Which Raspberry Pi Should You Buy? 2026 Buyer's Guide

Which Raspberry Pi should you buy? In 2026 the honest answer is that it depends on the job, because the range now runs from a $5 microcontroller to a $410 mechanical-keyboard computer with a built-in SSD. Memory-driven price changes this year have also shifted the value math, so older buying advice is out of date. This guide walks through every current board family using the specifications and list prices published on raspberrypi.com, and matches each one to the projects it suits best.

• Best all-rounder: Raspberry Pi 5, with a 2.4GHz quad-core Cortex-A76 and 1GB to 16GB of RAM.
• Best for beginners: Raspberry Pi 500 at $180, or $200 as a desktop kit.
• Smallest Linux board: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W at $15.
• Best for electronics projects: Raspberry Pi Pico 2, from $5.

Quick Picks

• Home server, desktop or local AI experiments: Raspberry Pi 5 with as much RAM as the workload needs.
• A first computer for a child or a classroom: Raspberry Pi 500, a complete computer inside a keyboard.
• Lowest-cost all-in-one: Raspberry Pi 400, held at $60 with 4GB.
• Camera, sensor or portable builds: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.
• Blinking LEDs, motors and battery gadgets: Raspberry Pi Pico 2 or Pico 2 W.
• Designing your own product: Compute Module 5.

Raspberry Pi Models Compared

Raspberry Pi 5

The Pi 5 is the flagship single board computer. It uses the Broadcom BCM2712, a 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 processor with VideoCore VII graphics, and comes with 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB or 16GB of LPDDR4X memory.

• Connectivity: dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and Gigabit Ethernet.
• Ports: two USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, two 4Kp60 HDMI outputs and the 40-pin header.
• Expansion: one PCIe 2.0 x1 interface, which needs an M.2 HAT or adapter for an NVMe drive.
• Extras: a power button and a real-time clock.
• Power: 5V at 5A over USB-C.
• List prices: $45 for 1GB, $77.50 for 2GB and $305 for 16GB. The 4GB and 8GB boards sit at $110 and $175 following the April 2026 round, so check your reseller before ordering.

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

The Pi 4 remains in production and still makes sense for lighter jobs. It has a 1.8GHz quad-core Cortex-A72, the same dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 and Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 ports and two micro-HDMI outputs. It runs from a 3A USB-C supply rather than 5A, and it does not list a PCIe connector. Prices start at $35 for 1GB, with the 2GB board at $67.50 and a 3GB option at $83.75.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

At 65mm by 30mm, the Zero 2 W is the tiny one. It has a 1GHz quad-core 64-bit Cortex-A53, 512MB of RAM, 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, a mini HDMI port and a camera connector. It costs $15, and Raspberry Pi said in April that it anticipated no price rises for the Zero line.

Raspberry Pi 500, 500+ and 400

These are keyboard computers: plug in a screen and a mouse and you are done.

• Raspberry Pi 500: the Pi 5 processor with 8GB of RAM and a 32GB microSD card included, at $180 or $200 for the desktop kit.
• Raspberry Pi 500+: 16GB of RAM, an internal 256GB SSD and a mechanical keyboard, from $410.
• Raspberry Pi 400: the older 4GB model, which Raspberry Pi describes as its lowest-cost all-in-one PC at $60.

Raspberry Pi Pico 2 and Pico 2 W

The Pico 2 is a microcontroller, not a Linux computer. It offers dual Arm Cortex-M33 or dual Hazard3 RISC-V cores at 150MHz, 520KB of SRAM and 4MB of flash, and the Pico 2 W adds 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2. It starts at $5.

Compute Module 5

The CM5 packs the Pi 5 processor onto a module for product builders, with 2GB to 16GB of RAM and optional eMMC storage and wireless. It starts at $67.50 and needs a carrier board.

Which Raspberry Pi Is Best for Beginners?

The Raspberry Pi 500 is the easiest starting point. It is a full Pi 5-class computer in a keyboard, with 8GB of RAM and a preloaded 32GB microSD card, so there is nothing to assemble and no case or cooler to choose. If the budget is tight, the Raspberry Pi 400 at $60 covers learning to code, web browsing and school projects.

A bare Pi 5 is the better pick if you already know you want to attach HATs, cameras or an NVMe drive, since the board is easier to build around than a keyboard unit.

Is the Raspberry Pi 5 Worth It Over the Pi 4?

For most new projects, yes. The Pi 5 moves from a 1.8GHz Cortex-A72 to a 2.4GHz Cortex-A76, adds the PCIe interface for fast storage, includes a real-time clock and a power button, and goes up to 16GB of RAM. That combination is what makes it a credible small server or desktop.

The Pi 4 still earns its place in three cases: when the lowest entry price matters, when you already own Pi 4 cases, HATs and 3A power supplies, or when a project needs modest performance and lower power draw. If storage speed is part of your decision, our Raspberry Pi storage guide compares microSD, eMMC and NVMe in detail.

How Much RAM Do You Need on a Raspberry Pi 5?

Buy for the workload, because the memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded later.

• 1GB or 2GB: headless servers, ad blockers, home automation and single-purpose devices.
• 4GB: light desktop use and several small services at once.
• 8GB: everyday desktop work, heavier containers and development.
• 16GB: local AI models and memory-hungry self-hosted stacks.

With 2026 memory pricing, the gap between tiers is wider than it used to be, so resist buying headroom you will not use.

What Is the Difference Between a Raspberry Pi and a Pico?

A Raspberry Pi 5, Pi 4 or Zero runs a full operating system such as Raspberry Pi OS, with a desktop, a browser and multitasking. A Pico 2 runs one program directly on the chip, written in C, C++ or MicroPython, and starts instantly when powered.

Choose a Pico when the project is about reading sensors, driving motors or lasting a long time on a battery. Choose a Linux board when you need networking services, a display with a desktop, or software from the wider Linux ecosystem. Many projects pair the two.

Does the Raspberry Pi 5 Have Wi-Fi 6?

No. The Pi 5 has dual-band 802.11ac, also known as Wi-Fi 5, along with Bluetooth 5.0 and Gigabit Ethernet. For a server, wired Ethernet is the better choice anyway. If you are weighing a Pi against an x86 box for that role, see our comparison of a Raspberry Pi versus a mini PC for a home server.

Why Did Raspberry Pi Prices Change in 2026?

Raspberry Pi has attributed this year's adjustments to the cost of memory, and has published the changes in a series of posts. The most recent, effective October 1, 2026, moved the 2GB Pi 5 to $77.50 and the 2GB Pi 4 to $67.50. The company kept its entry points in place: the 1GB boards, the Zero line and the $60 Pi 400 were held.

The practical takeaway is constructive. The cheapest ways into the ecosystem are still cheap, and choosing the right RAM tier now saves more money than it did a year ago.

How Long Will Each Raspberry Pi Be Available?

Raspberry Pi publishes production commitments, which matters if you are building something to last.

• Raspberry Pi 5 and Compute Module 5: until at least January 2036.
• Raspberry Pi 500+: until at least January 2035.
• Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 500: until at least January 2034.
• Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W: until at least January 2030.
• Pico 2 series: until at least January 2040.

What Else Do You Need to Budget For?

A board is rarely the whole cost. Plan for a power supply that meets the board's rating, storage, a case and cooling for the Pi 5, and the right HDMI cable. Our Raspberry Pi power supply and UPS guide covers the first of those. Keyboard models and kits bundle most of this, which is part of why they are so friendly for a first purchase.

Pick the board that fits the job, buy the memory you will actually use, and you will have a small computer that stays useful for years. For new boards and accessories as they launch, follow our mini computer coverage.

Sources: Raspberry Pi 5 product page — accessed October 12, 2026; Raspberry Pi 500 product page — accessed October 12, 2026; Raspberry Pi Pico 2 product page — accessed October 12, 2026; Raspberry Pi news — October 1, 2026; Raspberry Pi news — April 1, 2026; OMG! Ubuntu — October 2026.