Buying Micro:bit V1 in 2026?
Our position, and other voices worth reading before you decide.
Our position
Do not buy new V1 boards. Keep existing V1 class sets running as long as they still work.
V2 adds a microphone, speaker, and touch-logo sensor. Three sensors that unlock entire categories of lessons (sound-reactive animations, voice-triggered experiments, capacitive-touch interfaces) that V1 cannot run. V2 sells at the same $15 price point as V1. The only reason to buy V1 is 'it was on clearance' - and clearance pricing on a superseded revision is a warning sign, not a bargain.
Other voices
Reputable sources worth reading before you decide. Labels reflect our honest read of each source's general stance, not direct quotes.
Micro:bit Foundation (V2 release notes)
Broadly agreesThe Foundation published the V1 to V2 differences explicitly. The new-sensors list is not marketing - it is the feature set.
Schools with V1 inventory
Nuanced / mixedExisting V1 boards still work, still run MakeCode, still cover most of the core curriculum. Throwing them away to standardize on V2 is wasteful. Keep running V1, add V2 as the fleet expands or replaces dead V1s.
Clearance-price shoppers
Pushes backSome sellers clear V1 at a few dollars below V2. The savings do not justify losing three sensors for the next five years.