Skip to content
sudopicks
esc

Raspberry Pi 400 vs Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

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

all judged against single-board computers at a similar price

The Raspberry Pi 400 scores 7.2/10 overall, ahead of the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W at 6.9/10.

The Raspberry Pi 400 leads on I/O and networking.

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

Raspberry Pi 400

Raspberry Pi 400

7.2/10verdict: buy

The Raspberry Pi 400 is for anyone who wants a complete, compact Raspberry Pi desktop with the keyboard built in and no assembly. It suits learners, classrooms and homelabbers who want a small terminal or light desktop machine running Raspberry Pi OS. It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs easy GPIO access or fast internal storage.

Typically about £57.60 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

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

6.9/10verdict: buy

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is for people who need a wireless quad-core Arm board for headless projects. It suits those replacing an original Pi Zero or building embedded and IoT jobs that need a 40-pin footprint and Bluetooth. It is a poor fit for anyone who wants a desktop, wired networking or fast storage.

Typically about £14.40 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 400Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Software support30%10/1010/10
Performance25%6/106/10
Storage15%4/104/10
I/O and networking15%7/105/10
Value15%7/107/10
Overall7.2/106.9/10

Specifications

SpecRaspberry Pi 400Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Processor (SoC)Broadcom BCM2711, quad-core Cortex-A72 64-bit, 1.8 GHzBroadcom BCM2710A1, quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A53 at 1GHz
Memory4GB LPDDR4-3200512MB LPDDR2
Storage optionsMicroSD card slot; no eMMC, SSD or M.2 slotmicroSD card slot only
NetworkingGigabit Ethernet; dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 5.0 and BLE2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, BLE, onboard antenna; no Ethernet
GPIO40-pin horizontal GPIO header on the rear of the case40-pin HAT-compatible I/O header footprint, unpopulated
Video outputs2 × micro HDMI ports, up to 4Kp60; H.265 4Kp60 decode, H.264 1080p60 decode, OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.0Mini HDMI port; composite video via test points
Power input5V DC via USB Type-C power inputMicro USB, rated 5V DC 2.5A (supply rating)

Strengths and weaknesses

Raspberry Pi 400

  • + Keyboard and computer in one compact case
  • + Raspberry Pi OS preinstalled on the SD card
  • + Gigabit Ethernet and two USB 3.0 ports
  • − microSD only, with no M.2 or eMMC
  • − GPIO access is awkward and needs an adapter
  • − Keyboard feels cheap and spongy to some owners

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want M.2, SSD or eMMC storage on the board.
  • Makers who will use the GPIO header often and want easy access.
  • Anyone who wants a separate bare board to mount in their own case.
Read the full Raspberry Pi 400 review ›

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

  • + Quad-core 1GHz CPU is a clear step up from the original Zero
  • + Drop-in replacement for the original Zero, easing migration
  • + Wi-Fi is competent and the onboard antenna is decent
  • − 512MB RAM hampers web browsing
  • − Runs hot under load and needs cooling
  • − No Ethernet, no 5GHz Wi-Fi, header pins unpopulated

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need wired Ethernet or 5GHz Wi-Fi
  • Anyone wanting a browser-based desktop with 512MB of RAM
  • Buyers who need fast storage or USB 3 peripherals
Read the full Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W review ›

More comparisons

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