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Raspberry Pi 3 Model B vs Raspberry Pi Zero WH

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

both judged against single-board computers at a similar price

The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B scores 6.4/10 overall, ahead of the Raspberry Pi Zero WH at 5.9/10.

The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B leads on software support and performance.

The Raspberry Pi Zero WH leads on value.

They score the same on storage and I/O and networking.

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 Zero WH

Raspberry Pi Zero WH

5.9/10verdict: skip

The Raspberry Pi Zero WH is for people who want a small, low-power board with GPIO ready to use straight away. It suits single-purpose projects that need Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and header-based add-ons rather than much processing power. It is not aimed at anyone who needs wired networking, fast storage or several services running at once.

Typically about £15.40 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 Zero WH
Software support30%10/109/10
Performance25%5/104/10
Storage15%4/104/10
I/O and networking15%5/105/10
Value15%5/106/10
Overall6.4/105.9/10

Specifications

SpecRaspberry Pi 3 Model BRaspberry Pi Zero WH
Processor (SoC)Broadcom BCM2837, quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 at 1.2 GHzBroadcom BCM2835 with a 1 GHz single-core 32-bit ARM11 CPU and 400 MHz VideoCore IV GPU
Memory1GB RAM512 MB LPDDR2 RAM at 450 MHz
Storage optionsmicroSD slot only, for OS and datamicroSD slot only
Networking100Base Ethernet; wireless LAN and Bluetooth2.4 GHz 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0 with BLE per Raspberry Pi (4.1 per The Pi Hut); no wired Ethernet port
GPIO40-pin extended GPIO header40-pin GPIO header, pre-soldered on this model, 0.1in (2.54 mm) pin pitch
Video outputsFull-size HDMI, 4-pole stereo and composite video port, CSI camera port, DSI display portMini HDMI port and composite video (via 2 unpopulated pins)
Power inputMicro USB, up to 2.5 A switched supply5V via micro USB port; two micro-USB ports, one for input power and one for external devices

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 Zero WH

  • + 40-pin GPIO header comes pre-soldered
  • + Same header as flagship Model B boards, so HATs fit
  • + Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in
  • − Single-core 32-bit CPU with 512 MB RAM
  • − No wired Ethernet; 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
  • − microSD is the only storage option

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need wired Ethernet or 5 GHz Wi-Fi
  • Anyone running several containers or VMs on one board
  • Users who want storage beyond a microSD card
Read the full Raspberry Pi Zero WH review ›

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