All Kinds of Raspberry Pi: Specification and Price Comparison
Raspberry Pi has become a familiar name in the world of computing and electronics. Since its inaugural launch in 2012, this mini computer has changed the way we view technology and sparked revolutions in the world of education, hobbies, and software development. In this article, we will explore all types of Raspberry Pi ever released, discuss its unique features, and analyze its development over time.
A Brief History of Raspberry Pi
Before we explore the various models of the Raspberry Pi, let’s take a quick look at the history behind this innovative project.
inspiring origins
Raspberry Pi was born from a simple but revolutionary idea. In 2006, Eben Upton, Rob Mullins, Jack Lang, and Alan Mycroft of the Computer Laboratory of the University of Cambridge began to be concerned about the declining skills and the number of students enrolled in computer science. They identify the need for affordable and accessible devices that can encourage children to learn programming.
The birth of the Raspberry Pi Foundation
In 2008, mobile processors became strong enough and affordable to provide attractive multimedia performance in low-cost devices. This allows the creation of the Raspberry Pi we know today. The Raspberry Pi Foundation was founded in 2009 to realize this vision, with Eben Upton, Pete Lomas, and David Braben as founders.
Shocking launch
The first model of the Raspberry Pi, Model B, was launched on February 29, 2012. The response was incredible, with the sales website crash due to high demand. Since then, the Raspberry Pi has been one of the best-selling computers of all time, with sales exceeding 40 million units by 2021.
Evolution of Raspberry Pi: from generation to generation
Let’s explore the journey of Raspberry Pi through various generations and models.
The first generation: the forerunner of the revolution
Raspberry Pi 1 Model A
Released in April 2013, Model A is a simpler and more energy-efficient version of the Model B Original.
- Processor: ARM1176JZF-S 700 MHz
- RAM: 256MB
- USB port: 1
- Ethernet: none
- Launch Price: $25 (approximately IDR 400,000)
Model A is designed for projects that require low power consumption and do not require network connectivity. Despite having lower specifications, Model A opens the door for many innovative embedded projects.
Raspberry Pi 1 Model B
Model B was first launched in February 2012, marking the beginning of the Raspberry Pi revolution.
- Processor: ARM1176JZF-S 700 MHz
- RAM: 512MB (upgrade from 256MB on initial revision)
- USB port: 2
- Ethernet: 10/100 Mbps
- Launch Price: $35 (approximately IDR 560,000)
Model B is the foundation for the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. With additional USB ports and Ethernet connectivity, Model B is suitable for various applications, from home media servers to DIY weather stations.
Second Generation: Performance Improvement
Raspberry Pi 2 Model B
Launched in February 2015, the Pi 2 Model B brings significant improvement in performance.
- Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 900 MHz
- RAM: 1GB
- USB port: 4
- Ethernet: 10/100 Mbps
- Launch Price: $35 (approximately IDR 560,000)
Pi 2 Model B marks a big leap in computing capabilities. With a quad-core processor and larger RAM, the PI 2 is capable of running desktop operating systems more smoothly and supports more complex applications.
Third Generation: 64-bit Era
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
Released in February 2016, the Pi 3 Model B took the Raspberry Pi into the 64-bit era.
- Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 1.2GHz
- RAM: 1GB
- Wireless: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1
- USB port: 4
- Ethernet: 10/100 Mbps
- Launch Price: $35 (approximately IDR 560,000)
The addition of integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth makes the Pi 3 Model B the perfect choice for IoT projects and wireless applications.
Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+
Launched in March 2018, Model B+ is a refinement of Model B.
- Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 1.4GHz
- RAM: 1GB
- Wireless: Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
- USB port: 4
- Ethernet: Gigabit Ethernet (300 Mbps Limitation)
- Launch Price: $35 (approximately IDR 560,000)
With improved processor speed and better connectivity, the B+ model is a favorite for applications that require high network throughput.
Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+
Launched in November 2018, the A+ model is a smaller and energy-efficient version of the B+ model.
- Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 1.4GHz
- RAM: 512MB
- Wireless: Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
- USB port: 1
- Ethernet: none
- Launch Price: $25 (approximately IDR 400,000)
The A+ model is ideal for embedded projects that require small form factors and low power consumption without compromising CPU performance.
Fourth Generation: High Performance
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
Released in June 2019, the Pi 4 Model B brings a dramatic improvement in performance and ability.
- Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 1.5GHz
- RAM: 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB (depending on model)
- Wireless: Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
- USB port: 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0
- Ethernet: Gigabit Ethernet
- Output video: 2x Micro HDMI (support 4K@60Hz)
- Launch Price: Starting at $35 (approximately IDR 560,000) for the 1GB model
Pi 4 Model B takes the Raspberry Pi to a new level, capable of replacing desktop computers for many daily tasks. Support for Dual Display 4K and USB 3.0 opens up new possibilities for multimedia applications and intensive data processing.
Special models and variants
Raspberry Pi Zero
Launched in November 2015, Pi Zero is the smallest and cheapest Raspberry Pi.
- Processor: ARM1176JZF-S 1 GHz
- RAM: 512MB
- USB port: 1x Micro USB
- Output video: Mini HDMI
- Launch Price: $5 (approximately IDR 80,000)
Pi Zero is designed for projects that require very small sizes and minimal power consumption. Although limited in connectivity, Pi Zero has enabled the creation of various innovative DIY gadgets.
Raspberry Pi Zero W
This February 2017 release adds wireless capabilities to the Pi Zero.
- Processor: ARM1176JZF-S 1 GHz
- RAM: 512MB
- Wireless: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1
- USB port: 1x Micro USB
- Output video: Mini HDMI
- Launch Price: $10 (approximately IDR 160,000)
The addition of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth makes the Pi Zero W the perfect choice for small and power-saving IoT projects.
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Launched in October 2021, the Zero 2W brings a significant increase in performance in the Pi Zero Form Factor.
- Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 1 GHz
- RAM: 512MB
- Wireless: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2
- USB port: 1x Micro USB
- Output video: Mini HDMI
- Launch Price: $15 (approximately IDR 240,000)
With a quad-core processor, the Zero 2W offers up to 5 times the performance of its predecessor, while maintaining form factor compatibility.
Raspberry Pi 400
Launched in November 2020, the Pi 400 is a Raspberry Pi 4 based all-in-one computer.
- Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 1.8GHz
- RAM: 4GB
- Wireless: Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
- USB port: 2x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0
- Ethernet: Gigabit Ethernet
- Output video: 2x Micro HDMI (support 4K@60Hz)
- Launch Price: $70 (approximately IDR 1,120,000) for a standalone unit, $100 (approximately IDR 1,600,000) for a complete kit
The Pi 400 packs the power of the Raspberry Pi 4 in the form of a keyboard, making it the ideal plug-and-play solution for education and general desktop use.
Compute Module
The Compute Module series is designed for industrial and embedded applications.
Compute Module 1 (2014)
- based on raspberry pi 1
- RAM 512MB
- eMMC 4GB
Compute Module 3 (2017)
- based on raspberry pi 3
- 1GB RAM
- Available with or without EMMC 4GB
Compute Module 3+ (2019)
- increase of cm3
- EMMC storage options: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB
Compute Module 4 (2020)
- based on raspberry pi 4
- RAM options: 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB
- EMMC storage options: 8GB, 16GB, 32GB
- Option with or without wireless
The Compute Module series offers maximum flexibility for product developers, enabling the integration of Raspberry Pi’s capabilities into custom design.
Fifth Generation: Big Leap in Performance
Raspberry Pi 5
Launched in October 2023, the Raspberry Pi 5 brings significant improvements in performance and features, making it the most powerful model to date.
- Processor: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 2.4GHz
- RAM: 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4X
- GPU: VideoCore VII, supports OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2
- Wireless: Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 5.0
- USB port: 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0
- Ethernet: Gigabit Ethernet
- Output video: 2x Micro HDMI (support Dual 4K@60Hz or Single 8K@30Hz)
- PCIe: PCIe 2.0 x1 slot for expansion
- Launch Price: $60 (approximately IDR 960,000) for 4GB model, $80 (approximately IDR 1,280,000) for the 8GB model
The main features of the Raspberry Pi 5:
- Improved CPU performance: With the ARM Cortex-A76 processor, the PI 5 offers a performance increase of up to 2-3 times compared to the PI 4.
- New GPU: VideoCore VII brings significant improvement in graphics capabilities, supporting modern rendering technology.
- PCIe slot: For the first time, Raspberry Pi has a PCIe slot, allowing expansion with NVMe SSD or other add-on cards.
- Improved video capabilities: Support for 8K resolution marks a big leap in multimedia capabilities.
- Dedicated I/O controller: RP1 chip specially handles most I/O, improves performance and reduces CPU load.
- Repaired Power Delivery: Supports USB-C for power delivery up to 5V/5A, allowing the use of high-power accessories.
- Real-time clock: Added RTC allows PI 5 to maintain system time even when it is not connected to the internet.
The Raspberry Pi 5 brings the platform closer to desktop computer performance, opening up possibilities for more complex and demanding applications. This upgrade makes it suitable for:
- Heavy desktop application development
- Edge computing server with high processing capabilities
- Multimedia work station for video and audio editing
- More advanced game emulation
- artificial intelligence application and machine learning
Comparison between generations (updated)
With the launch of Pi 5, let’s update the comparison between generations:
CPU performance
- Raspberry Pi 1: Single-core 700 MHz
- Raspberry Pi 2: Quad-core 900 MHz (3x performance improvement from PI 1)
- Raspberry Pi 3: Quad-core 1.2 GHz (50% faster than PI 2)
- Raspberry Pi 4: Quad-core 1.5 GHz (3x faster than PI 3)
- Raspberry Pi 5: Quad-core 2.4GHz (2-3x faster than PI 4)
Pi 5 brings a big leap in CPU performance, offering performance close to a mid-range desktop computer.
Memory (RAM)
- Raspberry Pi 1: 256MB – 512MB
- Raspberry Pi 2: 1GB
- Raspberry Pi 3: 1GB
- Raspberry Pi 4: up to 8GB
- Raspberry Pi 5: 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4X
Although the maximum RAM capacity does not increase from PI 4 to PI 5, the faster memory usage of LPDDR4X increases data throughput significantly.
Connectivity
- Raspberry Pi 1: ethernet
- Raspberry Pi 2: ethernet
- Raspberry Pi 3: Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Raspberry Pi 4: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
- Raspberry Pi 5: Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, PCIe
The addition of a PCIe slot on the PI 5 opens up new possibilities for expansion and connectivity.
Video capability
- Raspberry Pi 1: Single HDMI, 1080p
- Raspberry Pi 2: Single HDMI, 1080p
- Raspberry Pi 3: Single HDMI, 1080p
- Raspberry Pi 4: Dual Micro HDMI, 4K@60Hz
- Raspberry Pi 5: Dual Micro HDMI, Dual 4K@60Hz or Single 8K@30Hz
The enhanced video capability on the Pi 5 makes it suitable for high-end multimedia applications and high-resolution digital signage.
Conclusion
The journey of the Raspberry Pi from the first model to the Raspberry Pi 5 shows a remarkable evolution in small computing. Each generation brings significant improvements, expands the possibility of applications and reaches a wider audience.
The Raspberry Pi 5, with a dramatic improvement in performance and features, opens a new chapter in what is possible with a credit card sized computer. Nonetheless, previous models remain relevant for various projects, offering appropriate options for different needs and budgets.
The diversity of the Raspberry Pi model reflects the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s commitment to providing affordable and flexible computing tools for everyone. From education to IoT, from hobbies to industrial applications, Raspberry Pi continues to encourage innovation and creativity around the world.
With the continued development of technology, we can expect the next generation of Raspberry Pi to bring more surprises and new abilities. Meanwhile, the rich ecosystem and vibrant communities around the Raspberry Pi continue to grow, ensuring that the platform will remain a reckoned force in the world of computing and electronics for the years to come.
