Raspberry Pi released a new 1GB model of its Raspberry Pi 5 single-board computer at $45, featuring a powerful Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor clocked at 2.4GHz.
This entry-level variant includes dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and a PCIe 2.0 interface for fast storage expansion, making advanced computing accessible at a lower cost.
The launch coincides with price adjustments on higher-RAM versions, driven by surging LPDDR4X memory costs amid AI data center demand.
The BCM2712 chip provides 512KB L2 cache per core and a 2MB shared L3 cache, enabling better performance than the prior Pi 4’s BCM2711 Cortex-A72.
An RP1 southbridge handles I/O, including dual USB 3.0 ports at 5Gbps each, Gigabit Ethernet, dual 4Kp60 micro-HDMI outputs, and dual MIPI DSI/CSI connectors for cameras and displays.
The PCIe port supports NVMe SSDs via an FPC adapter, boosting storage speeds beyond the limits of microSD cards. Power comes via USB-C at 5V/5A with PD support.
Price Changes Amid Memory Crunch
Higher-capacity models face increases starting today to offset LPDDR4 shortages, with CEO Eben Upton noting the hikes mirror October changes for Compute Modules.
The lower-end Pi 4 (1GB/2GB), Pi 3, and Zero lines remain unchanged.
| Product | RAM | Old Price | New Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4 | 4GB | $55 | $60 |
| Raspberry Pi 4 | 8GB | $75 | $85 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 1GB | N/A | $45 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 2GB | $50 | $55 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 4GB | $60 | $70 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 8GB | $80 | $95 |
| Raspberry Pi 5 | 16GB | $120 | $145 |
The 1GB Pi 5 uses the BCM2712 D0 stepping for optimized single-rank LPDDR4X performance.
Community feedback highlights uses such as clusters, lightweight servers, and GPU demos, though desktop tasks require 4GB+ to avoid swapping.
Upton expects memory prices to normalize after the AI boom, promising reversals.
This keeps Pi’s low-cost mission amid 2026 constraints, with the 1GB model filling a gap for hobbyists and educators. Sales remain strong despite mini-PC comparisons.
