Raspberry Pi 5: Release Date, Information, and Specifications
The Raspberry Pi 5 was one of the biggest upgrades in the Raspberry Pi lineup when it arrived in 2023. A few years later, we know much more about what it can do, how it compares to the Pi 4, and what you actually get when buying one today.
The Raspberry Pi 5 has been available since October 23, 2023. This model came with a 2–3× increase in CPU and GPU performance compared with the Raspberry Pi 4, along with several major hardware upgrades.
In this article, I’ll go over its specifications, the main changes from previous models, and everything else you need to know about the Raspberry Pi 5.
If you’re looking for inspiration for your next Raspberry Pi project, I’ve put together a list of 75+ ideas with full descriptions, difficulty ratings, and links to tutorials. Whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, there’s something here for you. Grab the list for free here!
Is There a Raspberry Pi 5 Available?
The Raspberry Pi 5 has been available since October 23, 2023, and can be purchased from official resellers while stocks last.
The Raspberry Pi 5 is the best model available right now, and you can expect to double the performance of the Raspberry Pi 4 (which was already great) across the board.
So if you’re looking for a new Raspberry Pi, it’s a no-brainer.
You might also like: Are you sure your Pi is secure? Here are 17 simple tips to protect it.
What Are the Raspberry Pi 5 Specifications?
Here are all the tech specs for the new Raspberry Pi 5:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | 4x Cortex-A76 2.4GHz, with Crypto Extensions |
| GPU | VideoCore VII, OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2 |
| Display Output | Dual 4Kp60 HDMI with HDR support |
| Video Decoder | 4Kp60 HEVC |
| RAM | LPDDR4X-4267 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB models available |
| Wireless Connectivity | Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0/BLE |
| Storage | microSD card slot, SDR104 mode support |
| USB Ports | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0 |
| Ethernet | Gigabit, with PoE+ support |
| Camera/Display Interfaces | 2x 4-lane MIPI transceivers |
| Expansion Interface | PCIe 2.0 x1 |
| Power Supply | 5V/5A DC via USB-C, with Power Delivery |
| GPIO Header | Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin |
| Additional Features | RTC with external battery, Power button |
Priced at $50 for the 2GB variant, $60 for 4GB and $80 for its 8GB sibling (plus your local taxes), virtually every aspect of the platform has been upgraded, delivering a no-compromises user experience. Raspberry Pi 5 comes with new features, it’s over twice as fast as its predecessor, and it’s the first Raspberry Pi computer to feature silicon designed in‑house here in Cambridge, UK.
Eben Upton
When Will the Raspberry Pi 5 Be Available?
The Raspberry Pi 5 is already available. It was announced on September 28th and released on October 23rd (2023).
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In July 2021, Eben Upton, the Raspberry Pi Ltd. CEO, answered questions from Tom’s Hardware, explaining that they weren’t working on a Raspberry Pi 5 at the time. Its goal was to first release a Raspberry Pi 4A, which should be a low-cost version of the Raspberry Pi 4B.
These plans have been disrupted by the chip shortages we have experienced since. Currently, we don’t know if the 4A is still at work, with maybe the same CPU as on the 4B but with fewer ports (HDMI, USB) and memory, or if they will wait to release something different.
As the Raspberry Pi 4A hasn’t been announced, having the Raspberry Pi 5 already announced was quite a surprise.
Here is the release date history for Raspberry Pi B and B+ models:
| Raspberry Pi Model | Release Date |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 1B | June 2012 |
| Raspberry Pi 1B+ | July 2014 |
| Raspberry Pi 2B | February 2015 |
| Raspberry Pi 3B | February 2016 |
| Raspberry Pi 3B+ | March 2018 |
| Raspberry Pi 4B | June 2019 |
| Raspberry Pi 5B | October 2023 |
As you can see, there is a new model released almost every year or two, since the beginning of Raspberry Pi. But the Raspberry Pi 5 was a bit late on this schedule.
This is probably due in part to the supply chain issues (high demand but delays due to COVID) and other reasons.
Update: In December 2022, Eben Upton said we shouldn’t expect a Raspberry Pi 5 in 2023, as it will be a transition year, to get back to normal related to the supply chain issues with the existing models.
Don’t expect a Pi 5 next year… 2023 is a recovery year
Eben Upton, December 2022
Well, looks like he changed his plans (or got us ^^).
Bonus tip: When I started, the hardest part wasn’t the setup, it was figuring out what to build next. I ended up creating a list of 75+ project ideas with links and difficulty, so it’s easier to just pick something and try it. Grab the list here.
If you want a clearer path than jumping from tutorial to tutorial, my book gives you a step-by-step roadmap to really understand your Raspberry Pi.
Check the book hereWhat’s New on the Raspberry Pi 5?
Like most new Raspberry Pi models, the Raspberry Pi 5 comes with a drastic increase in performance. Eben Upton reports an overall increase of 2 to 3 times over the Raspberry Pi 4.
Let’s explore the new features that were announced for this new version.
Want even more ideas? I put together a free resource with over 75 Raspberry Pi project ideas, each with a quick description, tutorial link, and hardware requirements. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for something to do this weekend, this list will keep you busy for a while. Just click here to get instant access.
Processor
Since the first Raspberry Pi model, each new major model (B series) came with a CPU upgrade. The Raspberry Pi 5 follows this trend, but comes with a larger boost than usual.
The Raspberry Pi 5 includes a quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A76 CPU, running at 2.4GHz. The new Raspberry Pi has an updated core, runs faster, and uses newer technology, making it a lot quicker and more energy-efficient for most tasks.
Once again, here is the history of the Raspberry Pi processors:
| Raspberry Pi Model | CPU |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 1B | 1x ARM1176JFZ-S 700 MHz |
| Raspberry Pi 2B | 4x Cortex A7 – 900 MHz |
| Raspberry Pi 3B | 4x Cortex A53 – 1.2 GHz |
| Raspberry Pi 3B+ | 4x Cortex A53 – 1.4 GHz |
| Raspberry Pi 4B | 4x Cortex A72 – 1.5 GHz (boosted to 1.8 GHz with Bullseye) |
| Raspberry Pi 5B | 4x Cortex A76 – 2.4 GHz |
We were wondering if it was the time for an eight-core CPU, it looks like it’s not for this one, but the large frequency boost is appreciated.
I think the frequency was the main limiter, so it’s great. Apps that run on one thread are still pretty slow on Raspberry Pi.
Raspberry Pi 5 vs Pi 4: The Definitive Comparison & Review
Memory
The Raspberry Pi 5 comes in five versions: with 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB memory.
In a recent test, I compared the 4 GB and 8 GB versions of the Raspberry Pi 4B. You can check the full benchmarks here, but in short, 4 GB is enough for most projects and usage on a Raspberry Pi.
So, I don’t think the Raspberry Pi 5 really needs more RAM. I would recommend the 4GB version in most cases unless you can easily afford the 8GB.
The kind of projects where 16 GB is useful was originally limited. But now that some time has passed, the extra memory lets you build Raspberry Pi projects that weren’t possible before, like running ChatGPT locally.
Display
The Raspberry Pi 5 includes the same display ports as the Raspberry Pi 4 (2x micro-HDMI), but the big news is the addition of a real GPU (Video Core VII GPU) that should get us a nice boost in many applications and projects.
If you remember, the Raspberry Pi 4B came with two major changes compared to the previous models :
- Switching from HDMI to micro-HDMI: you can no longer use a standard HDMI cable, and you need adapters or compatible cables.
- Dual HDMI output: the Raspberry Pi 4B was the first model capable of using a dual screen thanks to the two micro-HDMI connectors.
I wasn’t sure if they will keep this for the Raspberry Pi 5, but it seems they did. I never use two monitors with it, but if it’s not that expensive to keep it, it’s fine.
USB Ports
No major changes for us concerning the USB ports.
The Raspberry Pi comes with 2x USB 3.0 ports (5Gbps) and 2x USB 2.0 ports. The main change is that they reverted the disposition as it was on the Raspberry Pi 3B+.
Read next: 15 Easy Projects for Raspberry Pi Beginners
They could have put 4x USB 3 ports instead of 2x USB 3 and 2x USB 2. But we don’t really need it, and this would impact the final price of the device, as USB 3 connectors are more expensive.
4 ports are enough, and 2x USB 3 ports is fine.
eMMC Support
The Raspberry Pi 5 doesn’t come with native M.2 support. But they added a PCIe 2.0 x1 interface for fast peripherals. An M.2 hat will be required for fast storage, but at least it will be easier than with the Pi 4.
Yes, we could already use USB devices or even SSD drives via the USB 3 ports on the Raspberry Pi 4B, but it’s not very convenient.
I would have loved a solution like other competitors, where you can plug an M.2 hard drive, directly on the main board. For example, the ODROID-M1 is available at a similar price with an eMMC module on it:
But they decided otherwise, I guess it wasn’t a priority, was too expensive or took too much space on the board.
Bonus tip: When I started, the hardest part wasn’t the setup, it was figuring out what to build next. I ended up creating a list of 75+ project ideas with links and difficulty, so it’s easier to just pick something and try it. Grab the list here.
Related: What Can You Actually Do with PCIe on Raspberry Pi 5?
Read next: Make Passive Income with Raspberry Pi
Pricing
The cheapest Raspberry Pi 5 is slightly more expensive than the previous models, but it’s in the same price range as the Raspberry Pi 4 for similar memory.
The official price of Raspberry Pi models on their release date has been pretty consistent over the years, with model B being around $35 and model A around $25. It won’t be possible to get a Raspberry Pi 5 at this price.
| Raspberry Pi Model | Official Price on Release |
|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 1B | $35 |
| Raspberry Pi 2B | $35 |
| Raspberry Pi 3B | $35 |
| Raspberry Pi 3B+ | $35 |
| Raspberry Pi 4B | Between $35 (1GB) and $75 (4G) |
| Raspberry Pi 5B | Between $50 (2GB) and $80 (8G) |
The Raspberry Pi 5 costs a bit more than the previous models, but it’s expected will all the new features. A Raspberry Pi Zero 2 is probably the best cheap alternative currently if the price is an important criterion for you.
Warning: current prices are all over the place for a new Raspberry Pi. Make sure to check this article to pay the right price when buying a Raspberry Pi. I also give a few tips to find one in stock (which currently isn’t that easy).
In any case, I hope this article answered some of your questions. I still recommend getting a Raspberry Pi 4 if you need a Raspberry Pi today, you won’t be disappointed. And you are welcome to leave a comment in the community if you would like to chat about these Raspberry Pi 5 announcements.
Something not working? Don't waste hours going in circles. Ask in the RaspberryTips Community and get help from people who've already figured it out. Get unstuck now.
Related Questions
What is RP1 on the Raspberry Pi 5?
RP1 is a new I/O controller in the Raspberry Pi 5, designed to manage various tasks such as handling USB ports, controlling Ethernet, and managing camera and display connections.
In simpler terms, Raspberry Pi models used to have most of their functions built into one main chip. The Raspberry Pi 5, however, is made differently.
It has a new design where only the really fast and major functions are in the main chip. Other functions are handled by a separate controller, making it more efficient and cost-effective. This separate controller is connected to the main chip via PCI Express.
Is cooling required for the Raspberry Pi 5?
According to the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the Raspberry Pi 5 will achieve optimal performance with active cooling. The new case for the Raspberry Pi 5 comes with a built-in fan, to take care of this.
Check out my review of the Raspberry Pi 5 to know how much cooling is important, but it looks like this time we won’t be able to avoid it.
Note: Sunfounder has released the Pironman 5, which is like the perfect case for the Raspberry Pi 5. I tested it (previous link) if you’re looking for the best way to keep your Pi 5 safe and cool.
Can I use my Raspberry Pi 4 case with the Raspberry Pi 5?
No, the Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 have different form factors, with differences that make it impossible to use a Raspberry Pi 4 case with a Raspberry Pi 5.
For now, it’s recommended to use the official case for the Raspberry Pi 5 or the many great options you have from third parties out there.
Can I use the power supply from my Raspberry Pi 4 for the Raspberry Pi 5?
The Raspberry Pi 5 requires even more juice, due to the new specifications and performance increase. A new power supply has been introduced, delivering 5V/5A via USB-C. It’s highly recommended to use an official power supply.
The Raspberry Pi 4 power supply should be enough to start the Raspberry Pi 5, but don’t expect the best performance with it.
Whenever you’re ready, here are other ways I can help you:
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Master your Raspberry Pi in 30 days: If you are looking for the best tips to become an expert on Raspberry Pi, this book is for you. Learn useful Linux skills and practice multiple projects with step-by-step guides.
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You can also find all my recommendations for tools and hardware on this page.
