Raspberry Pi Foundation Launches 2GB RAM Version of Raspberry Pi 5 at an Attractive Price of $50

In 2023, the single-board computer manufacturer Raspberry Pi introduced the Raspberry Pi 5 , a device initially available with 4GB of RAM and also offering an 8GB RAM option, with the understanding that most users would need at least the 4GB RAM version to meet their usage requirements.

However, the Raspberry Pi Foundation believes that there are scenarios where 2GB of RAM is still sufficient. Therefore, they have now launched the Raspberry Pi 5 with 2GB of RAM. This version also features a different SoC, allowing for a reduced overall price point of $50.

For comparison, the Raspberry Pi 5 with 4GB of RAM is priced at 60, and the 8GB RAM version at 80. All prices mentioned in this article are for the board only and do not include any additional accessories such as power supplies, data cables, or cases.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation states that the Raspberry Pi OS, a Debian-based operating system tailored for Raspberry Pi, has been optimized to run smoothly on the 2GB RAM version of the Raspberry Pi, meeting the needs of specific use cases.

To cut costs, in addition to reducing the memory, the SoC chip in the 2GB RAM version has been changed. The chip is still Broadcom's BCM2712 but uses the D0 stepping version, eliminating some features not utilized by Raspberry Pi.

This optimized version, known as Broadcom BCM2712C1, maintains the Arm Cortex-A76 architecture, offering a quad-core processor with a 2.4GHz frequency and the latest version of the VideoCore multimedia platform.

Features not utilized in other versions of the Raspberry Pi 5 and permanently disabled, which still occupied chip space and added costs, have been completely removed in this version.

Thus, the optimized chip essentially has no difference from the chip used in other versions of Raspberry Pi 5, as it provides the same functionality and performance but at a lower manufacturing cost. Coupled with the reduction to 2GB of RAM, this allows the Raspberry Pi 5 2GB RAM version to be offered at a $10 cheaper price point.

It's important to note that the Raspberry Pi's memory is not easily replaceable, and higher-configured versions offer better performance. For instance, connecting dual 4K@60P displays might not be supported by the lower-configured versions. Although more expensive, the higher-end versions may better meet future needs, so buyers should consider their options carefully.

Finally, the new version of Raspberry Pi 5 is now available for sale in major markets worldwide, with initial prices possibly subject to a premium. However, the 2GB version is not expected to attract a large number of buyers, so prices should not deviate significantly.