The Raspberry Pi is a small and cheap single-board laptop that has offered tens of hundreds of thousands of items because it first launched in 2012. It began life as a venture supposed to get youngsters extra enthusiastic about laptop science, however quickly grew to become a preferred alternative for tinkerers and DIY fans.
Because the very first Raspberry Pi Mannequin A was launched, the line-up has expanded to incorporate a spread of fashions which might be suited to completely different wants. In case you’re searching for the right mannequin on your subsequent tech venture, then listed here are the very best Raspberry Pi fashions to decide on proper now.
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Greatest Raspberry Pi fashions: Our high picks
Raspberry Pi 5
1. Greatest Raspberry Pi total
Essentially the most highly effective Raspberry Pi to this point
The most recent mannequin of the Raspberry Pi is probably the most highly effective model but, with a 2.4GHz 64-bit quad-core processor and new RP1 I/O controller. There’s additionally a bodily energy button, and a real-time clock on board for the primary time.
- Twice as quick because the Raspberry Pi 4
- New in-house silicon
- Bodily energy button
- No audio jack
- 8GB mannequin is pricey for a Pi
The latest addition to the Raspberry Pi line-up is probably the most highly effective Raspberry Pi to this point. Powered by a 2.4GHz quad-core CPU, and out there with as much as 8GB of RAM, the Raspberry Pi 5 is as much as 3 times as quick because the Pi 4. It is also the primary Raspberry Pi to incorporate in-house silicon, with the brand new RP1 I/O controller that was designed by the Raspberry Pi workforce in Cambridge, UK.
The Raspberry Pi 5 is a delight to make use of.
The Raspberry Pi 5 has loads of upgrades, however do you want all that additional horsepower? I put it to the take a look at.
The Raspberry Pi 5 provides a few much-requested options within the type of a bodily energy swap that provides each exhausting and mushy power-off, and a real-time clock (RTC) that may run from a chargeable cell. The composite audio/video port from the Raspberry Pi 4 is now not with us, nevertheless.
The Raspberry Pi 5 is probably the most versatile Pi out there, with sufficient energy and options to satisfy the wants of the vast majority of tasks.
Raspberry Pi 4 Mannequin B
2. Greatest Raspberry Pi for audio
Highly effective Pi with on-board composite AV port.
The Raspberry Pi 4 has greater than sufficient energy for a lot of wants, together with as much as 8GB RAM, a 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, Gigabit Ethernet, and USB 3.0 ports. It additionally has an on-board audio/video port, one thing that is lacking from its greater brother.
- As much as 8GB RAM
- Audio/video port
- Twin 4K show help
- Can run sizzling
- No bodily energy button
If you would like a Raspberry Pi that may deal with just about something you’ll be able to throw at it, with out the necessity for the even better energy of the Raspberry Pi 5, then the Raspberry Pi 4 B is what you want. You should buy it configured with as much as 8GB of RAM to deal with the extra intensive duties.
In addition to on-board Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Raspberry Pi 4 B additionally consists of two USB 3.0 ports for quicker switch charges and two micro-HDMI ports that help 4K at as much as 60Hz, so you’ll be able to take pleasure in your retro video games on a 4K gaming monitor for some severe overkill. There’s additionally a composite audio/video port on board. If you would like a Raspberry Pi that has an honest quantity of energy, then the Raspberry Pi 4 B is the best way to go.
Raspberry Pi 400
3. Greatest Raspberry Pi for coding
A Raspberry Pi constructed inside a keyboard
If you wish to use your Raspberry Pi to study to code, or to make use of as an all-in-one PC, then the Raspberry Pi 400 provides you all the facility of a Raspberry Pi 4 B constructed into a classy keyboard.
- Constructed-in keyboard
- Inner heatsink
- Sooner clock pace
- No ports for cameras or touchscreens
- Dear for a Raspberry Pi
If you wish to use a Raspberry Pi 4 B as a private laptop, you may want a couple of equipment, together with an influence provide, monitor, mouse, and a keyboard. The Raspberry Pi 400 takes a kind of equipment out of the equation by constructing the identical parts from the Raspberry Pi 4 B right into a keyboard. In reality, due to the big inner heatsink, the 64-bit CPU within the Raspberry Pi 400 runs at 1.8 GHZ in comparison with 1.5GHz within the Pi 4 B.
Greatest Raspberry Pi case: Defend your tiny supercomputer
The proper instances to maintain your Raspberry Pi protected.
It is an amazing alternative if you wish to use your Raspberry Pi as an all-in-one PC, however you’ll be able to nonetheless connect with the GPIO pins when you’ve got {hardware} tasks in thoughts. There are not any connectors for connecting digicam modules or touchscreen shows, however you need to use a USB digicam module as a substitute.
Raspberry Pi 3 B+
4. Greatest worth Raspberry Pi
A cheap possibility
In case you do not want the upper specs of the Raspberry Pi 4 B, the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ can nonetheless provide onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and 1GB of RAM at a extra reasonably priced worth.
- Nice bang on your buck
- 1GB RAM
- On-board Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Might lack the RAM for some tasks
In case your Raspberry Pi venture would not require an enormous quantity of grunt, and also you’re seeking to do issues as economically as doable, then a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ could also be an excellent match. For instance, should you’re seeking to construct your personal retro video games console utilizing RetroPie, the 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM is sufficient to run most video games with out concern.
The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ nonetheless comes with on-board Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making it an amazing possibility for constructing your personal good residence hub utilizing software program similar to Residence Assistant.
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Raspberry Pi Zero W
5. Greatest Raspberry Pi for small tasks
Small however mighty
The Raspberry Pi Zero W will not be probably the most highly effective Raspberry Pi, however it nonetheless packs 512MB of RAM and onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth into its tiny footprint. An amazing possibility for dipping your toe into the Raspberry Pi world.
- Tiny footprint
- Very low energy consumption
- On-board Wi-Fi
- No GPIO header
- Solely 512MB of RAM
The Raspberry Pi Zero W is likely one of the smallest fashions out there, however it manages to pack rather a lot right into a small area, with a 1GHz single-core processor, 512MB of RAM, and on-board Bluetooth. Not like the usual Zero, the Zero W additionally consists of built-in Wi-Fi which opens up a world of artistic choices. Regardless of its small measurement you’ll be able to nonetheless connect full-size parts similar to a digicam module utilizing an adapter cable.
Reasonably priced sufficient to go well with virtually any venture, the Raspberry Pi Zero W additionally consists of pads to solder a 40-pin GPIO header to the board. In case your soldering abilities aren’t the very best, you’ll be able to as a substitute go for the Raspberry Pi Zero WH, which comes with the GPIO header pre-soldered. The extra highly effective Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W features a quad-core processor, however it’s a lot more durable to pay money for on the time of writing.
Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040
6. Greatest Raspberry Pi for {hardware} tasks
A microcontroller for {hardware} tasks
The Raspberry Pi Pico W is a microcontroller somewhat than a microprocessor and is designed for bodily computing tasks the place it could possibly management motors, LEDS, sensors, and extra. The Pico W consists of on-board Wi-Fi to permit distant management or distant sensor readings.
- On-board Wi-Fi
- Extremely reasonably priced
- Programmable utilizing MicroPython and C/C++
The Raspberry Pi Pico W is a little bit completely different from the opposite choices on this checklist, as it is a microcontroller supposed to manage or talk with bodily bits of package similar to sensors or motors. It is best suited to {hardware} tasks whereas the usual Raspberry Pi is what you’d want for extra software-based tasks similar to constructing a media server.
The 2 ARM Cortex-M0+ cores run at as much as 133MHz, and there is 264kB of SRAM. The Pico W provides on-board Wi-Fi to the favored Raspberry Pi Pico, permitting you to make use of the Pico W to construct distant sensors which you can incorporate into your private home automation set-up. The Raspberry Pi Pico W I/O voltage is 3.3V so powering 5V relays, for instance, requires a little bit tinkering.
The underside line: What’s the finest Raspberry Pi?
In case you’re searching for a Raspberry Pi that may deal with something you’ll be able to throw at it, then look no additional than the Raspberry Pi 5. Essentially the most highly effective Raspberry Pi within the line-up, it is greater than able to dealing with most issues which you can throw at it. Even should you do not intend to reap the benefits of as much as 8GB of RAM or 2.4GHz quad-core processor in your present venture, a Raspberry Pi 5 provides you loads of headroom should you resolve you wish to create one thing extra intensive on your subsequent venture.
Raspberry Pi 5
Editor’s Alternative
Cables: who wants them? If, like me, the area behind your TV is a multitude of HDMI cables, charging cables, and extra, you may take any alternative to scale back the variety of cables you want for any venture. That is why all of the choices on the checklist include on-board Wi-Fi. You should buy Raspberry Pi fashions that do not embody Wi-Fi, however the alternative between paying a tiny bit extra for a Wi-Fi mannequin or working a Cat 5 cable round your total residence is an easy one.
I’ve additionally tried to incorporate choices to cowl most use instances; a Raspberry Pi 4 B could be good for a lot of makes use of, however for others, a Raspberry Pi Pico W could be the only option. Finally, it depends upon the venture you wish to full, and your plans for a way you may use your Raspberry Pi sooner or later. One key consideration was the present availability of various fashions; inventory ranges do fluctuate, and a few fashions are more durable to pay money for than others.
The right way to Select a Raspberry Pi
If you’re making your alternative, there are some things to bear in mind.
How is my Raspberry Pi powered?
That is one thing to consider whenever you’re making your buy, as a result of completely different fashions of Raspberry Pi require completely different chargers. For instance, a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ has a micro-USB port for the facility cable, however the Raspberry Pi 4 B has a USB-C port. You will have to make sure that you will have the precise sort of energy provide to suit your mannequin.
What’s on board my Raspberry Pi?
Because the Raspberry Pi has developed, an increasing number of has been added to it. With every new mannequin, extra options have been included. Meaning should you’re going for an older mannequin, it might be lacking a few of the options that you simply want.
For instance, the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ is dual-band, so gives help for each 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz Wi-Fi. The Raspberry Pi 3 B solely helps 2.4GHz. It is necessary to verify the specs of the mannequin you are considering of shopping for to make sure that it has all of the options that you simply want.
What Raspberry Pi fashions are presently out there?
The recognition of the Raspberry Pi far outstripped expectations. Coupled with the worldwide pandemic, the demand for the Raspberry Pi can typically outstrip provide. Because of this some fashions will be out of inventory for lengthy durations, or enhance in worth on some web sites if inventory is low. The makers of the Raspberry Pi are assured that every thing is again on observe with manufacturing, so hopefully low inventory ranges ought to grow to be much less of a problem.
What can I make with a Raspberry Pi?
The vary of tasks you can also make utilizing numerous fashions of Raspberry Pi is gigantic. Some in style makes use of embody:
- Retro gaming consoles
- Media streaming
- Wi-Fi extenders
- Constructing a retro laptop computer
- Community-wide advert blocking
- Good mirrors
A Raspberry Pi can be an amazing possibility for working residence automation software program similar to Residence Assistant to create your personal good residence hub. With a Raspberry Pi and some equipment, you can begin automating your entire good residence devices by way of one single hub.