.webp "ICM-42688-P")
.webp "BMI270")
BMI270
The BMI270 is an ultra-low-power 6-axis MEMS inertial measurement unit (IMU) from Bosch Sensortec, combining a 16-bit triaxial accelerometer and a 16-bit triaxial gyroscope in a single 2.5 × 3.0 × 0.8 mm LGA-14 package. Drawing just 685 µA in full 6-axis operation, it is purpose-built for always-on motion sensing in wrist-worn wearables, true wireless earbuds (hearables), AR/VR headsets, and motion-enabled IoT devices. On-chip smart interrupt engines for gesture, context, and activity recognition offload the host processor — extending battery life in space-constrained, energy-sensitive designs.
Product Specifications
BMI270 — 6-Axis MEMS Inertial Measurement Unit by Bosch Sensortec
The BMI270 is an ultra-low-power 6-axis MEMS inertial measurement unit (IMU) from Bosch Sensortec, combining a 16-bit triaxial accelerometer and a 16-bit triaxial gyroscope in a single 2.5 × 3.0 × 0.8 mm LGA-14 package. Drawing just 685 µA in full 6-axis operation, it is purpose-built for always-on motion sensing in wrist-worn wearables, true wireless earbuds (hearables), AR/VR headsets, and motion-enabled IoT devices. On-chip smart interrupt engines for gesture, context, and activity recognition offload the host processor — extending battery life in space-constrained, energy-sensitive designs.
Quick Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Bosch Sensortec |
| Part Number | BMI270 |
| Mouser # | 262-BMI270 |
| Sensor Type | 6-Axis MEMS IMU (3-Axis Accelerometer + 3-Axis Gyroscope) |
| Accelerometer Ranges | ±2 g / ±4 g / ±8 g / ±16 g (16-Bit Output) |
| Gyroscope Ranges | ±125 / ±250 / ±500 / ±1000 / ±2000 °/s (16-Bit Output) |
| Accel Noise Density | 120 µg/√Hz (Typical, High-Performance Mode) |
| Gyro Noise Density | 0.007 °/s/√Hz (Typical, High-Performance Mode) |
| Accel ODR Range | 0.78 Hz to 1.6 kHz (Configurable) |
| Gyro ODR Range | 25 Hz to 6.4 kHz (Configurable) |
| Sensor Interface | I²C (Up to 3.4 MHz Fast Mode+) + 4-Wire SPI (Up to 10 MHz) |
| Host Interface | I²C (HID over I²C for Windows 8/10) or SPI |
| Supply Voltage (VDD) | 1.71 V to 3.6 V |
| IO Voltage (VDDIO) | 1.2 V to 3.6 V (Independent of VDD — No Level Shifters) |
| Current (Full 6-Axis Operation) | 685 µA (Typical, Accel + Gyro, 100 Hz ODR) |
| Current (Gyro Only, Low Power) | ~300 µA (Typical) |
| Current (Accel Only, Low Power) | ~14 µA (Typical, 25 Hz ODR) |
| Current (Suspend Mode) | < 20 µA |
| FIFO Buffer | 1024 Bytes (Configurable Frame Format) |
| On-Chip Interrupt Engine | Motion-Triggered Wake-Up, Step Counter/Detector, Activity Recognition (Walk/Run/Stand/Still), Gesture Recognition, Significant Motion, Tilt, No-Motion |
| Embedded Temperature Sensor | Yes (16-Bit Output via Register Read) |
| Config File Required | Yes — bmi270_config_file must be loaded after each power-on |
| Package | LGA-14 (2.5 × 3.0 × 0.8 mm, 0.5 mm Ball Pitch) |
| Operating Temperature | −40°C to +85°C |
| Mounting | Surface Mount (SMD/SMT — LGA Land Grid Array) |
| RoHS | Compliant |
| Key Certifications | Android Sensor HAL Compatible |
Product Overview
The BMI270 is the second-generation wearable-optimized IMU in Bosch Sensortec's BMI260 family — succeeding the BMI160 with significant improvements in power consumption, noise performance, and on-chip intelligence. While the BMI160 established Bosch's presence in smartphones and generic motion sensing, the BMI270 refines the architecture specifically for the constraints of wrist-worn devices, earbuds, and head-mounted displays: smaller battery, tighter thermal budget, and the need for always-on context awareness without constant host-processor wake-ups.
At the silicon level, the BMI270 integrates a 16-bit triaxial MEMS accelerometer and a 16-bit triaxial MEMS gyroscope on a single die, with a shared 1024-byte FIFO and a programmable interrupt engine. The key architectural advantage over competing IMUs is the on-chip smart interrupt processing — the ability to detect walk/run/stand, significant motion, tilt, tap, and custom gestures entirely within the sensor, waking the host MCU only when a qualifying event occurs. In a typical smartwatch, this reduces the application processor's active time from ~30% duty cycle to <2%, directly translating to days of additional battery life.
The BMI270 requires a configuration file (bmi270_config_file) to be loaded into the sensor at each power-on — a design choice that allows Bosch to provide feature and performance updates via firmware without silicon changes. This is handled transparently by Bosch's sensor API and is integrated into the Zephyr RTOS, Arduino, and Android sensor HAL drivers.
Key Features & Benefits
685 µA Full 6-Axis Operation — Industry-Leading Power Efficiency
At 685 µA for simultaneous accelerometer + gyroscope operation at 100 Hz ODR, the BMI270 consumes roughly half the power of its predecessor (BMI160: ~925 µA) and significantly less than competing IMUs:
Smartwatch always-on display: Continuous wrist-tilt detection consumes ~14 µA (accel-only, 25 Hz) — negligible against a 300 mAh battery
Hearable tap control: Single/double/triple-tap detection on earbuds without waking the Bluetooth SoC until a valid gesture occurs
Fitness tracker step counting: On-chip step counter/detector runs autonomously; host reads accumulated step count once per minute, not per step
On-Chip Gesture, Activity & Context Recognition — Host Offloading
The BMI270's integrated interrupt engine provides pre-calibrated, production-ready classifiers for motion contexts — no application-level machine learning required:
| Interrupt / Feature | What It Detects | Typical Wearable Application |
|---|---|---|
| Step Counter / Detector | Walking step count and cadence | Fitness band step tracking; pedometer apps |
| Activity Recognition | Walk / Run / Stand / Still | Auto-switch sport mode on smartwatch |
| Significant Motion | Large amplitude movement after period of stillness | Wake-up wearable from sleep when user starts moving |
| Tilt Detection | Wrist rotation beyond configurable angle threshold | Raise-to-wake smartwatch display |
| Tap / Double-Tap | Single and double tap on device body | Hearable playback control; phone mute gesture |
| No-Motion / Stationary | Extended period without movement | Auto-sleep wearable to conserve battery |
| Any-Motion | Any movement above configurable threshold | Asset tracker motion logging |
| High-g | Acceleration spike above threshold | Drop detection for HDD protection / insurance logging |
Dual Independent Voltage Domains — No Level Shifters
The BMI270 separates VDD (sensor core supply, 1.71–3.6V) and VDDIO (digital interface supply, 1.2–3.6V). This enables direct connection to 1.8V SoC I/O banks without external level shifters — critical for power-sensitive designs where the MCU runs at 1.8V but the sensor can be powered from the system's 3.3V rail for optimal analog performance. Most competing IMUs require VDD and VDDIO to be the same voltage, forcing either a level shifter or a regulator compromise.
1024-Byte FIFO with Configurable Frame Format
The FIFO buffers sensor data autonomously between host read operations, enabling the host to sleep longer between polling intervals. In a 100 Hz configuration, the 1024-byte FIFO holds ~100 ms of 6-axis data (typically 12 bytes per frame: 3×2 accel + 3×2 gyro + 2 timestamp). For interrupt-driven operation, the FIFO watermark interrupt fires when the buffer reaches a programmable fill level — the host wakes, drains the FIFO in a burst SPI read, and returns to sleep.
Android Sensor HAL Compatibility
The BMI270 is listed in the Android Sensor HAL compatibility matrix, providing a standardized driver interface for Android-based wearables (Wear OS smartwatches) and AR/VR devices. Google's Android Compatibility Definition Document (CDD) requires specific sensor types (accelerometer, gyroscope, step counter, significant motion) that the BMI270 covers natively with its on-chip interrupt engine — reducing the certification effort for OEMs.
Bosch BMI Family — Choosing the Right IMU
| Feature | BMI160 | BMI270 | BMI260 | BMI088 | BMI323 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generation | 1st Gen (2016) | 2nd Gen (2019) | 2nd Gen (2019) | High-Perf (2018) | 3rd Gen (2023) |
| Axes | 6 (Accel+Gyro) | 6 (Accel+Gyro) | 6 (Accel+Gyro) | 6 (2 Separate Dies) | 6 (Accel+Gyro) |
| Accel Range | ±2/4/8/16g | ±2/4/8/16g | ±2/4/8/16g | ±3/6/12/24g | ±2/4/8/16g |
| Gyro Range | ±125–2000°/s | ±125–2000°/s | ±125–2000°/s | ±125–2000°/s | ±125–2000°/s |
| 6-Axis Current | ~925 µA | 685 µA | ~685 µA | ~5.1 mA (High Perf) | ~590 µA |
| Gyro Noise Density | 0.008 °/s/√Hz | 0.007 °/s/√Hz | 0.007 °/s/√Hz | 0.014 °/s/√Hz | 0.006 °/s/√Hz |
| Accel Noise Density | 180 µg/√Hz | 120 µg/√Hz | 120 µg/√Hz | — | 90 µg/√Hz |
| Package | LGA-14 (2.5×3.0) | LGA-14 (2.5×3.0) | LGA-14 (2.5×3.0) | LGA-16 (3.0×4.5) | LGA-14 (2.5×3.0) |
| On-Chip Interrupts | Basic (Any/No Motion) | Gesture+Activity+Context | Gesture+Activity | Basic | Gesture+Activity |
| Config File Needed | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Primary Market | Smartphones (Legacy) | Wearables/Hearables | AR/VR, Drones | Drones, Robotics | General Purpose |
Selection guide: The BMI270 is the optimized wearable/hearable IMU — lowest power 6-axis operation with rich on-chip smart features. The BMI260 is the same silicon generation but with different feature firmware targeting AR/VR (where 6-axis fusion is needed continuously, vs intermittent for wearables). The BMI088 is a fundamentally different architecture — two separate MEMS dies (accel + gyro) in one package, tuned for drone flight controllers where vibration rejection matters more than power. The BMI323 (2023) is the third-generation successor with slightly better noise and power, but no config file requirement — for new wearable designs, evaluate BMI323 alongside BMI270.
BMI270 vs Competing IMUs (Cross-Manufacturer)
| Feature | BMI270 (Bosch) | ICM-20689 (TDK/InvenSense) | LSM6DSOX (ST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-Axis Current (Low Power) | 685 µA | ~2.7 mA | ~550 µA |
| Gyro Noise | 0.007 °/s/√Hz | 0.004 °/s/√Hz | 0.007 °/s/√Hz |
| On-Chip ML / Decision Tree | Fixed Feature Set | DMP (Programmable) | MLC (Decision Tree) |
| Package | 2.5×3.0mm LGA | 4.0×4.0mm QFN | 2.5×3.0mm LGA |
| Config File Required | Yes | No | No |
| Best For | Battery-optimal wearables | Drone FC / high-speed control | Feature-rich with embedded ML |
Target Applications
Smartwatches & Fitness Bands
The BMI270's primary target. On-chip step counting, activity classification (walk/run/stand), and raise-to-wake tilt detection run autonomously in the background — the application processor wakes only for screen updates and Bluetooth sync. The 14 µA accel-only low-power mode enables continuous motion sensing for 30+ days on a 300 mAh cell.
True Wireless Stereo (TWS) Earbuds
In-ear detection (using accelerometer to detect insertion/removal), tap/double-tap control (play/pause/skip), and head-gesture recognition all run on-chip. The sub-20 µA suspend mode and fast wake-up (<2 ms) ensure the sensor doesn't impact the earbud's already-tight power budget — critical when the entire device runs from a 50–60 mAh cell.
AR / VR Headsets & Controllers
Inside-out head tracking benefits from the BMI270's 0.007 °/s/√Hz gyro noise and 6.4 kHz ODR — fast enough to capture rapid head rotations without aliasing. The BMI270 provides the low-latency angular velocity data that visual-inertial odometry (VIO) algorithms fuse with camera frames for sub-millimeter positional tracking. Note: for VR body tracking (SlimeVR-style full-body), higher-spec IMUs (ICM-20948, ICM-42688) are preferred due to BMI270's gyro drift characteristics.
Smart Rings & Wearable Accessories
The 2.5×3.0 mm footprint and 685 µA operation make the BMI270 one of the few IMUs that fits within a smart ring form factor (typical ring PCB width: 3–5 mm). Gesture recognition enables air-tap and finger-swipe inputs without a touch surface.
Asset Trackers & Logistics Loggers
Significant-motion wake-up triggers GPS acquisition only when the asset actually moves — not when it sits in a warehouse. The on-chip shock (high-g) detection logs impact events (dropped package) with timestamp and peak acceleration — useful for insurance claims and supply-chain quality monitoring.
Remote Controls & Presentation Pointers
Air-mouse functionality: the gyroscope tracks angular motion while the accelerometer provides tilt compensation. The gesture recognition engine enables "shake to pair" and "flip to mute" without dedicated buttons. Current draw in gyro-only mode (~300 µA) is negligible for AAA or coin-cell-powered remotes.
⚠️ Critical Design Considerations
Pitfall 1: The Configuration File Must Be Loaded After Every Power-On
The BMI270 does not retain its feature set across power cycles. After VDD and VDDIO are stable, the host must load the bmi270_config_file (provided by Bosch Sensortec as part of the sensor API) via SPI or I²C — typically ~8 KB of register writes. The sensor will NOT generate interrupts or produce valid sensor data until the config file load completes and the sensor is placed in the desired power mode. Budget ~7 ms of SPI bus time (at 10 MHz) for this initialization sequence in your boot time calculation.
Pitfall 2: LGA Package — Not Hand-Solderable, Requires Precision Reflow
The BMI270's LGA-14 package has land pads on the underside of the package, not exposed pins. Manual soldering is not feasible — assembly requires a solder paste stencil and reflow oven or vapor phase. Land pad dimensions are typically 0.225 × 0.275 mm with 0.5 mm pitch, requiring a PCB fab with minimum 3/3 mil trace/space capability and solder mask defined (SMD) pad design. For prototyping, use the SparkFun BMI270 breakout board (Qwiic interface) or Bosch's own shuttle board 3.0 evaluation platform.
Pitfall 3: Gyro Drift in Continuous Tracking Applications
The BMI270's gyroscope is optimized for intermittent motion events (gesture detection, step counting) — not continuous dead-reckoning. In VR headset and body-tracking applications where the gyro integrates angular velocity over many seconds without external correction (camera frames, magnetometer), the BMI270 exhibits higher drift than competing IMUs purpose-built for continuous tracking (ICM-20689, ICM-42688). The SlimeVR open-source body-tracking community has documented this limitation extensively. For wearable activity classification, this is not an issue — the gyro is used in short bursts for gesture detection, not continuous integration.
Development Ecosystem
Evaluation Hardware
| Platform | What It Is | Interface | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch Shuttle Board 3.0 | Official evaluation board with BMI270 application board + socket | USB via Bosch Dev Desktop 2.0 | Register-level evaluation, feature testing, data logging |
| SparkFun BMI270 Breakout (Qwiic) | Breakout board with Qwiic (I²C) connector | I²C (Qwiic/Stemma QT) or SPI pad | Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and general prototyping |
| NUCLEO-F401RE + X-NUCLEO-IKS01A3 | ST Nucleo + MEMS expansion board (includes BMI270-compatible sensor) | I²C via Arduino header | STM32-based prototyping with STM32Cube ecosystem |
Software & Drivers
Bosch BMI270 Sensor API: Official C library on GitHub (boschsensortec/BMI270_SensorAPI) — includes config file, initialization sequence, and data-read examples. MIT-licensed.
Bosch Dev Desktop 2.0: Windows GUI for register-level configuration, real-time sensor data visualization, and feature evaluation (step counter, gesture recognition).
Zephyr RTOS Driver: Mainline Zephyr sensor driver (sensor/bmi270) — production-ready, supports both I²C and SPI, includes config file loading and FIFO management.
Arduino Library: SparkFun BMI270 Arduino library — simplified I²C interface for rapid prototyping on Arduino Uno, Nano 33 BLE, and ESP32.
Android Sensor HAL: Standard Android sensor HAL interface — the BMI270 is enumerated as a standard TYPE_ACCELEROMETER + TYPE_GYROSCOPE composite sensor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between BMI270 and BMI160?
The BMI270 is the direct successor to the BMI160 (same LGA-14 package, same 2.5×3.0mm footprint). Key improvements: 685 µA vs 925 µA 6-axis current (35% reduction), 120 µg/√Hz vs 180 µg/√Hz accel noise (33% lower), and the addition of the on-chip gesture/activity/context interrupt engine (the BMI160 only has basic any-motion/no-motion detection). The BMI270 also requires a configuration file load after power-on; the BMI160 does not. For new wearable designs, always choose BMI270 over BMI160 — the power savings alone justify the switch.
Do I need the config file, and how do I load it?
Yes, the config file is mandatory. The BMI270 will not produce valid data until bmi270_config_file is loaded. The file is included in Bosch's BMI270 Sensor API as a C header array. Your initialization sequence after power-on should be: (1) wait for VDD/VDDIO stable, (2) perform soft-reset via register write, (3) wait 1 ms, (4) upload config file via burst SPI/I²C write (~8 KB), (5) verify config upload status register, (6) configure power mode and ODR, (7) begin reading sensor data. The entire sequence takes ~7 ms at 10 MHz SPI.
Is the BMI270 pin-compatible with the BMI160 or other Bosch IMUs?
Yes — the BMI160, BMI260, BMI270, and BMI323 all share the same LGA-14 footprint (2.5×3.0mm) with identical pin assignments. This allows a single PCB design to support multiple Bosch IMU generations with a BOM-line-item swap. However, the configuration sequence differs between generations (some need config files, others do not) — firmware must be aware of which IMU is populated.
Can the BMI270 be used for drone flight controllers (like the BMI088)?
No. The BMI270 is optimized for low-power intermittent motion sensing in wearables — not the continuous high-frequency vibration environment of a drone flight controller. The BMI088's architecture (separate accel + gyro MEMS dies, vibration-immune gyro design, wider accel range up to ±24g) is specifically engineered for UAVs. Using a BMI270 in a drone FC will result in gyro saturation during aggressive maneuvers and noise coupling from motor vibration.
How does the BMI270 perform for VR full-body tracking (SlimeVR)?
The SlimeVR open-source community has tested the BMI270 extensively for full-body tracking and reports below-average gyro drift performance compared to the ICM-20948, BNO085, and ICM-42688-P. The BMI270's gyro was designed for short-burst gesture detection (milliseconds), not continuous angular integration over multiple seconds. If your application requires dead-reckoning without frequent external correction (camera, magnetometer), the BMI270 is not recommended — choose the ICM-20948 (9-axis with magnetometer) or BNO085 (9-axis with on-chip sensor fusion) instead.
Does the BMI270 include a magnetometer?
No. The BMI270 is a 6-axis IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope only). If your application requires absolute heading (compass), use the BMM150 magnetometer as a companion chip, or switch to the BNO055 which integrates a 9-axis IMU + on-chip sensor fusion coprocessor. The BMI270 can be paired with an external magnetometer and the host MCU runs the 9-axis fusion algorithm (e.g., Madgwick, Mahony, or Bosch's proprietary fusion library).
What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
Contact SUPERB Automation for a tailored quote. We support small prototype quantities through full production volumes. Send your BOM to pcba@superb-tech.com — we quote within hours. For prototyping, we recommend pairing your BMI270 order with the SparkFun BMI270 breakout board or Bosch shuttle board for immediate evaluation.
Ordering Information
| Orderable Part Number | Package | Packaging | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMI270 | LGA-14 (2.5×3.0×0.8mm) | Tape & Reel (10,000 pcs/reel) | −40°C to +85°C |
Design Resources
Datasheet: BMI270 Datasheet (BST-BMI270-DS000, Rev 1.6, March 2026) — Electrical characteristics, mechanical drawings, register map
Sensor API: Bosch Sensortec BMI270 Sensor API (GitHub: boschsensortec/BMI270_SensorAPI) — C driver, config file, and example code
Application Notes:
Bosch AN-011: BMI270 Power Mode Configuration and Optimization
Bosch AN-012: BMI270 Interrupt Configuration for Activity Recognition
Bosch AN-013: BMI270 PCB Land Pattern and Reflow Profile Recommendations
Footprint / Symbol: Available from SnapEDA, Ultra Librarian — LGA-14, 2.5×3.0mm, 14-pad land pattern (SMD, 0.5mm pitch)
IBIS Model: Available from Bosch Sensortec for I²C/SPI bus SI simulation
Reference Schematic: Included in Bosch Shuttle Board 3.0 documentation — power supply decoupling, I²C pull-up values, and SPI routing
Request a Quote
SUPERB Automation supplies genuine Bosch Sensortec BMI270 6-axis IMUs with full traceability. Whether you need tape-and-reel quantities for production or a small batch with an evaluation kit (SparkFun BMI270 breakout or Bosch shuttle board), we deliver.
Send your BOM or inquiry to pcba@superb-tech.com — we quote within hours. Include your anticipated annual volume and whether you require the companion BMM150 magnetometer or BNO055 9-axis fusion IMU for a complete motion-sensing solution.
SUPERB Automation — We Make It Real. Since 2000.