Raspberry Pi is a sequence of small single-board computers developed in the UK by the official Raspberry Pi Foundation association with Broadcom. The computer initially leaned towards the promotion of basic teaching of computer science in schools and developing nations. Interestingly, the original model became more famous than anticipated, selling outside its target market to diverse uses such as robotics. The PC is used in many different areas like weather monitoring, webserver, Wi-Fi extender, game emulator, and many more because of its low cost, open design, and modularity.
Generations of release
To date, several Raspberry Pis have been released to the market. Raspberry Pi SBCs(Single Board Computers) ship with a Broadcom system on a chip with the integration of ARM-compatible CPU and on-chip graphics processing unit(GPU); on the other hand, Raspberry Pi Pico has an RP2040 system on chip with an integrated ARM-compatible CPU.
The first generation of the Pi model is Raspberry Pi model B, released in February 2012, followed by a more straightforward and cheaper version, Model A. Not long then, the foundation released Raspberry Pi Model B+, a board with an improved design in 2014. All of these first-generation boards ship with ARM11 processors that are approximately credit-card-sized. A year later, an improved version A+ and B+ models were released into the market.
After that, Raspberry Pi 2 was released in February 2015 and initially featured a 900 MHz 32-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor with 1GB RAM. A Raspberry pi model Zero with smaller size and reduced (I/O) that stands for input/output and general-purpose input/output(GPIO) capabilities was released in November 2015. Raspberry Pi Zero W was launched, a version with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, followed by the Raspberry Pi Zero WH on the 12 of January 2018.
Raspberry 3 Model B was released in February 2016. The model came with a 1.2GHZ 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB boot capabilities incorporated. In 2018, the Pi community released Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ with a faster 1.4GHz processor, a three-times faster gigabit ethernet, and dual-band 2.4/5GHz. Some of the other included features are Power over Ethernet(PoE) with the PoE HAT, USB boot, and network boot (an SD Card was no longer needed in this version)
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B was released to the market in June 2019. The model came with a 1.5 GHz, 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 CPU processor with an onboard 802.11ac Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth 5, complete gigabit ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, 2-8 GB of RAM, and dual-monitor support through a pair of micro HDMI type D that supports up to 4K resolution. In addition, the Pi4 model is powered via a USB-C port.
Raspberry pi 400 was officially released into the market in November 2020. The pi model features a custom board derived from the existing Raspberry Pi 4, specifically remodeled with a keyboard attached. The computer features a clock speed of 1.8GHz, which is slightly higher than the Raspberry Pi 4. IT also has 4GB LPDDR4 RAM.
As of now(2021), the latest release is Raspberry Pi Pico which was released in January 2021. Rather than performing the role of a general-purpose computer like the others in the array, it is intended for physical computing, similar in concept to an Arduino. Pico has a RAM of about 264KB and 2MB of flash memory. The computer is programmable in MicroPython, CircuitPython, and C. The Pi foundation has partnered with Vilros, Pimoroni, Adafruit, Arduino, and SparkFun to build accessories for the Raspberry Pi Pico version and various other boards using RP2040 Silicon Platform.
Difference between Raspberry Pi 3B+ and 4
After looking at that important section about the generation of release, we now turn our attention to the comparison between Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 3, and we will consider the latest version of Raspberry 3, which is Pi 3B+.
In this article, we will be looking at the difference between the Raspberry Pi 3B+ and Raspberry Pi 4 computers and which Raspberry Pi you should consider purchasing. Obviously, Raspberry Pi 4 is better than Raspberry Pi 3. However, you can consider picking up a Raspberry Pi 3 for less money, and it’s more frequently found on sale.
Are you asking yourself which version of the Pi you should choose between Pi 3 and 4? Actually, the first thing to note is that there’s presently only one Raspberry Pi 4 model. Still, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model is quite different because model 3 has a series of other models in its array/range. Here are some of the options:
- The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B: This is the fourth-generation Raspberry Pi computer
- The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+: This is the final revision of the third-generation Raspberry Pi.
- The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B: This is the third-generation Raspberry Pi.
As said earlier, for this article, we will focus on Pi 4 versus Raspberry Pi 3B+, which is the closest predecessor.
Raspberry Pi 4 vs. Raspberry Pi 3B+: comparison in CPU, RAM, and graphics
Raspberry Pi 4 comes out as a clear winner when it comes to wholesome specifications and hardware grunt.
Pi 4 Board
Raspberry Pi 4 CPU and RAM specs
- Raspberry Pi 4 sports a faster clock speed of about 1.5GHz processor, which is an upgrade from the 1.4 GHz found on the Raspberry Pi 3B+. It supports Broadcom BCM 2711, Quad-core Cortex-A72(ARM v8) 64-bit SoC.
- When it emanates to RAM, Raspberry Pi 4 is miles ahead of the Raspberry Pi 3B+. This is because the Pi 4 supports 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB LPDDR4 SDRAM
Raspberry Pi 3B+ CPU and RAM specs
pi 3 board
- Raspberry Pi 3 is not incompetent, though, since it also features a quad-core processor and a clock speed of 1.4GHz in the same ballpark. It also supports Broadcom BCM2837Bo, Quad-core Cortex-A53(ARMv8) 64-bit SoC.
- Raspberry Pi 3B+ supports 1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM, which is less compared to the current Pi 4.
Connectivity and ports
The two models offer a range of connectivity options, including wireless LAN, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB, and a 40-pi GPIO header used to hook up electronic components and add Raspberry HATs (that is, hardware attached on the top section).
Roughly, Raspberry Pi 4 has a modernized implementation of most of the connections. While wireless LAN is up to date on both models(Pi 4 & Pi 3B+), Raspberry Pi 4 has Bluetooth 5.0 with an enhanced speed rate, range not to mention much quicker capacity.
We will also consider comparing the two Pi’s in terms of USB ports; and unrestrained Gigabit Ethernet, which is constrained by the USB connection on the older version of Raspberry Pi model 3. Both devices(Raspberry Pi 4 & 3) use a microSD card slot for loading the OS and data storage.
Raspberry Pi 4 connectivity features
- 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz IEE 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE
- 2-lane MIPI DSI display port
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin GPIO header
- 2xUSB 3.0ports; 2xUSB 2.0ports.
- 2-lane MIPI CSI camera port
- 4-pole stereo audio and composite video port
pi 4 ethernet ports
Raspberry Pi 3B+ connectivity features
- 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2, BLE
- 2-lane MIPI DSI display port
- Gigabit Ethernet over USB 2.0 with a maximum output of 300Mbps
- Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin GPIO header.
- 4x USB 2.0 ports
- 2-incorporated lane MIPI CSI camera port section.
- It has 4-pole stereo audio and composite video port
Pi 3 connection ports
Display connectivity
When it comes to displaying connectivity, Raspberry Pi 4 is quite literally twice as good. The Pi sports not one but two HDMI ports, enabling you to run two display monitors. Raspberry Pi 4 can run 4K video with 4096×2160 resolution at 60 frames-per-second, making it ideal for contemporary media playback.
Raspberry Pi 3B+ supports a single full-size HDMI connector that is capable of supporting 1080P (1920x1080P).
Raspberry Pi 4 display specs
- It has a H.265(4kp60 decode), H.264(1080p60 decode, 1080p30 encode)
- 2 micro-HDMI ports
pi 4 HDMI slots
Raspberry Pi 3 display specs
- It has 1 full-size HDMI that supports up to 1080 Pixels.
pi 3 single HDMI ports
Raspberry Pi 4 versus Raspberry Pi 3B+ power
The Raspberry Pi 4 introduced a new USB-C connector for power. Nonetheless, its power consumption rates are more than Raspberry Pi 3B+. Both devices back the separate power over ethernet(PoE) HAT that comes in handy if you desire to power the board directly from a power-enabled ethernet line.
Raspberry Pi 4 power specs
- 5V DC via GPIO header (minimum 3*)
- 5V DC through USB-C connector (minimum 3A*)
- Power over Ethernet (PoE) enabled (requires a separate PoE HAT)
- A good quality 2.5A power supply can be used if downstream USB peripherals consume less than 500 mA in total
Pi 4 port c-power connection
Raspberry Pi 3B+ power specs
- 5V/2.5A DC micro USB connector
- supports Power over Ethernet(PoE)
Pi 3 power port
Which Raspberry should I Purchase?
On our end, we think both Raspberry 4 and the previous version Raspberry Pi 3B+ model are great choices. You can study both electronics and programming pretty well on both devices. However, the faster processor and boosted RAM levels provided on Raspberry 4 make it a much more versatile desktop PC/computer. It also backs more demanding software, such as scratch 3, which only runs on the newer Raspberry Pi 4
It still makes a much more versatile machine, too, with better internet support levels. And retro game simulation is much improved on the newer version of the Raspberry Pi.
However, suppose you want to play around with electronics and programming designs(coding) or build a low-cost media player. In that case, we recommend Raspberry Pi 3B+ as a good option, especially when you pick one at a reduced price.
Conclusion
When it comes to comparison between the hardware specs of these two series of the Raspberry Pi, you will find it hard to tell the difference not unless you try it out yourself. With the boosted RAM levels provided by the current Raspberry Pi(4), you expect better and faster results, inclusive of a double 4K screen on your Raspberry Pi computer, which is what you actually get.
Generally, The Raspberry 4 is an impressive upgrade and contains hardware improvements that many were looking for in the Raspberry Pi 3B+. However, not everyone would be excited because the new accessories like power supply rate and HDMI cable/adapter are inevitable.
If the focus is on performance or higher network throughput, for instance, the media center or small server, then the Raspberry Pi 4 is clearly the best choice.
Additionally, the article has broken down the comparison into sections for easier comprehension. We also took a look at the generation release of every model series and summarised it all by suggesting the model you should consider buying. With that being said, we hope this article answered all your queries on the difference between Raspberry Pi 3B+ and Pi 4. Thank you for reading!