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Raspberry Pi 3 Model B vs Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB

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

both judged against single-board computers at a similar price

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB scores 7.0/10 overall, ahead of the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B at 6.4/10.

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB leads on I/O and networking and value.

They score the same on software support, performance and storage.

The biggest difference is I/O and networking, where the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB scores 8/10 to the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B's 5/10.

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B

6.4/10verdict: wait for deal

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

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB

7.0/10verdict: wait for deal

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB is for beginners, tinkerers and homelabbers who want official Raspberry Pi OS support and an active community for light, low-memory jobs. It suits GPIO projects, small services and learning Linux, where the software ecosystem matters more than raw capacity. It is less suited to anyone who needs fast native storage or plans to run it hot without cooling.

Typically about £44.30 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 BRaspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB
Software support30%10/1010/10
Performance25%5/105/10
Storage15%4/104/10
I/O and networking15%5/108/10
Value15%5/106/10
Overall6.4/107.0/10

Specifications

SpecRaspberry Pi 3 Model BRaspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB
Processor (SoC)Broadcom BCM2837, quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.2 GHzBroadcom BCM2711, quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64-bit SoC at 1.5-1.8GHz (sources conflict: 1.8GHz on the manufacturer page, 1.5GHz in the datasheet and Amazon listing)
Memory1GB RAM1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4-3200 SDRAM (depending on model); the 1GB variant is one option
Storage optionsmicroSD slot only, for OS and dataMicro-SD card slot for loading operating system and data storage; no M.2 or NVMe interface listed
Networking100Base Ethernet; wireless LAN and Bluetooth2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE; Gigabit Ethernet (PoE requires a separate add-on PoE HAT)
GPIO40-pin extended GPIO headerRaspberry Pi standard 40 pin GPIO header (fully backwards compatible with previous boards); 28x user GPIO
Video outputsFull-size HDMI, 4-pole stereo and composite video port, CSI camera port, DSI display port2 × micro-HDMI ports (up to 4kp60 supported); 2-lane MIPI DSI display port; 2-lane MIPI CSI camera port; 4-pole stereo audio and composite video port
Power inputMicro USB, up to 2.5 A switched supply5V DC via USB-C connector (minimum 3A)

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB

  • + Official Raspberry Pi OS and a large, supportive community
  • + Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 and the standard 40-pin GPIO header
  • + Dual micro-HDMI outputs with up to 4kp60 support
  • − Micro-SD only, with no M.2 or NVMe interface listed
  • − Owners report heavy heat and throttling without better cooling
  • − 1GB is the smallest memory option in the range

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need native M.2 or NVMe storage rather than micro-SD
  • Anyone running several containers or VMs who needs more than 1GB of memory
  • People who want a board that stays cool without adding a heatsink or fan
Read the full Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB review ›

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