One of the methods which Acorn used to lower its prices was to increase integration of its computer components via a specialised circuit and to simplify the motherboard. The Electron did not have the 6845 graphics controller, memory controller, serial I/O control and BBC timerchips. These were all replaced by the ULAs (Uncommitted Logic Array), an all-in-one circuit (to a greater or lesser extent).

This computer was, via a cable, able to download programs and save these to a taperecorder.