The Raspberry Pi is a series of small, single-board computers (SBCs) developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the UK. Initially designed to promote computer science education, these compact devices have gained immense popularity among hobbyists, professionals, and industrial users. As of March 2025, over 68 million units have been sold.
Raspberry Pi Holdings designs and markets the computers, with manufacturing outsourced to Sony. The boards feature ARM-based processors, HDMI output, USB ports, and GPIO pins for connecting to various peripherals and components. They run Linux-based operating systems, with Raspberry Pi OS being the default. The diverse range of models includes the high-performance Raspberry Pi 5, the keyboard-integrated Raspberry Pi 400 and 500+, the ultra-compact Raspberry Pi Zero series, and the microcontroller-based Raspberry Pi Pico. These are used in various applications, including IoT devices, home automation, robotics, and general-purpose computing.
The price of a Raspberry Pi varies depending on the model and specifications. The Compute Module 5 starts at around $45, while a more complete desktop experience like the Raspberry Pi 500+ starts around $200. Recent increases in memory costs have led to price hikes for some models, including the Raspberry Pi 5. Availability has improved after shortages in recent years.
