Are you currently using Raspberry Pi 4 and looking forward to the release date of the Raspberry Pi 5? It has been a decade since the launch of the first generation Raspberry Pi. More than ten years after Raspberry Pi 1 became available to the public, people are gearing up for Raspberry Pi 5.
Many users are excited about what to expect from the fifth generation of Raspberry Pi. In this article, I will give you some updates about its launch planned for the end of October 2023.
I will also answer some common questions about the new Raspberry Pi.
For a quick glimpse of the new upcoming Raspberry Pi version have a look at the official video below:
Let’s go through the amazing features that Raspberry Pi 5 will provide!
What Is the Big Deal About Raspberry Pi 5?
The Raspberry Pi is a small, cheap, single-board computer that you can use for several purposes. You can even connect the board to a monitor to serve as a desktop computer.
Right now, the focus is on the upcoming release of Raspberry Pi 5, and many users want to see what upgrades it will bring.
On 14th December 2022, in this interview with ExplainingComputers, Raspberry Pi’s CEO Eben Upton stated not to expect Raspberry Pi 5 in 2023. That’s because 2023 was supposed to be for Raspberry Pi a “recovery year” after the impact of the pandemic on this industry.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Eben Upton announced on 28th September 2023 that they will release the Raspberry Pi 5 at the end of October 2023 when they will be shipping the first units of the new platform.
Raspberry Pi is important to many users because it gives maximum performance for a minimal price. The price of Raspberry Pi 5 will be $60 for the 4GB variant, and $80 for the 8GB version (plus local taxes).
For some users, the anticipation of the Raspberry Pi 5 is about getting an improved version of the Raspberry Pi 4. Raspberry Pis are popular for their performance, achieved with Broadcom System-on-a-Chip (SoC).
The Raspberry Pi 5 is a big deal since the foundation usually includes upgrades in every new release. Users want to see many improvements in the new version compared to version 4.
What is the Expected Raspberry Pi 5 Release Date?
Eben Upton, the founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, announced that the Raspberry Pi 5 is set to be released at the end of October 2023 – Read the official announcement.
The launch of the new generation of Raspberry Pi is likely to be groundbreaking. This is because Raspberry Pi 4 was launched in 2019, and it has been a while since any major updates.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation does not have a pattern for releasing single-board computers. The first generation came out in 2012, after which it took three years before the release of the second generation.
Raspberry Pi 3 came just a year after that. Then, users had to wait another three years to get Raspberry Pi 4.
What Are the New Specs for Raspberry Pi 5?
Here are some things you will see in the new device based on Raspberry Pi 5 announced specs:
Increased CPU and GPU Performance
One of the main features of Raspberry Pi 5 is that it’s a lot faster than Raspberry Pi 4.
The previous Raspberry Pi 4 model featured a 1.8GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A72 CPU. However, the upcoming Raspberry Pi 5 boasts significant improvements in this area. It features a BCM2712 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU, showing between 2-3 times CPU performance and 2 times GPU performance compared to Raspberry Pi 4.
Here are the specs of the BCM2712:
- 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 processor
- 512KB per-core L2 caches
- 2MB shared L3 cache
- Broadcom’s VideoCore VII GPU (developed in Cambridge)
From a RAM point of view, Raspberry Pi 5 will initially provide two configurations: 4GB and 8GB 32-bit LPDDR4X SDRAM.
Increased I/O Bandwidth
The Raspberry Pi 5 provides a significant improvement in display capabilities with its Dual 4Kp60 Micro HDMI display output. This feature lets you connect two 4K displays simultaneously at 60fps (frames per second). The use of Micro HDMI ports also saves valuable board space without compromising performance.
Another improvement is the 2x increase in the USB 3.0 bandwidth with the 2 USB 3.0 ports that support simultaneous 5Gbps operation.
One great news is that you will be able to connect high-speed peripherals to Raspberry Pi 5 which provides a PCIe (Express) 2.0 interface.
This increased I/O performance is provided by the RP1 I/O controller designed in-house by Raspberry Pi.
Improved Cooling
To enhance its cooling system, the Raspberry Pi 5 includes a fan connector that can either power a built-in fan in the official Raspberry Pi 5 case or be used with an Active Cooler accessory. This provides flexible cooling options, ensuring optimal performance even under demanding workloads.
Comparison of Specs Between Raspberry Pi 4 and 5
It’s important to know that there are two components in common between Raspberry Pi 4 and 5:
- Infineon CYW43455 chip: provides dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi
- Broadcom BCM54213: provides Ethernet connectivity
Let’s also look at the differences in specs between the 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 and 5. This will help you see the improvements in the new Raspberry Pi version.
I created the following comparison table for you to quickly see the differences between the two devices:
| Specification | Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (8GB) | Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 1.8 GHz Quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A72 | 2.4 GHz Quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 |
| GPU | VideoCore VI | VideoCore VII, OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2 |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR4 | 8GB LPDDR4X |
| HDMI Output | Dual 4K Micro HDMI one supports 4k at 60Hz while the other is limited to 30Hz) | Dual 4Kp60 HDMI (both ports deliver 4k at 60Hz) |
| USB Ports | 2 × USB 3.0, 2 × USB 2.0 | 2 × USB 3.0 (simultaneous 5Gbps), 2 × USB 2.0 |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet, PoE+ support |
| Wi-Fi | Dual-band 802.11ac | Dual-band 802.11ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) | Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) |
| Storage Interface | microSD | High-speed microSD with SDR104 mode |
| Additional I/O | 3.5mm audio jack, 2-lane MIPI DSI display port, 2-lane MIPI CSI camera port | 2 × 4-lane MIPI camera/display, PCIe 2.0 x1 |
| GPIO Header | Standard 40-pin | Standard 40-pin |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Power Button | Not available | Available (built-in) |
You will notice that the 3.5mm audio jack has been removed from Raspberry Pi 5. A possible solution for those who want to use Raspberry Pi 5 and still use the jack could be to use an HDMI signal splitter to pass through both HDMI video and audio signals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There is a lot of interest in the Raspberry Pi 5 and its release. These have raised a lot of questions among users interested in the product.
We will answer some of the frequently asked questions about Raspberry Pi 5 in this section.
Is there a Raspberry Pi 5 coming?
Yes, Eben Upton confirmed that the Raspberry Pi 5 is scheduled for release at the end of October 2023: Read the full announcement.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation was initially planning for 2023 to be a year of recovery from the impact of the pandemic. Their first priority was to be able to satisfy the demand of existing industrial customers before launching the new Raspberry Pi 5.
How much will Raspberry Pi 5 Be?
The whole concept of Raspberry Pi is around maximum performance for a minimal price. The developers have always emphasized the goal of making the computer available to anyone who needs it, especially kids. That is why Pi computers have been cheap and easily affordable.
As per this announcement from Eben Upton, the price of the Raspberry Pi 5 will be $60 for the 4GB variant, and $80 for its 8GB version (plus local taxes).
How can I connect an HDMI cable to Raspberry Pi 5?
Raspberry Pi 5 provides 2 Micro HDMI ports and to connect them to your monitors you will need Micro HDMI to HDMI cables.
Final Thoughts
With the official announcement of the Raspberry Pi 5, we now know it’s coming at the end of October 2023. The excitement is building as we await to see its new features and improvements.
In the final months of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, we will see if Raspberry Pi developers will meet users’ expectations with the October release of the new Raspberry Pi 5.
Claudio Sabato is an IT expert with over 15 years of professional experience in Python programming, Linux Systems Administration, Bash programming, and IT Systems Design.
With a Master’s degree in Computer Science, he has a strong foundation in Software Engineering and a passion for Robotics with projects that include Raspberry Pi and Arduino platforms.
