RISC-V is not simply a cheaper ARM alternative. It changes the economics and customization model of embedded processors. This is an English DEV.to draft based on a Silicon LogiX technical article. The canonical source is linked at the end. Why it matters ARM remains dominant because its ecosystem is mature, predictable and deeply integrated into industrial tooling. RISC-V is attractive because it opens the instruction set, reduces licensing friction and enables domain-specific extensions. Architecture notes ARM offers a proven path across Cortex-M, Cortex-A, safety profiles and vendor toolchains. RISC-V separates the ISA from the implementation, allowing vendors to create differentiated cores. For MCU-class products, the decision often depends on peripheral quality, SDK maturity and debug support. For edge AI and accelerators, RISC-V can be compelling when custom instructions or tightly coupled coprocessors matter.…