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, we’ll tell you all you need to know before its launch. We will also answer some common questions people are asking about the new Raspberry Pi.
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 connect the board to a monitor to serve as a desktop computer or recalibrate it to work in many other capacities.
The flexibility of Raspberry Pis has made them the first choice. Often, users explore the features of each generation of Raspberry Pi while waiting for upgrades in the next generation. They might even make videos to compare products across different generations.
Now, it is the time for the Raspberry Pi 5, and many users are wondering what upgrades it will bring.
On 14th December 2022, in this interview with ExplainingComputers, Raspberry Pi’s CEO Eden Upton stated not to expect Raspberry Pi 5 in 2023. The main reason behind that is that 2023 will be for Raspberry Pi a “recovery year” after the impact of the pandemic on this industry.
Raspberry Pi is important to many users because it gives maximum performance for a minimal price. The Raspberry Pi 4 costs $80, and the Raspberry Pi 5 could be under $100. For this price, users could get all the usual Raspberry Pi features with some upgrades that should take the product to a new level.
The Raspberry Pi was born to be an open-source project. That is why the single-board computer has always attracted developers looking to create programs and applications.
Its multiple uses also make the tiny computer appeal to many users. People use Raspberry Pi as desktop computers, network-attached storage devices (NAS), IoT & surveillance, media players, robotics and automation, retro gaming, printer controller, and learning platform for developers.
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 performances, achieved with Broadcom System-on-a-Chip (SoC). This category of people is waiting for Raspberry to upgrade the RAM to 16GB.
Some believe Raspberry Pi may develop an independent line of SoC, but it is unlikely. Even if it becomes a reality, it will not be in time for the Raspberry Pi 5.
The Raspberry Pi 5 is a big deal since the foundation usually includes upgrades in every new release. Users want many things to be fixed from the Pi 4, and they’re hopeful the Pi 5 is the answer.
It has also been three years since the launch of Raspberry Pi 4, so many users are looking forward to the launch of the new generation.
What is the Expected Raspberry Pi 5 Release Date?
Aside from some statements culled from interviews, every opinion so far on the release date of the Raspberry Pi 5 is just speculation. Especially considering that Eden Upton, the CEO of Raspberry Pi, confirmed at the end of 2022 that there are no plans to launch Raspberry Pi 5 in 2023.
However, the launch of the new generation of Raspberry Pi is expected to be groundbreaking. This is because Raspberry Pi 4 was launched in 2019, and it has been more than three years 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.
While there has been no official announcement of the Pi 5 release date, many believe that the project must secretly be underway. After all, this wouldn’t be the first time the developers will release a new update without warning. The Raspberry Pi 4 was released similarly. However, before Pi 5 is released, some things are expected.
The first is the release of the Raspberry Pi 4A. It included a USB-C port and improved storage and display. However, some of these features have bugs that users expect the developers to fix before launching a new generation.
If the Raspberry Pi Foundation has to release an upgraded version of Pi 4, it will take some time before the release of Pi 5. This means that if Pi 4 is released in 2023, launching Pi 5 will have to wait until 2024. Since there is little to go on, Raspberry Pi enthusiasts will have to wait for an official announcement.
Current Problems Raspberry Pi 5 Needs to Fix
If the Raspberry Pi Foundation is releasing Pi 5 without improving Pi 4, the former will have to fix the latter’s problems. The upgrades users expect in Raspberry Pi 5 include:
USB-C Power Errors
Raspberry Pi 4 answered users’ demands for a USB-C power port. USB-C power adapters are in high demand due to the fast charging technologies most of them come with. However, the features of Raspberry Pi 4 left a lot to be desired.
The board has a hardware design flaw that causes adapters to misinterpret the device type. As a result, it powers it with more than 5V, thereby blowing up the power supply. In other situations, it does not power the board at all.
Users expect the Pi 5 to fix this issue and some other ones we will mention next.
USB Hub and Ethernet Chip Heating Up
The major complaint most Raspberry Pi 4 users have about the computer is the excessive heat from the USB hub and ethernet port. These parts have been reported to get uncomfortably hot even when no device is plugged in.
The concern of users is that the high temperature will cause damage to the components in the long term. Users expect the Pi 5 to be free from this issue with an improved cooling system.
Low Voltage Warning
Raspberry Pi 4 users often complain about frequent pop-ups asking them to check the power supply. The warning about low voltage can disrupt your work even when the power supply is sufficient.
Users have expressed annoyance about the bug and asked for a fix.
What Are the Expected Raspberry Pi 5 Specs?
There have been a lot of speculations surrounding the release of the Raspberry Pi 5. Many users expect it to fix the problems of the Pi 4, and some expect new additions. There is little to go on at the moment, but users have been vocal about what they want from the latest Raspberry Pi lineup.
They may not get everything they want, but the developers will want to eradicate some of the users’ common complaints. With that said, here are some things you should expect based on Raspberry Pi 5 rumored specs:
Performance
Raspberry Pi has been collaborating with Broadcom since its inception. That should not change. However, the developers need to improve the quad-core Broadcom-ARM processor.
Users expect an improved CPU speed of at least 2GHz. Many also expect the RAM to be at least 16 GB of the latest LPDDR5 SDRAM.
Improved Cooling
The heating problem with Raspberry Pi 4 is one thing that should not continue with the Pi 5. The system can get unbearably hot when running, which raises concerns about damage to components. With the expected increase in processing power modes and other features, the Pi 5 can get hotter than users currently face with the Pi 4.
To combat this, users expect the Pi 5 to come with a better cooling system, such as copper heat pipes. With the excessive heat reduced, the Pi 5 can boast a longer lifespan than the previous Raspberry Pi model.
Built-In Storage
Another staple with the Raspberry Pi board is the storage. The current versions come with SDHC MicroSD. This storage has its pros, including easy backup and restoration. However, the cons (like the high risk of damage and theft) make many users wish the Pi 5 would have built-in storage.
The advantages of built-in storage such as eMMC include better read and write speeds which is enticing to many users. However, the downside is that it will increase the cost of the board and ruin the concept of Raspberry Pis being cheap. Still, some believe that the developers can find a compromise and introduce stronger storage with Pi 5.
Ports
Users expect fixes for the bugs with the current ports in Raspberry Pi 5. For example, the USB-C power issues have been the subject of many complaints. However, with the revision made on the Pi 4, the developers can hopefully take a step further to make Raspberry Pi 5 completely free of these problems.
Many also believe the new model will maintain a similar GPIO header with the addition of USB 3.0 ports to support backward compatibility. This development with the USB port will improve the accessibility to the expected upgrades on the storage system.
Connectivity
Connectivity is one of the constantly evolving features of Raspberry Pi’s boards. The expectation is for the latest Bluetooth 5.2 to be integrated for data transfer. Meanwhile, Gigabit Ethernet and dual-band are still expected to be maintained for Ethernet/Wi-Fi connectivity. Some users expect PCIe connectivity but it is unlikely to fit into the design of the Pi 5.
Better Display Outputs
There are some issues with the display in Raspberry Pi 4 that Pi 5 can fix. These issues include the micro-HDMI ports, which are not as efficient as the traditional HDMI ports.
The expectation is for Raspberry Pi 5 to bring back the full-size HDMI port with dual display output through two ports.
An improved display interface for the Pi 5 will include a 4k video playback refresh rate remaining at 60 Hz instead of the current 30 Hz.
Raspberry Pi Pico Integration
Many users find the Raspberry Pi Pico fascinating and wonder if the developers will equip Pi 5 with the microcontroller. There are some barriers to the full integration of the Pico into the super tiny computers, but that doesn’t stop users from wishing.
Some other features of the Raspberry Pi Pico that users hope can be part of the Pi 5 include:
- Analog inputs (ADC)
- Programmable IO state machine system
- Hardware PWM outputs
- Accelerated on-chip floating-point and integer libraries
- Additional hardware UART interfaces
- Hardware interrupts
There is much to expect from the Raspberry Pi 5, but users will have to wait until its launch to satisfy their curiosity. We may not get everything, but the developers will surely include most of what the users have been clamoring for in recent years.
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?
Raspberry Pi 5 will not be released in 2023. During this interview with ExplainingComputers, Raspberry Pi’s CEO Eden Upton confirmed that the release of Raspberry Pi 5 is not expected for 2023.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation is planning for 2023 to be a year of recovery from the impact of the pandemic. Their first priority is to be able to satisfy the demand of existing industrial customers.
Why is Raspberry Pi sold out?
Demand for the Raspberry Pi products has always been high. When the first product was launched in 2012, 10,000 copies were all sold within the first hour of release.
It took several months to meet the demand – and by then, the two global distributors, RS-Components and Farnell, had sold over 800,000 pieces.
Today, there is still a very high demand for Raspberry Pi products. At the same time, shortages in the semiconductor supply chain have impacted the production of Raspberry Pi starting from Q2 2021.
The CEO, Eben Upton, wrote on the company’s website about shortages and what they are doing to tackle the units of customer backlog.
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.
Since the Pi 4 was $80, the Raspberry Pi 5 price could be around $90 to $100.
Final Thoughts
There is much attention on Raspberry Pi 5, but there is nothing substantial to hold onto. The Raspberry Pi Foundation is yet to provide an official Raspberry Pi 5 Release date, but speculations are stirring among enthusiasts.
Users can bet that the developers are keeping track of discussions about the product. This will also help them meet the users’ expectations as much as possible when the Raspberry Pi 5 is finally released on the market.
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