Which Raspberry Pi? A comparison of all models

To find out which Raspberry Pi is right for you, we compare the different models in this practical tip. The possible uses of the Raspberry Pi are almost unlimited - be it as a cloud server, with a camera as an alarm system or as an Internet radio. Below you will find out which models of the Raspberry Pi are available on the market and what differentiates them.

This is the Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is a single-board computer that has approximately the same area as a credit card and was developed by the Raspberry Foundation. Various Linux distributions run on it as the operating system and even Windows 10 for the latest model. There are now six different models. The details of the different models can be found below.

Raspberry Pi Model A

Model A is the second commercially available version of the Raspberry Pi. Model A was launched in February 2013 with the following specifications:

• Price: The model currently costs an average of 25 euros. (Successor A +)
• Size and weight: The model A is 93 mm x 63.5 mm x 17 mm in size and weighs 31 grams.
• Processor: An ARM1176JZF-S 700 Mhz processor with a core is used as the CPU.
• Graphics card: The Raspberry Pi A has a Broadcom Dual Core VideoCore IV GPU with OpenGL-ES 1.1 / 2.0 and Full HD 1080p60 resolution.
• Main memory: The model A has a 256 MB RAM.
• USB ports: Model A has a USB 2.0 port.
• Video and sound output: The video output is via composite video and HDMI. The sound is output analog via a 3.5 mm jack plug and digitally via HDMI.
• Memory: An SD card reader is used as memory - for the operating system, for example.
• Network: The Raspberry Pi A has no on-board network connection.
• Pins: There are 26 pins available, 17 of which can be used as GPIO pins.
• Power consumption and power supply: The model consumes approximately 2.5 watts (500 mA). Power is supplied via a 5 volt micro USB connection.

Raspberry Pi Compute Module

The Raspberry Compute Module is the industrial variant of the Raspberry Pi. The model was launched in June 2014 and has the following technical data. It largely corresponds to model A, but is much smaller and therefore has fewer connections.

• Price: The module costs about 40 euros.
• Size and weight: The Compute Module has the dimensions 67.6mm x 30mm x 20mm and a weight of 7 grams.
• Processor: The processor is an ARM1176JZF-S 700 Mhz processor with a core.
• Graphics card: The model has a Broadcom Dual Core VideoCore IV GPU with OpenGL-ES 1.1 / 2.0 and Full HD 1080p60 resolution.
• RAM: The Compute Module uses a 512 MB RAM.
• USB connections: The module has a USB 2.0 connection.
• Video and sound output: The video output is via composite video and HDMI. The sound is output digitally via HDMI.
• Memory: A 4 GB eMMC memory is used as memory - for the operating system, for example.
• Network: No connection available.
• Pins: The module provides 60 pins, 48 ​​of which can be used as GPIO pins.
• Power consumption and power supply: The model consumes approx.3.325 watts. The power supply can be from 1.8 volts to 5 volts.

Raspberry Pi model A +

The A + model is the revised version of the A model and was launched in November 2014. Below you will find the technical data:

• Price: The model is available from around 20 euros.
• Size and weight: The model A + is 70.4 mm x 57.2 mm x 12 mm small and weighs 23 grams.
• Processor: The CPU is an ARM1176JZF-S 700 Mhz processor with one core.
• Graphics card: The model A + has a Broadcom Dual Core VideoCore IV GPU with OpenGL-ES 1.1 / 2.0 and Full HD 1080p60 resolution.
• Main memory: The Raspberry Pi l A + has a 256 MB RAM.
• USB ports: This model has a USB 2.0 port.
• Video and sound output: The video output is via composite video and HDMI. The sound is output analog via a 3.5 mm jack plug and digitally via HDMI. (The composite video is integrated in the jack plug)
• Storage: A microSD card reader is used as a storage option - e.g. for the operating system.
• Network: The model has no on-board network connection.
• Pins: There are 40 pins available, of which 26 can be used as GPIO pins.
• Power consumption and power supply: The model consumes approx. 0.5 to 1.2 watts (100-230 mA). Power is supplied via a 5 volt micro USB connection.

Raspberry Pi Model B

Model B is the first Raspberry Pi on the market. It was released in spring 2012 with the following technical data:

• Price: The model is no longer commercially available. (Successor Raspberry Pi B +)
• Size and weight: The model B has the dimensions 93 mm x 63.5 mm x 20 mm and weighs 40 grams.
• Processor: An ARM1176JZF-S 700 Mhz processor with a core is used as the CPU.
• Graphics card: A Broadcom Dual Core VideoCore IV GPU with OpenGL-ES 1.1 / 2.0 and Full HD 1080p60 resolution is installed.
• RAM: The Raspberry Pi Model B has a 512 MB RAM.
• USB ports: The model has two USB 2.0 ports.
• Video and sound output: The video output is via composite video and HDMI. The sound is output analog via a 3.5 mm jack plug and digitally via HDMI.
• Memory: An SD card reader - e.g. for the operating system - is also installed here.
• Network: For the network, the model offers a 10/100 Mbit Ethernet network connection.
• Pins: The model has 26 pins, of which you can use 17 as a GPIO pin.
• Power consumption and power supply: The model consumes approximately 3.5 watts (700 mA). Power is supplied via a 5 volt micro USB connection.

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Raspberry Pi model B +

The B + model is the revised version of the B model and was launched in July 2014. Below you will find the technical data:

• Price: The model is currently available from 26.95 euros.
• Size and weight: The B + model measures 93 mm x 63.5 mm x 20 mm and weighs 45 grams.
• Processor: An ARM1176JZF-S 700 Mhz processor with a core is used as the CPU.
• Graphics card: A Broadcom Dual Core VideoCore IV GPU with OpenGL-ES 1.1 / 2.0 and Full HD 1080p60 resolution is used.
• RAM: The model B + comes with 512 MB RAM.
• USB ports: The Raspberry Pi B + is equipped with four USB 2.0 ports.
• Video and sound output: The video output is via composite video and HDMI. The sound is output analog via a 3.5 mm jack plug and digitally via HDMI. (The composite video is integrated in the jack plug)
• Storage: A microSD card reader is used as storage - for the operating system, for example.
• Network: The model has a 10/100 Mbit Ethernet network connection.
• Pins: There are 40 pins available, of which you can use 26 as GPIO pins.
• Power consumption and power supply: The model consumes approx. 2.5 to 3 watts (500-600 mA). Power is supplied via a 5 volt micro USB connection.
• Tip: We show you ð best accessories for the Raspberry Pi.

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Raspberry Pi 2 Model B

The Raspberry Pi 2 Model B is the second model variant of the single board computer. It was launched in February 2015 and offers the following technical data:

• Price: The model is available from 38.75 euros.
• Size and weight: The model 2 B is like the model B + 93 mm x 63.5 mm x 20 mm in size and weighs 40 grams.
• Processor: In contrast to the first models, an ARM Cortex-A7 900 Mhz processor with four cores is used.
• Graphics card: The model has a Broadcom Dual Core VideoCore IV GPU with OpenGL-ES 1.1 / 2.0 and Full HD 1080p60 resolution.
• RAM: The Model 2 B has the largest RAM with 1024 MB.
• USB ports: The model comes with four USB 2.0 ports.
• Video and sound output: The video output is via composite video and HDMI. The sound is output analog via a 3.5 mm jack plug and digitally via HDMI. (The composite video is integrated in the jack plug)
• Memory: The operating system is started by a microSD card reader.
• Network: The network connection is made via a 10/100 Mbit Ethernet network connection.
• Pins: There are 40 pins available, of which you can use 26 as a GPIO pin.
• Power consumption and power supply: The model consumes a maximum of 4 watts (800 mA). Power is supplied via a 5 volt micro USB connection.
• Tip: You can find a detailed test of the Raspberry Pi 2 on our homepage.

Raspberry Pi 3

The Raspberry Pi 3 is the latest model on the market and comes with the following hardware:

• Price: Model 3 will be available in Germany for around 40 euros.
• Size and weight: With a size of 85 mm x 56 mm x 17 mm and a weight of about 40 grams, the new PI is just as big and heavy as its predecessor.
• Processor: An ARM Cortex-A53 processor 64-bit quad-core with 1.2 GHz is used as CPU.
• Graphics card: With a Broadcom Dual Core VideoCore IV GPU with OpenGL-ES 1.1 / 2.0 and Full HD 1080p60 resolution, the video processor is the same as in model 2.
• RAM: The Model 3 has a 1 GB RAM.
• USB ports: The Raspberry Pi 3 comes with four USB ports.
• Video and sound output: The video can be output via composite video and HDMI. The sound is output analog via a 3.5 mm jack plug and digitally via HDMI. (The composite video is integrated in the jack plug)
• Storage: The operating system on your Raspberry is saved on a microSD card.
• Network: One of the innovations of the Raspberry Pi 3 is that in addition to the 10/100 Mbit Ethernet network connection, WLAN and Bluetooth are also integrated.
• Pins: There are 40 GPIO pins available.

Which Raspberry Pi is the right one?

To make it easier for you to decide which model is right for you, you will find a list of the possible areas of application below:

1. Compute module: The Raspberry Pi Compute module is not intended for home users. This module is intended for use in commercial electronics in the industrial sector.
2. Model A +: If you are looking for a Raspberry Pi for control tasks, the model A + is the right one for you. The number of GPIO pins and the low energy consumption also make it perfect for battery-operated applications. Due to the lack of a network connection, a USB connection and the low performance, it is less suitable as a media center.
3. Model B +: The model B + is best suited for use as a media center. Thanks to the four USB ports, the stronger hardware and the network connection, it comes with everything you need. The model is also suitable as a small desktop replacement for learning how to use Linux and the first programming attempts.
4. Model 2 B: The model 2 B is, with the exception of model 3, the most powerful model. With its quad-core processor, this model is particularly suitable as a desktop replacement for smaller jobs such as Internet research and the writing of texts. For sites like YouTube with Full HD videos, the performance is not quite enough. It can also be used as a media center as with the B + model.
5. Model 3: If the computing power of the Model 2 B is not enough for you, the Model 3, which is about 1.5 times faster, can help you. With its stronger processor, the applications run even smoother, and with the integrated WLAN and Bluetooth, you have more USB slots available.

• Tip: We will show you which operating system is running on the Raspberry Pi 2. We also present the most useful accessories for the mini computer.
• By the way, the Raspberry Pi is not unrivaled either: we have selected the best alternatives to the Raspberry Pi for you.