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We take a closer look at Raspberry Pi 5 vs Pi 4, and how they differ in terms of specs and price.
With the release of the Raspberry Pi 5, it’s time for us to take a closer look at the new iteration of the tiny PC. Since the first model was released back in 2012, each iteration has brought something new to the table.
The Raspberry Pi 5 has brought notable improvements, especially in terms of performance, speed and connectivity. To make the comparison clearer, we’re pitting Raspberry Pi 5 against the Pi 4, to see whether it’s worth the upgrade or not. Let’s get stuck into the battle of the Pis!
Raspberry Pi 5 vs Pi 4 – Specs
| Feature | Raspberry Pi 5 | Raspberry Pi 4 |
|---|---|---|
| SoC | Broadcom BCM2712 | Broadcom BCM2711 |
| CPU | Quad-Core Cortex-A76 (ARM v8) 64-bit @ 2.4 GHz | Quad core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit @ 1.8 GHz |
| GPU | VideoCore VII @ 800 MHz Supports: OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2 | VideoCore VI @ 500 MHz Supports: OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.0 |
| Display Output | 2 x 4kp60 MINI HDMI Display Output Both can use 4kp60 | 2 x 4kp60 Mini HDMI One at 4Kp30 when both in use |
| Memory | LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM 4GB, or 8GB | LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM 1GB, 2GB, 4GB or 8GB |
| Storage | Micro SD (SDR104 Compatible) M.2 NVME SSD Support via HAT | Micro SD |
| GPIO | 40 PIN – Compatible with old Raspberry Pi HAT’s | 40 PIN |
| USB | 2 x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0 @ 5 Gbps | 2 x USB 2.0 2 x USB 3.0 |
| Connectors | 2 x 4-lane MIPI camera / display transceivers, PCIe 2.0 x1 Interface, UART Breakout, RTC Clock Power, 4-Pin FAN Power | 2-lane MIPI DSI Display Port, 2-lane MIPI CSI Camera Port, 4-Pole Stereo Audio and Composite Video Port |
| Networking | Dual-Band 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5 / BLE, Gigabit Ethernet, PoE via POE + Hat (Incompatible with old version) | Dual-Band 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5 / BLE, Gigabit Ethernet, PoE via POE + Hat |
| Power Button | Soft power button | None |
| Power Input | 5V 4A via USB-C Port, PoE via POE+ HAT (Incompatible with old version), 5V via GPIO | 5V 3A via USB-C Port, POE via POE+ HAT, 5V via GPIO |
So you’ve seen the specs table, but let’s break it down for anyone unsure. The most important changes are to do with the CPU and GPU power. Raspberry Pi 5 is fitted with a new Broadcom BCM2712 chip. Meanwhile, the Pi 5 CPU enjoys a quad-core Cortex-A76 processor that clocks at 2.4GHz. This is a significant jump from the Pi 4’s CPU power, which operates at around 1.8GHz. Though the power increase is great, be weary that the Pi 5 might get hotter, so make sure you’ve got good cooling in place.
The GPU meanwhile has upgraded to a VideoCore VII at 1.1GHz in the Pi 5 compared to the Pi 4’s VideoCore VI at 800MHz.
Where the Pi 4 supports Vulkan 1.2, the Pi 4 only supports 1.0. In terms of memory, the Pi 5 sees more updates to make it even more faster. The LPDDR4X architecture of the Pi 5 offers almost double the speed of Pi 4 which uses LPDDR4 memory.
In a nutshell then, Raspberry Pi 5 is a mighty upgrade from Pi 4. It improves on virtually everything the Pi 4 did before. The only potential drawback is it’s higher power draw than before. This is to be expected though, and the makers have managed to improve the flagship model’s power efficiency.
Raspberry Pi 5 vs Pi 4 – Display output
Unlike the performance which is an easy win for the Pi 5, the display is practically the same. Both devices offer dual display output at 4K resolution. The difference between the two models fall in the max refresh rate.
If you use a Raspberry Pi 4 with dual monitors, only one monitor can run at 4K 60Hz, the other will be at 4K 30Hz. For the Raspberry Pi 5, this has been improved. Now, it can run both HDMI displays at 4K 60Hz.
Raspberry Pi 5 vs 4 – price comparison
Below you’ll find all the Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 models listed according to their price. It’s just easier that way! Note that these prices were taken at the time of writing, and don’t take into account scalping and other price fluctuations. If you want to know where you can get your hands on the new model, check out where to buy Raspberry Pi here.
| Pi | Price |
| Raspberry Pi 4 (2GB) | $52 |
| Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB) | $63 |
| Raspberry Pi 4 (8GB) | $89 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB) | $60 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) | $80 |
The prices listed in the table are not MSRP. To be clear, the previous generation of Raspberry Pi is generally cheaper than the flagship model. For example the 4GB variant of Raspberry Pi 4 is supposed to cost around $55, meaning the price difference between those two models is around $25.
Final word – should you buy Raspberry Pi 5?
If you can get your hands on the new Raspberry Pi 5, then it’s definitely worth the investment over Raspberry Pi 4. If you’re someone who’s keen to start an ambitious project, then the power uplift you get in the new model is worth it. Raspberry Pi 4 will continue to stay relevant, even as it approaches the fourth year since it’s initial release. You also have the advantage of lower power demands, making it a good choice for budget conscious buyers.
Anyone who already has a Raspberry Pi may be interested in our top nostalic games to play, or maybe need a hand with emulating their PS2.
