14 DAY TRIAL // The Raspberry Pi Foundation has just announced the Raspberry Pi 4, a new generation of the barebones computer that promises PC-like level of performance thanks to a series of highly-anticipated upgrades.
The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is supposed to be no less than 3 times faster than its predecessor thanks to a 1.5 GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A72 CPU, which can be paired with a choice of three different RAM configurations.
This is the first time the Raspberry Pi is offered with more than one memory option. The base model offers 1GB RAM, while the mid-range configuration comes with 2GB RAM. The top-of-the-range is equipped with 4GB RAM.
This new Raspberry Pi model also offers dual-monitor support at resolutions up to 4K and boasts 4Kp60 hardware decoding of HEVC video. It’s equipped with two USB 3.0 (one used for power) and two USB 2.0 ports, while also boasting full-throughput Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 5.0, and dual-band 802.11ac wireless networking.
The spec sheet, which you can find in full at the end of the article, is certainly impressive for a device so small and so affordable.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation sticks with its signature $35 price level for the Raspberry Pi 4, but because it’s offering more than one SKU, the upgraded versions are a bit more expensive. The 1GB RAM version thus costs $35, and adding another 1GB RAM increases the price by $10. The 4GB version costs $55.
More changes under the hood
While the spec sheet is typically the one getting all the attention, there’s more to discover under the hood.
For example, the device features new power connector, as the engineering team replaced microUSB with USB-C.
“We’ve moved from USB micro-B to USB-C for our power connector. This supports an extra 500mA of current, ensuring we have a full 1.2A for downstream USB devices, even under heavy CPU load,” Eben Upton, Chief Executive Raspberry Pi Trading, explains,
Other upgrades also concern the display support, which required an overhaul thanks to the addition of dual display output.
“To accommodate dual display output within the existing board footprint, we’ve replaced the type-A (full-size) HDMI connector with a pair of type-D (micro) HDMI connectors,” Upton explains.
The Raspberry Pi 4 also comes with new accessories, like cases, power supplies, and cables, but also with an upgraded desktop kit which costs $120 and comprises the device itself, an official case, a PSU, mouse and keyboard, a pair of HDMI cables, the Beginner’s Guide, and a 32GB microSD card.
| A 1.5GHz quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A72 CPU (~3× performance) |
| 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB of LPDDR4 SDRAM |
| Full-throughput Gigabit Ethernet |
| Dual-band 802.11ac wireless networking |
| Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports |
| Dual monitor support, at resolutions up to 4K |
| VideoCore VI graphics, supporting OpenGL ES 3.x |
| 4Kp60 hardware decode of HEVC video |
| Complete compatibility with earlier Raspberry Pi products |
