Since its initial launch in 2012, more than 31 million Raspberry Pi have been sold worldwide, and since then more than 20 different models have also come onto the market – some of them with such subtle differences that they are almost negligible. . If you want a Raspberry Pi and do not know which one to buy , in this buying guide we will try to guide you so that you can purchase the model that best suits your needs.
Obviously since the release of this device, the first versions are no longer available to buy currently. However, even 8 years later there are still a dozen different Raspberry Pi models in production, so sometimes it is difficult to know which model is the most suitable for each type of user, or rather for the projects you have in mind for it. apparatus.
Why would you want to buy a Raspberry Pi?
Every self-respecting tech fan will have considered buying a Raspberry Pi at one point or another. Any of these devices can serve as a secondary PC to check email or surf the Internet, but even the most advanced model will be able to match in power to a desktop or laptop PC, even low-end.
The real reason to buy one of these devices is to use it in various projects, which can range from robots to retro-style arcade machines, through multipurpose home servers, control of security cameras or even motion detectors.
The “magic” of these devices comes from their expandability, their small size, their high bass and the low cost they have. Thanks to the 40 pins of the GPIO panel of the Rapberry Pi, we can connect them to a large number of devices such as lights, motors, sensors and other I / O devices. There is a huge ecosystem of HAT (connected hardware), which provide us with advanced features for Raspberry Pi, such as screens, webcams, motor controllers or even power over Ethernet.
Even if you are not interested in becoming a “content creator” and turning the Raspberry Pi into a device for a specific purpose, this little PC is an excellent emulator for old games, media transmitter or web server. And because the official Rasperry Pi OS (formerly known as Raspbian) operating system is a Linux distribution, it’s also a great way to fiddle and learn UNIX without having to install the operating system on your main PC.
What Raspberry Pi models should you consider?
If you look carefully, you will find more than a dozen Raspberry Pi models for sale (in fact you can find up to Compute Modules for industrial functions), but only a few of the current generation are worth it. However, as an end user, these are the models you should consider.
| Model | Price (USD) | CPU | RAM | Wireless | I / O ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry PI 4 B (8GB) | $ 75 | 1.5-GHz, 4-core Broadcom BCM2711 (Cortex-A72) | 8GB | 802.11ac / Bluetooth 5.0 | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 2x micro HDMI |
| Raspberry PI 4 B (4GB) | $ 55 | 1.5-GHz, 4-core Broadcom BCM2711 (Cortex-A72) | 4GB | 802.11ac / Bluetooth 5.0 | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 2x micro HDMI |
| Raspberry Pi 4 B (2GB) | $ 35 | 1.5-GHz, 4-core Broadcom BCM2711 (Cortex-A72) | 2GB | 802.11ac / Bluetooth 5.0 | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 2x micro HDMI |
| Raspberry Pi 3 B + | $ 35 | 1.4-GHz, 4-core Broadcom BCM2837B0 (Cortex-A53) | 1GB | 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.2, Ethernet | 4 x USB 2.0, HDMI, 3.5mm audio |
| Raspberry Pi Zero W | $ 10 | 1-GHz, 1-core Broadcom BCM2835 (ARM1176JZF-S) | 512MB | 802.11n / Bluetooth 4.1 | 1x micro USB, 1x mini HDMI |
| Raspberry Pi Zero WH | $ 17 | 1-GHz, 1-core Broadcom BCM2835 (ARM1176JZF-S) | 512MB | 802.11n / Bluetooth 4.1 | 1x micro USB, 1x mini HDMI |
| Raspberry Pi Zero | $ 5 | 1-GHz, 1-core Broadcom BCM2835 (ARM1176JZF-S) | 512MB | N / A | 1x micro USB, 1x mini HDMI |
There is a different model for each type of user
We are going to see specific use cases to recommend a specific model of Raspberry Pi, depending on what you want to do with it. Obviously these recommendations are based on our experience, and in fact finally almost any model can serve you for anything, although logically some will be better than others due to their characteristics. Let’s see it.
- Raspberry Pi for beginners : the best model for users who want to start and “tinker” with one of these mini PCs is the Raspberry Pi 4 B (2GB). It has enough power for almost any type of project you want to do with it, and it also has a very attractive price (however, if you can spend 20 euros more on the 4 GB RAM model, you won’t be wrong either).
- For emulators with retro games : the Raspberry Pi 4 B (2GB) is again the model that will give you the best performance / price ratio for this purpose, although if you find the 3B or 3B + model at a good price, they will also work comfortably with RetroPie .
- To control security cameras or “smart” devices : many people use these devices to build home control devices, such as security cameras, motion sensors, etc. The best model for this type of project is the Raspberry Pi Zero W given its small size, ideal for integrating with other devices or for anchoring it to a wall. Also, since it only consumes 200 mAh, if you intend to use it with batteries it will give you a lot of autonomy.
- For a home web server : even though the Pi Zero can run Apache, if you want to have a Raspberry Pi for a web server, it is best to opt for the 4 B (4 GB) model, since it will be the one that will give you the best service, especially if you plan to have several concurrent users connected to your server.
- To make a robot : the answer here really depends on the complexity of it. If it is a simple robot like a vehicle, with a Pi Zero W / WH you will have more than enough, but if you intend to put several sensors in it or that it has advanced functionalities, then you will have to go for the Raspberry Pi 4 B of 2 or 4 GB.
- To use it as a PC : don’t hesitate, the best model for this is the new 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 B.
- Media or streaming server : if you want to use your Raspberry as a media server, you will have enough with the Raspberry Pi 4 B 2 GB model. Even with the previous 3 B or 3 B + models you can do it, although in this case keep in mind that they do not have output at 4K resolution.
- Use the Raspberry with a camera : if your purpose is to create a home camera, be it a security camera or a simple webcam, with a Zero or Zero W you will have more than enough. However, if you want to have the best image quality using the Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera add-on, you will need a Raspberry Pi Model 3 or higher.