What’s Raspberry Pi?

Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized single-board computer produced by Raspberry Pi Foundation in the UK. Even though developed for children to love coding and electronics, Raspberry Pi has become more popular than planned due to its low cost and open source. After the introduction of the second model, the foundation established a new company called Raspberry Pi Trading, and Eben Upton was assigned as the foundation CEO.

First, let's learn what Single Board Computer is to understand Raspberry Pi models well.

What’s Single Board Computer(SBC)?

Computers built on a printed circuit board (PCB) that contains a microprocessor, RAM, GPIO pins, and all the essential features for a computer are called "Single Board Computer." In contrast to the computers we use in daily life, SBCs consume less power and have a smaller size. SBCs, which typically have ARM architecture, also have models with x86 processors. Since SBCs are not hardware replaceable, they provide more security to their customers. SBCs are used in various areas such as smart homes, automotive, and health.

Raspberry Pi Models

Raspberry Pi has released many models to keep up to date for different usage areas. Let's check these models together!

Raspberry Pi Pico(2021):

Raspberry Pi Pico

Raspberry Pi Pico is not a mini-computer like other Raspberry Pi models. It's a board like an Arduino. You can purchase from this link.

Technical Specifications:

• Form factor: 21 mm × 51 mm
• CPU: Dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ @ 133MHz
• Memory: 264KB on-chip SRAM; 2MB on-board QSPI flash
• Interfacing: 26 GPIO pins, including 3 analog inputs
• Peripherals:
  • 2 × UART
  • 2 × SPI controllers
  • 2 × I2C controllers
  • 16 × PWM channels
  • 1 × USB 1.1 controller and PHY, with host and device support
  • 8 × PIO state machines Input power: 1.8–5.5V DC
• Operating temperature: -20°C to +85°C

Raspberry Pi 400 (2020):

Raspberry Pi 400

Raspberry Pi introduced the Raspberry Pi 400 in 2020 to help people adapt to remote work and online education caused by COVID-19. Raspberry Pi 400, which has the same technical features as the Raspberry Pi 4, is a computer placed into the keyboard. Since it has 2 micro HDMI ports, you can increase your productivity by using dual screens on Raspberry Pi 400.

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.8GHz
• Memory: 4GB LPDDR4-3200
• Connectivity:
  • Dual-band (2.4GHz and 5.0GHz) IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • 2 × USB 3.0 and 1 × USB 2.0 ports
• GPIO: Horizontal 40-pin GPIO header
• Video & Sound: 2 × micro HDMI ports (supports up to 4Kp60)
• Multimedia: 265 (4Kp60 decode); H.264 (1080p60 decode, 1080p30 encode); OpenGL ES 3.0 graphics
• SD Card Support: MicroSD card is slow for the operating system and data storage.
• Keyboard: 78-, 79- or 83-key compact keyboard (depending on regional variant)
• Power: 5V DC via USB connector
• Operating temperature: 0°C to +50°C
• Dimensions: 286 mm x 122 mm x 23 mm (maximum)

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B:

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

Raspberry Pi 4 comes with a lot of innovations. The previous model's 1GB RAM (LPDDR2 type), has been upgraded to options of 2GB and 4GB LPDDR4-3200 RAM in the new model. In addition, Raspberry Pi 4's quad-core 64-bit processors run at a frequency of 1.5GHz. You can purchase from this link.

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: Broadcom BCM2711, quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC @ 1.5GHz
• Memory: 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB LPDDR4 (depending on model)
• Connectivity:
  • 4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • 2 × USB 3.0 ports
  • 2 × USB 2.0 ports.
• GPIO: Standard 40-pin GPIO header
• Video & Sound:
  • 2 × micro-HDMI ports (up to 4Kp60 supported)
  • 2-lane MIPI DSI display port
  • 2-lane MIPI CSI camera port
  • 4-pole stereo audio and composite video port
• Multimedia:
  • 265 (4Kp60 decode)
  • 264 (1080p60 decode, 1080p30 encode)
  • OpenGL ES, 3.0 graphics
• SD Card Support: Micro SD card slot for loading operating system and data storage.
• Input Power:
  • 5V DC via USB-C connector (minimum 3A1)
  • 5V DC via GPIO header (minimum 3A1)
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE)–enabled (requires separate PoE HAT)
• Environment: Operating temperature 0-50°C

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+:

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+

This is the latest product in the Raspberry Pi 3 range. You can purchase from this link.

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: Broadcom BCM2837B0, Cortex-A53 64-bit SoC @ 1.4GHzMemory: 1GB, 2GB or 4GB LPDDR4 (depending on model)
• Memory: 1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM
• Connectivity:
  • 4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE
  • Gigabit Ethernet over USB 2.0 (maximum throughput 300Mbps)
  • 4 × USB 2.0 ports.
• Access: Extended 40-pin GPIO header
• Video & Sound:
  • 1 × full-size HDMI 2-lane MIPI DSI display port.
  • MIPI DSI display port.
  • MIPI CSI display port.
  • 4 pole stereo output and composite video port.
• Multimedia: 264, MPEG-4 decode (1080p30); H.264 encode (1080p30); OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0 graphics.
• SD Card Support: Micro SD format for loading operating system and data storage.
• Input Power:
  • 5V/2.5A DC via micro-USB connector.
  • 5V DC via GPIO header
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE)–enabled (requires separate PoE HAT)
• Environment: Operating temperature 0-50°C

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B:

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: Broadcom BCM2387 chipset.
  • 2GHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A53
  • 11 b/g/n Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 4.1 (Bluetooth Classic and LE)
• GPU: Dual Core VideoCore IV® Multimedia Co-Processor. Provides Open GL ES 2.0, hardware-accelerated OpenVG, and 1080p30 H.264 high-profile decode. Capable of 1Gpixel/s, 1.5Gtexel/s or 24GFLOPs with texture filtering and DMA infrastructure
• Memory: 1GB LPDDR2
• Operating System: Boots from a Micro SD card, running a version of the Linux operating system or Windows 10 IoT
• Connectors:
  • Ethernet: 10/100 BaseT Ethernet socket
  • Video Output:
    • HDMI (rev 1.3 & 1.4)
    • Composite RCA (PAL and NTSC)
  • Audio Output:
    • Audio Output 3.5mm jack, HDMI
    • USB 4 x USB 2.0 Connector
  • GPIO Connector:
    • 40-pin 2.54 mm (100 mil) expansion header: 2x20 strip
    • Providing 27 GPIO pins as well as +3.3 V, +5 V and GND supply lines
  • Camera Connector: 15-pin MIPI Camera Serial Interface (CSI-2)
  • Display Connector: Display Serial Interface (DSI) 15-way flat flex cable connector with two data lanes and a clock lane.
  • Memory Card Slot: Push/pull Micro SDIO

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W:

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, is the latest product in the most affordable range among single-board computers.

Technical Specifications:

• Form Factor: 65mm x 30mm
• Processor: Broadcom BCM2710A1, quad-core 64-bit SoC(Arm Cortex-A53@1GHz)
• Memory: 512MB LPDDR2
• Connectivity:
  • 4GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2, BLE, onboard antenna
  • 1 × USB 2.0 interface with OTG
  • HAT-compatible 40-pin I/O header footprint.
  • microSD card slot
  • Mini HDMI port
  • CSI-2 camera connector
• Video:
  • HDMI interface
  • Composite Video
• Multimedia:
  • 264, MPEG-4 decode(1080p30)
  • 264 encode(1080p30)
  • OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0 graphics
• Input Power: 5V DC 2.5A
• Operating Temperature: -20°C to +70°C

Raspberry Pi 2 Model B :

Raspberry Pi 2, Model B

Technical Specifications:

• Processor: Broadcom BCM2836 SoC
• Core Architecture: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7
• Memory: 1GB LPDDR2
• Power: Micro USB socket 5V, 2A
• Operating System: Boots from a Micro SD card, running a version of the Linux operating system
• GPU: Dual Core VideoCore IV® Multimedia Co-Processor Provides Open GL ES 2.0, hardware accelerated OpenVG, and 1080p30 H.264 high-profile decode Capable of 1Gpixel/s, 1.5Gtexel/s or 24GFLOPs with texture filtering, and DMA infrastructure
• CPU: 900MHz
• Connectivity:
  • 10/100 BaseT Ethernet socket
  • HDMI (rev 1.3 & 1.4)
  • 5mm jack, HDMI
  • 4 x USB 2.0 Connector
  • 40-pin 2.54 mm (100 mil) expansion header: 2x20 strip Providing 27 GPIO pins as well as +3.3 V, +5 V and GND supply lines
  • 15-PIN MIPI Camera Serial Interface (CSI-2)
  • Display Serial Interface (DSI) 15-way flat flex cable connector with two data lanes and a clock lane.
  • Micro SDIO

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+:

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+

• Processor: Broadcom BCM2837B0, Cortex-A53 64-bit SoC @ 1.4 GHz
• Memory: 512MB LPDDR2 SDRAM
• Connectivity: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz IEE 802.11.b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2/BLE
• Access: Extended 40-pin GPIO header
• Video & Sound: 1 × full-size HDMI MIPI DSI display port MIPI CSI camera port 4 pole stereo output and composite video port.
• Multimedia: H.264, MPEG-4 decode (1080p30); H.264 encode (1080p30); OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0 graphics
• SD Card Support: Micro SD format for loading operating system and data storage.
• Environment: Operating temperature, 0-50°C
• Input Power:
  • 5V/2.5 A DC via micro-USB connector
  • 5V DC via GPIO header.

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+

Raspberry Pi vs Arduino