Difference between MCU and SoC

System on Chip (SoC) is a newer term with many interpretations & definitions, and its meaning can change over time, but the micro-controller unit (MCU) term has a clear definition and scope, refined from decades of use. Documentation frequently uses these two terms interchangeably, but most industry veterans believe the two terms are not synonymous with one another. They are part of the larger embedded system market with many similarities, but it is important to understand the scopes and purposes of SoCs and MCUs.

1. Micro-controller unit (MCU): A Microcontroller is a small computer on a single Integrated Circuit (IC) that contains a processor core, memory, programmable input/output (I/O) peripherals, timers, counters, etc. It provides only minimal memory, interfaces, and processing power. The peripherals included on the microcontroller are less specific than SoC packages. MCUs are typically used for small embedded control systems or control applications and is sometimes abbreviated as µC, uC or MCU.

2. System on Chip (SoC): SoC is a less well-defined term. It is a single chip package that does everything that previously required multiple chips. A SoC is typically an encapsulation of one or more of CPUs, memory, microcontrollers, DSPs, accelerators, and supporting hardware; however, it does not adhere to any standards regarding its containing circuitry. An SoC is intended for applications with requirements that are too complex for a single MCU to handle. There might be a number of micro-controllers in a SoC. It is more like a complete computer system on a single chip, capable of performing complex tasks with higher resource requirements. It is sometimes abbreviated as SoC or SOC. include Differences between MCU and SoC are as follows: