The New Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is Here!
The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ was recently announced, and the new board features the following: 1.4GHz 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, 802.11ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2, and dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless support (notably adding 5GHz support at the 2.4GHz band). Like other Raspberry Pi boards, it also features 4 USB ports and has improved power management. There’s also a 16GB MicroSD card with NOOBS preinstalled in the box…just add power!
What’s New
The new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is here, and it’s a significant upgrade over the previous model. The biggest change is the addition of a new processor, the Broadcom BCM2837B0, which is a 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 clocked at 1.4GHz. This makes the new Pi around 50% faster than its predecessor. There are also improvements to the memory (LPDDR2) and power supply (5V 2.5A). On top of that, there are now more USB ports available: 4x USB 2.0 compared to 2x USB 2.0 on the previous board. 2x USB 3.0 instead of just one port
1x Gigabit Ethernet Port instead of 10/100 Ethernet Port
1x HDMI port replaced with a 4K video output port 1x audio jack replaced with a composite audio jack (3.5mm TRRS connector)
1x microSD card slot in place of an SD card slot for external storage purposes
512MB RAM for OS images that don’t require more memory; Power over Ethernet requires separate PoE HAT; Compatible with Windows 10 IoT core; Same form factor as previous model. Uses MicroUSB power cable. Compatible with old HATs and pHATs. Requires no soldering or screwdriver assembly. Comes pre-installed with NodeMCU firmware so you can use it straight out of the box without any programming knowledge needed. A full list of specifications can be found below , but this new board brings about some great features for developers, hobbyists, students and educators alike. The Raspberry Pi Foundation has done a wonderful job making this product accessible to people of all skill levels – something they’ve been trying to do since day one. And thanks to them, we’ll continue having access to affordable and flexible development boards like the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, which has changed how we learn computer science forever.
What’s the Same
The new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ shares the same basic design as its predecessor. It’s a credit card-sized computer with an HDMI port, two USB ports, and a microSD card slot. The biggest change is the addition of a fifth USB port, which is located on the side of the board. The first four are still available next to the ethernet port. Other minor changes include a more powerful processor that boots faster than before (8 seconds) and WiFi performance that’s nearly twice as fast as before. For better thermal control, the processor now has a copper heat spreader, which should make it run even cooler. Plus, you can now buy it in red or blue. Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ Review: What Has Changed?
What’s Changed: With this release, the big news is that the Raspberry Pi Foundation has upgraded from a Broadcom BCM2837 chip to BCM2837B0. While it looks identical at first glance, this version packs some serious improvements under the hood—namely an increase in RAM speed from 900 MHz to 1.4 GHz and improved wireless networking speeds. All told, the new version brings some much-needed upgrades to one of our favorite pieces of hardware. We’re looking forward to building more projects using this little guy.
Should You Buy One?
If you’re thinking about buying a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, there’s a few things you should know. First, it’s a big upgrade from the previous model, with a faster processor and improved connectivity. It’s also compatible with more software and accessories than ever before. So if you’re looking for a powerful little board to start or expand your DIY projects, the new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ is definitely worth considering.
And even though it doesn’t have any groundbreaking improvements over its predecessor, the upgrades will be appreciated by those who are already invested in the world of Raspberry Pi. Second, the new CPU means that this latest iteration can handle higher-end multimedia. Whether you want to watch videos or just play some tunes through the audio jack, it’ll do an excellent job without hiccups or lag time. Third, like I mentioned earlier, this is one of the first versions of Raspberry Pi that has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities right out of the box—no need for additional hardware like dongles anymore.
