Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ vs Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against single-board computers at a similar price

The Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ scores 6.5/10 overall, ahead of the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B at 6.4/10.

The Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ leads on value.

They score the same on software support, performance, storage and I/O and networking.

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+

6.5/10verdict: good, not the best

The Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ is for people who want a small, low-power board for a single, light job. It suits wireless projects that use the 40-pin GPIO header, a display or a camera. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs wired networking, several USB devices or much memory.

Typically about £22.86 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

6.4/10verdict: good, not the best

The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B suits people who want a small board for GPIO projects, simple services or learning. It fits builders who need a 40-pin header with camera and display ports. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs fast networking, USB 3 or storage beyond a microSD card.

Typically about £33 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightRaspberry Pi 3 Model A+Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
Software support30%10/1010/10
Performance25%5/105/10
Storage15%4/104/10
I/O and networking15%5/105/10
Value15%6/105/10
Overall6.5/106.4/10

Specifications

SpecRaspberry Pi 3 Model A+Raspberry Pi 3 Model B
Processor (SoC)Broadcom BCM2837B0, quad-core Cortex-A53 64-bit SoC at 1.4 GHzBroadcom BCM2837, quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.2 GHz
Memory512MB LPDDR2 SDRAM1GB RAM
Storage optionsMicro SD card slot for OS and data; no onboard eMMC or M.2/NVMe connector found in sourcesmicroSD slot only, for OS and data
Networking2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2/BLE; no Ethernet port100Base Ethernet; wireless LAN and Bluetooth
GPIOExtended 40-pin GPIO header40-pin extended GPIO header
Video outputsOne full-size HDMI port, DSI display port, CSI camera port, 4-pole stereo/composite portFull-size HDMI, 4-pole stereo and composite video port, CSI camera port, DSI display port
Power input5V/2.5A DC via micro USB, or 5V DC via GPIO headerMicro USB, up to 2.5 A switched supply

Strengths and weaknesses

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+

  • + Compact board with low idle power draw
  • + Dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 built in
  • + Extended 40-pin GPIO header plus HDMI, DSI and CSI ports
  • − No Ethernet port; wireless networking only
  • − Single USB 2.0 port limits peripherals
  • − 512MB RAM and micro SD only

Skip it if:

  • Anyone who needs a wired Ethernet connection for a server or network appliance
  • Buyers who plan to run heavier apps or several services at once
  • People who need more than one USB port or storage beyond a micro SD card
Read the full Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ review ›

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

  • + 40-pin GPIO header plus CSI camera and DSI display ports
  • + Built-in wireless LAN and Bluetooth
  • + Production promised until at least January 2028
  • − Ethernet is 10/100 only, not gigabit
  • − No USB 3; four USB 2.0 ports
  • − microSD only, with no M.2 or NVMe support published

Skip it if:

  • Anyone who needs gigabit Ethernet or USB 3 for fast file transfers
  • Buyers who want NVMe or M.2 storage rather than a microSD card
  • People who need more than 1GB of RAM for several services or VMs
Read the full Raspberry Pi 3 Model B review ›

More comparisons

Compare all single-board computers · Best single-board computers