The Lineup
Every current Raspberry Pi model, compared on the specs that actually change what you can build. Prices are approximate October 2026 USD — a DRAM shortage has raised Pi prices several times since late 2025, so check before buying.
The full-size boards
| Pi 5 | Pi 4 Model B | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz | Quad Cortex-A72 @ 1.5 GHz |
| Real speed | ~2–3× a Pi 4 | The baseline |
| RAM | 1 / 2 / 4 / 8 / 16 GB | 1 / 2 / 4 / 8 GB |
| Storage | microSD + PCIe for NVMe | microSD (or USB SSD) |
| Video | 2× micro HDMI, 4Kp60 | 2× micro HDMI, 4Kp60 |
| USB | 2× USB 3.0, 2× USB 2.0 | 2× USB 3.0, 2× USB 2.0 |
| Network | Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5 | Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5 |
| Extras | RTC, power button, fan header | 3.5mm audio jack |
| Power | 5V/5A recommended (25W) | 5V/3A (15W) |
| Idle power | ~2.7W | ~1.0W |
| Board price ≈ | $45 (1GB) – $145 (16GB) | $60 (4GB) / $85 (8GB) |
The Pi 5's headline features: the much faster A76 CPU, the PCIe slot (NVMe SSDs via an M.2 HAT — no more SD-card bottleneck), and a real-time clock. Its hidden costs: the bigger power supply and active cooling for sustained loads.
The Pi 4's case: still fast enough for most server jobs, sips power, runs cooler, and the huge existing accessory ecosystem all fits it.
The keyboard PCs
| Pi 500 | Pi 500+ | |
|---|---|---|
| What | Pi 5 inside a keyboard | Pi 5 inside a nice keyboard |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | microSD | 256 GB NVMe built in |
| Price ≈ | $90 | $200 |
A complete desktop with no separate board/case/keyboard to buy. The 500+ (16GB + NVMe) is the only Pi I'd call a genuine daily-driver desktop.
The tiny ones
| Zero 2 W | Pico 2 W | |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Computer (runs Linux) | Microcontroller (no OS) |
| CPU | Quad Cortex-A53 @ 1 GHz | Dual Cortex-M33 @ 150 MHz |
| RAM | 512 MB | 520 KB |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Wi-Fi 4) | Yes (Wi-Fi 4) |
| Size | 65 × 30 mm | 51 × 21 mm |
| Power | ~1–2.5W | Milliwatts |
| Price ≈ | $15 | ~$7 |
The Zero 2 W is a real Linux computer the size of a stick of gum — astonishing for $15. The Pico 2 W is for microcontroller jobs (see What Is a Pi?).
Compute Modules (CM4 / CM5)
Bare boards without ports, meant to be soldered into custom products. Unless you're manufacturing something, skip them — every CM project starts with "first prototype it on a Pi 5."
The true cost
The board price is never the project price. A realistic minimum kit:
- Board + official power supply + case + decent microSD card
- micro-HDMI cable ≈ board price + $35–50
- Pi 5 with NVMe: add an M.2 HAT+ (~$15–30) and the SSD
The #1 beginner mistake is powering a Pi 5 from a random phone charger. Undervoltage causes random crashes that look like software bugs. The official 5V/5A supply for the Pi 5 (5V/3A for the Pi 4) is the cheapest reliability upgrade there is.