The Raspberry Pi Foundation has announced the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+, offering several major improvements over the current compact version of the classic Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+.
The current Model A+ was getting long in the tooth, announced in November 2014 as the successor to the original Model A. The 2014 Model 1 A+ still employed the first Raspberry Pi’s single-core chipset.
The new Pi 3 A+, available today, gains the same quad-core system on chip as the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ released earlier this year. The SoC is Broadcom’s BCM2837B0, which is a 1.4GHz 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 CPU.
Despite the upgraded specs, the Pi 3 A+ will still cost $25, or $10 less than Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, which has double the memory.
One of the key differences with the Model B+ feature-wise is that the Pi 3 A+ lacks an Ethernet port and has only a single USB port.
Their absence permits the smaller form factor, which is more squarish compared with the Pi 3B+. Like the Pi Zero, the new Pi 3 A+ has 512MB of RAM, which is double the RAM of the 2014 model when it launched. The old A+ doubled its RAM in 2016.
To ensure continuity, the Pi 3 A+ shares the same mechanical footprint as the 2014 Model A+, measuring 65mm × 56.5mm (2.56in × 2.22in), with the same 40-pin GPIO header. Its size makes it more appealing for projects that need a smaller computer.
However, the Pi 3 A+ does feature dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11ac wireless LAN, and Bluetooth 4.2.
The HDMI 1.3 port supports 1,080p monitors and TVs, and there’s a microUSB connector for power, as well as a four-pole stereo audio output and composite video jack.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation said the Raspberry Pi 3 A+ will remain in production until at least January 2023.
Raspberry Pi 3 A+ is available from approved resellers, such as RS Components and Farnell element14.
In the spec sheet, the Raspberry Pi Foundation says the Raspberry Pi 3 A will remain in production until at least January 2023.
Image: Raspberry Pi Foundation
One of the key differences with the Model 3 B feature-wise is that the Pi 3 A lacks an Ethernet port and has only a single USB port.
Image: Raspberry Pi Foundation
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