Smaller RF Test Connectors Cut Board Space 40%
Murata's SWL series, now in mass production, targets denser wireless hardware, with dedicated probes arriving in December 2026.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Semiconductors
Murata Manufacturing has begun mass production of its SWL series MM8330-2600RJ5 and MM8330-2600RK20 RF test connectors, which measure 1.0 mm × 1.0 mm × 0.55 mm. The product is shipping now, and Murata plans to start mass production of dedicated probes in December 2026.
Why it matters
Rising component counts in wireless devices leave limited PCB space, and RF test connectors need clearance around each component for probe access during measurement. Shrinking that footprint is part of a broader push toward smaller parts for more compact smartphones and wearables.
The manufacturer reports a 50 Ω nominal impedance and a usable frequency range from DC to 15 GHz, with reel quantities of 5,000 and 20,000 pieces. The source does not include independent measurements, and the release does not disclose pricing.
The players
Murata Manufacturing
A Japanese electronic components maker whose RF and mechanical design expertise underpins compact connectors for wireless devices.
The details
The connectors use a proprietary structure that combines Murata's RF design, which governs how high-frequency signals travel, with its mechanical design, which governs physical fit and retention. Because the connector is smaller, it occupies less board area, and the dedicated probe, which is the measurement tip that touches the test point, needs less clearance around that point. Together these changes cut the footprint that engineers must reserve on the circuit board for testing.
Timeline
Mass production of the SWL series MM8330-2600RJ5 and MM8330-2600RK20 connectors has begun.
Murata plans to start mass production of dedicated probes in December 2026.
The Tech Race
The SWL series is a successor to Murata's own SWJ series, which measures 1.4 mm × 1.2 mm × 0.65 mm. The move to smaller RF test connectors fits a field-level trend toward denser wireless hardware, though the source does not name competing products.
Engineers designing wireless devices can use the smaller connector to reserve less circuit-board space for test access. The source does not state pricing or a general availability date beyond the reel quantities.
The takeaway
Watch for the December 2026 start of dedicated-probe mass production, which will show whether the roughly 60% footprint reduction holds at volume. Independent measurements of the 15 GHz performance would also help confirm the manufacturer's claims.
What happens next
Murata plans to begin mass production of dedicated probes in December 2026, the next scheduled milestone for this product line.
Further reading
For more on the component supply chain behind compact wireless devices, see the Semiconductors section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ELE Times.
