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Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ vs Raspberry Pi 5 4GB

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

all judged against single-board computers at a similar price

The Raspberry Pi 5 4GB scores 7.9/10 overall, ahead of the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ at 6.5/10.

The Raspberry Pi 5 4GB leads on performance, storage and I/O and networking.

They score the same on software support and value.

The biggest difference is performance, where the Raspberry Pi 5 4GB scores 8/10 to the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+'s 5/10.

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 5 4GB

Raspberry Pi 5 4GB

7.9/10verdict: buy

The Raspberry Pi 5 4GB is for homelabbers and developers who want a small Linux board with official OS support and a standard 40-pin GPIO header. It suits people moving up from a Pi 4 who want more CPU performance for services, projects or display output. Buyers should be ready to sort out a proper 5A power supply and think about cooling.

Typically about £105.60 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 5 4GB
Software support30%10/1010/10
Performance25%5/108/10
Storage15%4/106/10
I/O and networking15%5/107/10
Value15%6/106/10
Overall6.5/107.9/10

Specifications

SpecRaspberry Pi 3 Model A+Raspberry Pi 5 4GB
Processor (SoC)Broadcom BCM2837B0, quad-core Cortex-A53 64-bit SoC at 1.4 GHzBroadcom BCM2712, quad-core Arm Cortex A76 processor @ 2.4GHz, 512KB L2 per core and 2MB shared L3 cache
Memory512MB LPDDR2 SDRAMLPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM, offered in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB variants
Storage optionsMicro SD card slot for OS and data; no onboard eMMC or M.2/NVMe connector found in sourcesmicroSD card slot with SDR104 support; M.2 storage needs a separate adapter over PCIe 2.0 x1
Networking2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2/BLE; no Ethernet portDual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0/BLE, Gigabit Ethernet; PoE+ needs a separate HAT
GPIOExtended 40-pin GPIO headerStandard 40-pin header
Video outputsOne full-size HDMI port, DSI display port, CSI camera port, 4-pole stereo/composite portDual 4Kp60 HDMI output with HDR support; VideoCore VII GPU; micro-HDMI connector
Power input5V/2.5A DC via micro USB, or 5V DC via GPIO header5V/5A DC via USB-C with Power Delivery support

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 5 4GB

  • + Official Raspberry Pi OS images built for the Pi 5
  • + Quad Cortex A76 cores at 2.4GHz; owners report big gains
  • + Standard 40-pin header, two USB 3.0 ports, dual 4K HDMI
  • − Owners report high temperatures, throttling and shutdowns
  • − Needs a 5A supply; some 3A and laptop chargers fail
  • − M.2 storage needs a separate adapter; Ethernet is Gigabit only

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need 2.5GbE or faster wired networking on the board
  • Anyone who wants native M.2 NVMe without buying an adapter
  • Buyers who cannot supply a 5A USB-C power supply or plan for cooling
Read the full Raspberry Pi 5 4GB review ›

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