The arrival of the Raspberry Pi 5 with 1 GB of RAM This marks a new entry-level model in the latest range of the popular motherboard. It's a version with reduced memory but retains the same chip and connectivity as its higher-end siblings, and is being launched internationally with an official price of $45 (In Europe and Spain, taxes and distribution margins will need to be added).
This launch doesn't come alone. The foundation has taken the opportunity to announce a upward revision of prices This has affected most of the Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 family, driven by the historically high cost of RAM. The situation impacts the entire technology ecosystem, and not even a project as closely associated with low cost as Raspberry Pi has managed to escape it.
A new entry-level option: Raspberry Pi 5 with 1 GB
The new Raspberry Pi 5 model with 1GB is positioned as the most basic option of the fifth generation, designed for projects with modest memory needs, such as simple automation, basic electronics, small servers, or educational uses very specific. Although 1 GB is a limited capacity even in an SBC today, it may be sufficient for console-mode applications, embedded tasks, or systems that do not require a heavy graphical interface.
This variant retains the same processor Broadcom BCM2712 with four Arm Cortex-A76 cores at 2,4 GHz, unlike the rest of the Raspberry Pi 5 range. It also maintains the usual connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, support for up to two 4K displays, high-bandwidth USB 3.0 and the possibility of adding high-performance peripherals via the interface PCI ExpressIn other words, the cut is limited to memory.
One of the technical details of this version is the use of the stepping D0 of the BCM2712This is a revised chip that, according to the company, allows for slightly improved performance and efficiency. In practical terms, projects already optimized for Raspberry Pi 5 shouldn't notice any compatibility issues, but they will benefit from this minor internal silicon upgrade.
Originally priced at $45, this 1GB Raspberry Pi 5 is positioned as absolute base model of the family 5This is below the 2, 4, 8, and 16 GB variants already on the market. For users in Spain or Europe, the final cost will depend on the dollar-euro exchange rate and VAT, but it is expected to be around a similar figure in euros, with some upward margin for logistics and distribution.
It's worth remembering that, as with the rest of the Raspberry Pi 5, The memory is soldered to the boardThis means it cannot be expanded later with additional modules. Choosing the 1 GB model means accepting that limit permanently, so it is only recommended when you are certain that the applications you plan to use will not require more RAM, either now or in the medium term.
Price increases for Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 due to RAM
The launch of the Raspberry Pi 5 with 1 GB of RAM is accompanied by the unpopular but announced as inevitable decision to increase the prices of Raspberry Pi 4 and 5 with greater memory capacityThe increases range between 5 and 25 dollars According to the model, this in some cases represents increases of around 20% compared to the previous price.
In the Raspberry Pi 5 range, the model of 2 GB goes from $50 to $55That of 4 GB goes up from $60 to $70, while the version of 8 GB becomes more expensive from $80 to $95The most affected is the Raspberry Pi 5 with 16 GB of RAM, which sees its official price increase from 120 to $145, a jump of 25 dollars that puts it at the top of the catalog in terms of both performance and cost.
The previous series is no exception. In the case of Raspberry Pi 4, the model with 4 GB increases from 55 to 60 dollars, and the variant of 8 GB goes from $75 to $85These movements show that the impact of memory cost affects mainly configurations with more RAM, where the component has a greater weight within the final price of the motherboard.
Furthermore, the 16 GB versions of Compute Module 5, geared towards integrators and industrial projects, also experience an increase of $20For those who design commercial products based on these modules, the price variation may force them to revise budgets, margins, and manufacturing cost forecasts.
Faced with this scenario, the foundation has made it clear that Not all models change priceRaspberry Pi 4 models with less memory, Raspberry Pi 3+ and earlier models, as well as the various versions of Raspberry Pi ZeroPrices remain at the same levels as before the announcement. This preserves very affordable options for education, simple projects, and uses where power is not a priority.
RAM in the spotlight: AI, shortages and effects in Europe
The trigger for this wave of adjustments, according to the company itself, is the unusual increase in the cost of LPDDR4 memory and LPDDR4X that their motherboards use. The accelerated expansion of the artificial intelligence infrastructure On a global scale, it has driven up demand for memory chips, shifting some production capacity towards high-margin solutions for data centers and specialized hardware.
Although the memory used in servers and AI accelerators is not identical to that used in Raspberry Pi, the Large manufacturers prioritize production lines which are more profitable for them. The result is a lower availability of chips for the consumer and embedded markets, with a direct effect on prices. In some segments, PC RAM kits have reached double or triple its price in a matter of months.
This situation also affects Europe and, by extension, the Spanish market. Specialized stores in hardware and electronics Companies have begun to reflect these increases in their product catalogs, and boards like the Raspberry Pi, traditionally associated with affordable projects, are no longer immune to these price pressures. For those setting up learning labs, maker workshops, or computer labs with multiple units, the accumulated cost overrun can be significant.
The same cause has also been pointed out by manufacturers of computers and custom systems: Memory chip shortages, rising prices, and tighter marginsWhat was once a relatively inexpensive component has become a critical part of the budget, which explains why a non-profit foundation like Raspberry Pi is forced to pass on some of that increase to the end user.
For those who were thinking of acquiring a license plate in Spain or other European countries, this translates, in practice, to Prices are noticeably higher for models with more RAM.While the new 1GB option will be the most economical way to access the fifth generation, provided the project supports that memory limit.
Raspberry Pi positioning and pricing outlook
Eben Upton, head of Raspberry Pi Trading, has acknowledged that the decision to raise prices is difficult but necessary in the current context of the memory market. In his statements, he insists that the platform's mission remains to offer high-performance equipment at low cost, something that has characterized the project since its inception.
The company emphasizes that these adjustments should be understood as temporary measures and that their goal is to reverse the price increases once manufacturing costs normalize. In fact, the official message indicates that, once the pressure on memory production eases, the intention is reduce list prices again of the affected Raspberry Pi 4 and 5.
Experience in the technology sector, however, suggests a degree of caution: in many cases, when a product's price increases, It doesn't always return to the previous level.Especially if the market gradually adapts to the new standards. Even so, Raspberry Pi maintains a cost-containment strategy, aware that a large part of its community consists of students, teachers, hobbyists, and small businesses with tight budgets.
The launch of a model as compact as the 1GB Raspberry Pi 5 fits into this strategy of trying to offer at least one entrance door Relatively affordable compared to the latest generation of hardware, despite the less-than-favorable memory landscape. In Spain and Europe, where the Raspberry Pi user community is large and very active, this balance between price and performance will be key for the board to remain a benchmark in educational, maker, and IoT projects.
As of today, the catalog looks like this: a new entry-level model with 1GB launching at $45, a general price increase of between $5 and $25 for the 2GB to 16GB variants of the 4 and 5 series, and a promise to review the pricing policy once memory is no longer such an expensive resource. Those who need more RAM will have to bear the extra cost; those who can manage with 1GB will find in this version a more modest option, but one that aligns with the philosophy of continuing to make general-purpose computing more accessible to smaller budgets.