The original Micro:bit V1 (left) remains a powerful tool for teaching data logging and IoT fundamentals, even alongside the feature-rich V2 (right) produced using ChatGPT
Introduction
Before you drop those original Micro:bit V1 boards into the recycling bin, ask yourself this: what if the board without all the bells and whistles is actually the better teaching tool? As we move further into 2026, many educators find their storage bins filled with V1 boards — the ones without the notched gold edge connectors. With the V2 boasting a built-in microphone, speaker, touch-sensitive logo, and a faster processor, it's tempting to assume the V1 is obsolete. But is it really? The answer, perhaps surprisingly, depends entirely on what you are trying to teach — and the V1 makes a far stronger case for itself than most people expect.
The Technical Trade-off
To be fair to both boards, the V2 is the clear winner for AI, audio, and machine learning projects — and if your budget allows, it is the better long-term investment for a modern curriculum. The extra hardware opens up genuinely exciting new lesson possibilities that simply aren't possible on the V1.
However, when it comes to teaching the fundamentals of Data Science and Physical Computing, the V1 has a surprising advantage: its limitations. Because it has less 'built-in magic,' students are forced to engage with the mechanics of how hardware and software actually talk to each other. Without the V2's internal logging memory, students must learn to use Serial Communication to stream data via USB to a computer, or Radio Transmission to send data wirelessly from a 'Remote Probe' to a 'Base Station.' These are genuine, real-world Internet of Things (IoT) skills — the kind used by engineers building environmental monitors, weather stations, and smart building sensors every day.
There is a strong pedagogical argument here: when a tool does everything for you, you learn to use the tool. When a tool makes you work for the result, you learn to understand the process. The V1 sits firmly in the second camp, and in a classroom context, that is often exactly where you want to be.
It is also worth noting a practical reality: many schools simply cannot afford to replace entire sets of V1 boards overnight. Rather than seeing this as a problem, it is worth reframing it as an opportunity. A classroom with a mixed set of V1 and V2 boards can actually run richer, more differentiated lessons — using the V2 for AI and audio exploration while deploying the V1 as dedicated data-logging sensors.
Project Idea: Magnetic Field Logging
One of the most effective and accessible V1 classroom activities is using the board's built-in magnetometer to detect and visualise invisible magnetic forces. It requires no additional hardware, no extra cost, and produces genuinely interesting results that link naturally to physics, mathematics, and data analysis.
By coding a simple loop using 'Serial Write Value' commands, students can stream live magnetic field readings directly to a computer and export the results as a CSV file — turning what looks like an 'old' piece of kit into a high-precision scientific instrument. Rolling a magnet towards the sensor, or letting it rock back and forth, produces clear oscillating wave patterns in the data that students can then analyse in Excel or Google Sheets. It is a simple setup with a surprisingly rich learning payoff.
For a full walkthrough, the following posts on this blog cover exactly this, with code examples and real results:
- DIY Data Science with Microbits — a complete guide to data logging methods with the V1, including both local USB logging and remote radio-based logging
- Detecting and Logging Magnetism with a Microbit — a step-by-step experiment with real data traces and both MakeCode blocks and MicroPython versions
The Verdict
Don't bin your V1s — but do be honest about what they are best suited for. They are not the right tool for every lesson, and if you are teaching AI, speech recognition, or audio projects, the V2 is the board you want in students' hands. But as dedicated environmental sensors, data-logging probes, or radio-linked remote monitoring stations, the V1 remains durable, energy-efficient, and fully compatible with both the modern MakeCode editor and the MicroPython editor. Sometimes the older, simpler tool teaches the deeper lesson — and in 2026, the V1 still has plenty left to give.
Over to You
Still using V1s in your classroom, club, or at home? Fantastic. Try the magnetic field logging experiment linked above and share how it goes in the comments below. If you have found other creative uses for your older boards — whether in a school lab, a maker space, or on the kitchen table — drop them in the comments too. And if this post has convinced you to dust off a forgotten box of V1s, the best place to start is the DIY Data Science guide — everything you need is already there and waiting.
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