Raspberry PI

Affordable single-board computers and microcontrollers for learning and industry.

Overview

Raspberry Pi designs and manufactures affordable, high-performance computing platforms ranging from single-board computers to microcontrollers. Since 2012, they've been building Arm-based systems running Linux, serving educators, enthusiasts, engineers, and OEMs worldwide.

The product line includes full-featured Raspberry Pi computers for general-purpose computing, the Pico family of microcontroller boards for lower-power and real-time applications, and the RP2 family of silicon products. All products are backed by extensive technical documentation, global regulatory compliance, and a worldwide network of resellers and design partners.

With over 60 million computers sold in the last decade, Raspberry Pi serves as a platform for creativity, learning, and innovation across home, education, and industrial applications.

Key features

Affordable single-board computers
Arm-based architecture with Linux OS
Pico microcontroller boards for real-time applications
RP2 family of silicon products
Extensive technical documentation
Global regulatory compliance
Wide ecosystem of accessories and HATs
Remote access and management tools

Pros

Very low cost entry point
Extensive official documentation
Large global community of users and developers
Wide range of products for different use cases
Designed and manufactured in the UK
Strong educational focus and support
Proven reliability and widespread adoption

Cons

Limited processing power compared to full computers
Requires additional setup and configuration
Supply chain constraints have occurred historically
Steep learning curve for complete beginners

Use this if

You need affordable, reliable computing hardware for education, prototyping, embedded systems, or maker projects with strong community support and extensive documentation.

Skip this if

You require high-performance computing for demanding applications, prefer closed-source proprietary systems, or need commercial support contracts with guaranteed SLAs.

Best for

Educators teaching computer scienceHobbyists and makers building projectsOEMs developing smart productsIndustrial embedded computing applicationsLearning programming and electronicsPrototyping and experimentation

Alternatives

ArduinoBeagleBoneNVIDIA JetsonIntel NUCOrange Pi

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