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ICM-42688-P
The ICM-42688-P is TDK InvenSense's flagship 6-axis MEMS IMU, combining a best-in-class 3-axis gyroscope with an ultra-low-noise 3-axis accelerometer in a compact 2.5x3.0x0.91mm LGA-14 package. With a gyroscope Angle Random Walk (ARW) of just 2.8 mdps/rtHz and accelerometer noise density of 70 ug/rtHz, it achieves navigation-grade precision at consumer price points. The 16-bit ADC, selectable gyro ranges up to 2000 dps, SPI up to 24 MHz (and I3C/I2C), 2KB FIFO, and 0.88mA low-noise power consumption make it the go-to IMU for drones, robotics, AR/VR, gimbal stabilization, and high-accuracy industrial motion sensing.
Product Specifications
ICM-42688-P - TDK InvenSense 6-Axis MEMS IMU, High-Precision Gyro + Accel
TDK InvenSense - 3-Axis Gyroscope + 3-Axis Accelerometer, 2.8 mdps/rtHz ARW, 0.88mA, LGA-14 2.5x3mm
MFR Part #: ICM-42688-PSuperb SKU: SUP-ICM-42688-P
In Stock - Ready to Ship
The ICM-42688-P is TDK InvenSense's flagship 6-axis MEMS IMU, combining a best-in-class 3-axis gyroscope with an ultra-low-noise 3-axis accelerometer in a compact 2.5x3.0x0.91mm LGA-14 package. With a gyroscope Angle Random Walk (ARW) of just 2.8 mdps/rtHz and accelerometer noise density of 70 ug/rtHz, it achieves navigation-grade precision at consumer price points. The 16-bit ADC, selectable gyro ranges up to 2000 dps, SPI up to 24 MHz (and I3C/I2C), 2KB FIFO, and 0.88mA low-noise power consumption make it the go-to IMU for drones, robotics, AR/VR, gimbal stabilization, and high-accuracy industrial motion sensing.
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Key Performance Highlights
Gyro ARW
2.8 mdps/rtHz
Accel Noise
70 ug/rtHz
6-Axis Current
0.88 mA (Low-Noise)
Interface
SPI (24MHz) + I3C/I2C
FIFO Buffer
2 KB
Package
LGA-14 (2.5 x 3.0 mm)
Technical Specifications
| Manufacturer | TDK Corporation / InvenSense |
| Part Number | ICM-42688-P |
| Sensor Type | 6-Axis MEMS IMU (3-axis Gyro + 3-axis Accel) |
| Gyroscope Ranges | 8 settings: up to 2000 dps |
| Gyro Noise Density | 0.24 dps/rtHz |
| Gyro ARW | 2.8 mdps/rtHz (Angle Random Walk) |
| Gyro Bias Stability | ~0.5 dps/hr (typical) |
| Accelerometer Ranges | 4 settings |
| Accel Noise Density | 70 ug/rtHz |
| ADC Resolution | 16-bit (both gyro and accel) |
| Output Data Rate (ODR) | 1.5625 Hz to 8 kHz (gyro), to 8 kHz (accel) |
| Interface | SPI (up to 24 MHz) + I3C (up to 12.5 MHz) + I2C (up to 1 MHz) |
| FIFO | 2 KB (holds ~170 samples at 6-axis / 1kHz) |
| 6-Axis Current | 0.88 mA (Low-Noise mode) |
| Sleep Current | < 18 uA |
| Supply Voltage | 1.71 V to 3.6 V |
| Built-In Features | On-chip APEX motion processor, tap/double-tap, wake-on-motion, tilt, pedometer, step counter, gesture |
| Operating Temperature | -40C to +85C |
| Package | LGA-14 (2.5 mm x 3.0 mm x 0.91 mm) |
| RoHS | RoHS Compliant |
Product Details
High-Precision MEMS IMU Architecture
The ICM-42688-P is built on TDK InvenSense's advanced MEMS fabrication process, achieving gyroscope ARW of 2.8 mdps/rtHz — 10x better than previous-generation consumer IMUs like the MPU-6050. The 16-bit ADC per axis provides high-resolution digital output from 1.56 Hz to 8 kHz ODR.
APEX Motion Processor: An on-chip motion processing engine handles tap/double-tap detection, wake-on-motion, tilt detection, pedometer/step counter, and gesture recognition without loading the host MCU. This reduces system power and simplifies firmware development for battery-powered wearables and IoT sensors.
FIFO + Interrupt System: The 2KB FIFO buffers sensor data and interrupts (INT1/INT2) signal the host MCU when the FIFO reaches a threshold. Burst-read the accumulated samples, then put the MCU back to sleep — minimizing SPI bus activity and system power in duty-cycled sensor applications.
Key Applications
Drone / UAV Navigation - AHRS, attitude estimation, GPS/INS fusion, dead-reckoning
Robotics Odometry - Visual-inertial odometry (VIO), wheel odometry fusion
AR / VR Headsets - Head tracking, 6-DOF controller, inside-out tracking
Gimbal & Camera Stabilization - 3-axis gimbal control, optical image stabilization (OIS)
Industrial IMU / AHRS - Platform leveling, vibration monitoring, condition-based maintenance
Sports & Fitness - Motion analytics, swing analysis, running dynamics
Wearable Health - Fall detection, activity classification, gait analysis
High-Precision IMU Comparison
| Feature | ICM-42688-P (TDK) | ICM-20948 (TDK) | BMI270 (Bosch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor Type | 6-axis (Gyro+Accel) | 9-axis (Gyro+Accel+Mag) | 6-axis (Gyro+Accel) |
| Gyro ARW | 2.8 mdps/rtHz | ~6 mdps/rtHz | ~5 mdps/rtHz |
| Accel Noise | 70 ug/rtHz | 150 ug/rtHz | 120 ug/rtHz |
| 6-Axis Current | 0.88 mA | 2.5 mA | 0.69 mA |
| Package | LGA-14 (2.5x3mm) | QFN-24 (3x3mm) | LGA-14 (2.5x3mm) |
| Best For | Precision gyro applications | Compass-aware navigation | Ultra-low power wearables |
Why Source ICM-42688-P from Superb Automation?
Sensor System BOM - ICM-42688-P + magnetometer + barometer + MCU + power - one PO
Compact PCB Design - 0.4mm pitch LGA fanout, low-noise analog routing, vibration-isolated mounting
SMT Assembly - LGA reflow with stencil optimization for reliable solder joint formation
Sensor Calibration - We can perform basic 6-point tumble calibration and gyro bias capture in production test
25 Years Trusted - Electronic components + PCBA partner since 2000
Genuine Parts - Direct from authorized TDK/InvenSense channels, full lot traceability
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ICM-42688-P used for?
The ICM-42688-P is a high-precision 6-axis MEMS IMU for drones (AHRS/navigation), robotics (VIO/odometry), AR/VR (head tracking), gimbal stabilization, and industrial motion sensing. Its 2.8 mdps/rtHz gyro ARW enables dead-reckoning navigation without GPS — a capability rare at this price point.
What makes the ICM-42688-P different from MPU-6050 or MPU-9250?
The ICM-42688-P achieves 10x lower gyro ARW (2.8 vs ~30 mdps/rtHz), lower noise, smaller package, and sub-1mA 6-axis current. It represents two full process generations ahead of the MPU-60xx/92xx series. For any application where gyro accuracy matters — drones, robots, gimbals — the ICM-42688-P is a substantial upgrade.
Should I use SPI or I2C with the ICM-42688-P?
SPI at 24 MHz is recommended for drones, AR/VR, and any application streaming data at 1-8 kHz ODR. I3C (up to 12.5 MHz) is the modern alternative with in-band interrupts. I2C at 400 kHz or 1 MHz works for lower ODR applications like wearables where wire count matters. The interface is auto-detected at power-up.
What is the 2KB FIFO used for?
The FIFO accumulates sensor samples autonomously while the host MCU sleeps. At 1 kHz ODR with all 6 axes (12 bytes/sample), it holds ~170 samples or 170 ms of data. The MCU wakes periodically (INT1/INT2 interrupt), burst-reads the FIFO, and returns to sleep — reducing bus traffic and system power by 10-50x versus polling.
Does ICM-42688-P have a magnetometer?
No. The ICM-42688-P is a 6-axis IMU (gyro + accel only). If you need heading/compass data, pair it with an external magnetometer (e.g., AK09915 or MMC5983MA). Alternatively, the ICM-20948 provides 9-axis (gyro+accel+mag) in one package with slightly lower gyro precision.
