Vape Pen's New Processor Signals End of Chip Shortage
A vape pen, priced at $30, now comes equipped with a processor that was highly sought after during the global chip shortage, which began less than three years ago. This shift signals the end of the scarcity that plagued the industry.
During the shortage, alternative chips were scarce and significantly more expensive. The STM32F103 chip, manufactured by STMicroelectronics, was one such component. With production facilities primarily in France, Italy, and Singapore, its availability was limited. Now, the same vape pen includes a touchscreen and a Bluetooth LE chip, demonstrating the current abundance of components.
The chip shortage also impacted other industries. Designers of FPV goggles had to redesign their firmware due to the unavailability of a specific microcontroller chip. Similarly, obtaining 4 MB SPI flash was challenging during the shortage. Today, the same vape pen includes 16 MB of external SPI Flash, reflecting the current ease of sourcing components.
The current abundance of chips allows designers to order parts without fear of scarcity. This $30 vape pen, with its advanced features, is a testament to the improved availability of components, marking a significant turnaround from the chip shortage era.
