management, and communications. Renesas Electronics was formed in 2010 through the merger of Renesas Technology and NEC Electronics, building on semiconductor businesses of Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas operates design centers, manufacturing facilities, and sales offices across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Renesas Electronics employs about 23,000 people worldwide.
