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The Raspberry Pi 5 announcement of October 2023 brought to an end speculation and rumors about the new arrival. In this post, we’ve compiled the key information about the latest model – and what it means for you. The good news? The Pi 5 is a handy and capable little device, perfect for home computing projects and DIY builds with a low (cost) barrier to entry. Here’s what you need to know.
Raspberry Pi 5 release date
The Raspberry Pi 5 started shipping on October 23rd, 2023. The official announcement for the Pi 5 device purely mentioned the month, but the last week of October saw the arrival into the wild of the new Raspberry Pi. Pre-order listings enabled priority access for some users, while exact deliveries of new models is subject to retailers.
It’s been over four years since the release of the Raspberry Pi 4, the longest time between models ever – the usual gap being 1-2 years. The delay is in no small part due to global economic and chip availability factors, as well as the global COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the development of the new model.
Raspberry Pi 5 specs
Raspberry Pi has a consistent history of adding considerable improvements to every new iteration of its system. The simplicity of the components allows the company to make major enhancements while keeping costs low. Because of the upstanding consistent upgrades behind the foundation, we expected considerable improvements in the next iteration of its system silicon-up.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Broadcom BCM2712 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU with cryptography extensions, 512KB per-core L2 caches, and a 2MB shared L3 cache |
| GPU | VideoCore VII GPU supporting OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2 |
| Display Output | Dual 4Kp60 HDMI® display output with HDR support |
| Video Decoder | 4Kp60 HEVC decoder |
| Memory | LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM (4GB and 8GB SKUs available at launch) |
| Wireless Connectivity | Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) |
| Storage | microSD card slot with support for high-speed SDR104 mode |
| USB Ports | 2 × USB 3.0 ports supporting simultaneous 5Gbps operation, 2 × USB 2.0 ports |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet with PoE+ support (requires separate PoE+ HAT) |
| Camera/Display Interfaces | 2 × 4-lane MIPI camera/display transceivers |
| Peripheral Interface | PCIe 2.0 x1 interface for fast peripherals (requires separate M.2 HAT or other adapter) |
| Power Supply | 5V/5A DC power via USB-C with Power Delivery support |
| GPIO Header | Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin header |
| Real-time Clock (RTC) | Powered from an external battery |
| Power Button | Included |
The new arrival features an in-house designed 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex A76, 2.4 GHz quad-core processor – a clear step up from the 1.5 GHz that featured on the 2019 Raspberry Pi 4. This shows consistent strides forward (shown across models in the table below), and means the new ‘5’ has 2x the processing power.
However, the new processor isn’t only faster, it uses less power. That means it can run more efficiently in terms of $ per watt, and be cooler too. In interviews, Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton stated that the new Raspberry Pi 5B should show a clear improvement in CPU, RAM, and connectivity – and we’ve got all three
The Pi 5’s CPU, is supported by a VIDEOCORE VII GPU for improved graphics performance, and two four-lane 1.5 Gbps MIPI transceivers. This potentially allows the Pi 5 to power 2x 4K60 display outputs (with HDR support), and up to two cameras; that’s some punchy work from a diminutive bit of tech.
In terms of memory, the new iteration offers up to 8GB of LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM. This isn’t the step to the LPDDR5 SDRAM we anticipated, but it is faster and more power efficient than its predecessor’s 8GB LPDDR4 SDRAM. That’s not all: the Pi 5 is available in 4 GB and 8 GB SKUs, offering flexibility as required for specific use cases (and budgets – see the ‘Price’ section just below). Also crucial is the new on-board power button, and the in-house developed RP1 southbridge. This powers the single-lane PCIe port for PCIe and NVMe devices. While this will allow “high-bandwidth peripherals” to connect to the Pi 5, the Raspberry Pi Foundation notes you’ll need an adapter to make use of it.
Raspberry Pi 5 Price
It was expected that the Raspberry Pi 5 price would suffer a little bump up in price. This was proven true and is normal considering the enhancements in performance and specs in comparison to the firm’s previous models. The exact recommended prices for the Pi 5, as stated by the Raspberry Pi Foundation itself, are:
- Raspberry Pi 5 (4 GB variant) – $60
- Raspberry Pi 5 (8 GB variant) – $80
In comparison, the Pi 4 is priced at $55 for the 4 GB variant and $75 for the 8 GB variant. The Raspberry Pi Foundation has made various efforts to maintain a standard initial price for every one of its new devices released in the B category. Since the reveal of the Raspberry Pi 1B, we’ve seen a starting price of $35. But considering the improvements on the new iteration, the slight hike in cost makes sense. There are of course accessories listed for the Raspberry Pi 5 too, should you be thinking about additional costs. And that pricing is:
- The Raspberry Pi Case for Raspberry Pi 5 ($10)
- Raspberry Pi Active Cooler (45)
What is a Raspberry Pi used for?
You can use Raspberry Pi devices for a range of computing projects and fun operations. We’ve listed a few of our own ideas for the best uses for the Raspberry Pi 5, for anyone interested in DIY computing and using the boards for more than running a few lines of Linux code.
Is the Raspberry Pi 5 be better than the Raspberry Pi 4?
The short answer is yes. As mentioned above, the Raspberry Pi 4 is cheaper given it’s not as well kitted out as the new Pi 5. But if you want the most powerful of these little home project computers, then the new iteration will be the one to go for. It won’t be too much more expensive – between $5 and $25 depending on which variant of the new model you want – but it will absolutely be worth paying more for if you can. Find out more about the comparison in our Raspberry Pi 5 vs Raspberry Pi 4 piece.
Where can I get a Raspberry Pi 5?
If you’re looking to pick up the new model, head over to our where to buy Pi 5 page for links and all of the info you need. You can also find the latest info on pre-ordering if you’re reading this ahead of the launch – w/c the last week of October!
Raspberry Pi release history
If we follow the multitude of reveals the company has undergone since 2012, when the first Raspberry Pi was released, it never has shown any systematic release timeframe as one might see in other markets, such as tablets and smartphones. Instead, Raspberry generally reveals upgrades every one to two years apart.
| Raspberry Pi model | Release date |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 1B | June 2012 |
| Raspberry Pi 1B+ | July 2014 |
| Raspberry Pi 2B | February 2015 |
| Raspberry Pi 3B | February 2016 |
| Raspberry Pi 3B+ | March 2018 |
| Raspberry Pi 4B | June 2019 |
| Raspberry Pi 5B | October 2023 (date TBC) |
The Website Raspberrytips.com published a chart with a compilation of release dates for previous Raspberry iterations. This information revealed a difference of a year or two between each new model, although it has been three years since the Pi 4B was released. The new arrival will be the exception to the rule.
Kevin’s view
What’s great about the Raspberry Pi is that it brings accessible and affordable computing into the home and opens up consumer electronics to those who can’t or won’t spend hundreds on components. The Pi 5 represents a step change in the legacy of the Raspberry Pi foundation, so far looking every bit as useful as you could want for the money. We’ll be following its story with great interest.
