The Raspberry Pi family has long been a go-to for hobbyists, educators, and tech enthusiasts alike, offering an affordable, compact, and versatile computing solution. The latest addition to this renowned line-up, the Raspberry Pi 500, takes things to the next level, offering improved specifications and design, all while maintaining the budget-friendly ethos the Pi is known for. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the Raspberry Pi 500, explore its specifications, discuss the pros and cons, and compare it to the previous iteration, the Raspberry Pi 400.

Raspberry Pi 500 Specifications

The Raspberry Pi 500 is built to deliver a more robust computing experience, offering a range of improvements that make it stand out in the ever-expanding single-board computer market. Here are its key specifications:

Processor: 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU, with cryptography extensions, 512KB per-core L2 caches and a 2MB shared L3 cache

RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM

Graphics: OpenGL ES 3.0 and H.265 decoding for 4Kp60 video.

Ports:
2 x USB 3.0
1 x USB 2.0
2 x micro HDMI (supports up to 4K @ 60Hz)

Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz and 5GHz, supporting IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.0 BLE.

GPIO: Horizontal 40-pin GPIO header (compatible with breakout boards).

Cooling: Aluminium heatsink built into the keyboard for efficient passive cooling.

Pros of the Raspberry Pi 500

The Raspberry Pi 500 offers several advantages, making it an appealing choice for both newcomers and experienced users. Here are the key benefits:

1. Integrated Design:

The all-in-one keyboard form factor is both sleek and practical, making it ideal for minimalist setups and reducing cable clutter.

2. Enhanced Performance:

The upgraded Arm Cortex-A76 CPU, along with 8GB of RAM, ensures smooth multitasking, faster application loading, and better performance for resource-intensive tasks like video playback and light programming.

3. Improved Connectivity:

With dual-band Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet, the Pi 500 excels in networking capabilities, making it suitable for home offices, remote learning, and IoT projects.

4. 4K Display Support:

Dual micro HDMI ports enable multitasking with crisp 4K resolution on two displays, perfect for productivity and media consumption.

5. Efficient Cooling:

Thanks to its aluminium heatsink, the device remains cool even under heavy loads, reducing thermal throttling and improving overall system stability.

6. Energy Efficiency:

The Pi 500 sips power, requiring only a 5V/5A USB-C power supply, making it cost-effective to run and environmentally friendly.

7. Pre-installed Software:

The inclusion of Raspberry Pi OS on a 32GB SD card ensures a plug-and-play experience for users, reducing the need for additional setup.

Cons of the Raspberry Pi 500

While the Raspberry Pi 500 is a powerful and cost-effective device, it’s not without its limitations. Here are the main drawbacks:

1. Limited Storage Options:

Unlike the Raspberry Pi 5, the Pi 500 does not support NVMe storage, which could be a dealbreaker for users requiring high-speed data transfers or large local storage solutions.

2. No Camera or Touchscreen Connector:

Like the Pi 400, it omits these connectors, limiting versatility for specific projects such as robotics, photography, or touchscreen kiosks.

3. Bulkier Than a Standalone Board:

While compact compared to traditional PCs, the keyboard form factor might not suit users needing a standalone computing module or portability for fieldwork.

4. GPIO Accessibility:

The horizontal GPIO layout requires a breakout board for practical use, adding to potential costs and complexity for beginners working on hardware projects.

5. Lack of Native Audio Jack:

The absence of a standard 3.5mm audio jack might inconvenience users relying on analogue audio outputs, requiring additional adaptors or HDMI-based solutions.

6. Regional Keyboard Variants:

While convenient, the availability of regional keyboard layouts might vary, potentially limiting choices for users in some regions.

Raspberry Pi 500 vs Raspberry Pi 400: A Comparison

The Raspberry Pi 500 shares many similarities with its predecessor, the Raspberry Pi 400, but also introduces several upgrades. Here’s a breakdown of how the two compare:

1. Processor Performance

The Raspberry Pi 400 has a Quad-core Cortex-A72 (1.8GHz) while the Raspberry Pi 500 has a faster has a Quad-core Cortex-A76 (2.4GHz). This provides a noticeable performance boost, particularly for more demanding tasks.

2. RAM

The Raspberry Pi 400 offers 4GB (LPDDR4) of RAM , whilst the Raspberry Pi 500 has 8GB (LPDDR4X). The added RAM, higher clock speed and improved cooling of the Pi 500 can provide a better overall user experience, particularly when running multiple applications.

3. Ports and Connectivity

The Raspberry Pi 500 provides additional ports compared to the Raspberry Pi 400. For example, the Pi 500 has a Gigabit Ethernet port, which is an upgrade over the Raspberry Pi 400’s 100Mbps Ethernet port.

5. Price

While both models offer exceptional value for money, the Raspberry Pi 500 tends to be slightly more expensive than the Raspberry Pi 400, primarily due to its upgraded processing power and RAM. However, both remain very affordable options for their target markets.

Conclusion

The Raspberry Pi 500 represents a step forward in the evolution of the Raspberry Pi series, with improvements in processing power, RAM and Gigabit Ethernet port. Its slightly higher price point makes it a compelling option for users who need extra performance or plan to use the device for more demanding applications.

However, if you don’t need the enhanced processing power and ports, the Raspberry Pi 400 still remains an excellent choice.

Ultimately, the decision between the Raspberry Pi 500 and Raspberry Pi 400 comes down to your specific needs and how you intend to use the device. Either way, both options offer tremendous value for their price.