Raspberry Pi 4 vs Raspberry Pi 3

A deep dive into how the Raspberry Pi 4 and Raspberry Pi 3 compare

Table of Contents Table of Contents

We’re here to discuss everything there is to know when it comes to pitting the Raspberry Pi 4 vs the Raspberry Pi 3. How has the humble Raspi advanced between these two generations?

The very first RPi released way back in 2012, and it was an interesting development into a small computers at the time. Their rather unexpected popularity made them a household name. These tiny single-board computers (SBCs) are perfect for those that love to tinker with some tech on the cheap.

READ NOW: Where to buy Raspberry Pi 4

Now that rumors of the Raspberry Pi 5 release date are out there, we thought it would be a good idea to take a look back and compare the previous two generations which are readily available on the market.

How will the two SBCs compare? Well, there are first a few things to consider before we can directly compare them. Let’s jump straight into the details.

Raspberry Pi 4 vs Raspberry Pi 3 models

The Raspberry Pi 4 has been out since 2019, so we already know all about it’s capabilities. The Pi 3 has obviously been out for a longer time, and multiple models with improvements have arrived since it’s initial release to contrast and compare. Here is a list of the current models.

• Raspberry Pi 4 B
• Raspberry Pi 3 A+
• Raspberry Pi 3 B+
• Raspberry Pi 3 B

Raspberry Pi 4 vs Raspberry Pi 3 specs

Now moving on to those all-important specifications. You’ll notice a gradual improvement in specs as we move up through the releases and generations. That’s thanks to a few major components: the System on a chip (SoC), CPU, and RAM.

The SoC and CPU go hand-in-hand, but we’ve separated the specs for quick comparison.

Raspberry Pi 4 B

• SoC: Broadcom BCM2711B0
• CPU: 1.5 GHz quad-core A72 64-bit
• RAM: 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, or 8 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM
• Ethernet: Yes
• Wireless: Yes

Raspberry Pi 3 A+

• SoC: Broadcom BCM2837B0
• CPU: 1.4 GHz quad-core A53 64-bit
• RAM: 512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM
• Ethernet: No
• Wireless: Yes

Raspberry Pi 3 B+

• SoC: Broadcom BCM2837B0
• CPU: 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 64-bit quad-core
• RAM: 1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM
• Ethernet: Yes
• Wireless: Yes

Raspberry Pi 3 B

• SoC: Broadcom BCM2837
• CPU: Quad Core 1.2GHz 64-bit CPU
• RAM: 1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM
• Ethernet: Yes
• Wireless: Yes

Raspberry Pi 4 vs Raspberry Pi 3 performance

The performance understandably increases which each variation. As you can see from the key specs just above, there is a gradual increase across the board when it comes to CPU clock speed and available memory (RAM). The Pi 3 A+ may seem like an outlier in this case, and that’s because it has a compact form factor, and is a cheaper option.

When it comes to the jump up to Raspberry Pi 4 from Pi 3, that’s where we can see some major differences. Already, you’re benefitting from a 1.5 GHz quad-core CPU for the first time. You’ll also notice that the Pi 4 has jumped up massively in performance when it comes to RAM. The 8 GB model is leaps away from the 1 GB seen in the Pi 3 B+ for example.

Raspberry Pi 4 vs Raspberry Pi 3 connectivity

Moving on to the connectivity now, perhaps one of the most important aspects of the Raspberry Pi. The available inputs/outputs are vital to knowing what you’ll be able to use your RPi for. The Raspberry Pi 4 impresses in this regard, being a cut above the Pi 3 models.

Here are the I/O and other connectivity features of the Pi Model 4:

• microSD card slot
• 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0
• 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wireless LAN, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE, Gigabit Ethernet
• 4-Pole Stereo Audio & Composite Video, 2 x Micro HDMI
• 3A+ USB Type-C Port
• 40-Pin Extended GPIO
• 2-Lane MIPI CSI Camera Port, 2-Lane MIPI DSI Display Port

These specs allow the Raspberry Pi 4 B to have a similar level of connectivity you could find on even a small desktop PC – pretty impressive.

It’s worth noting that the Pi 3 was the first to include both an ethernet and wireless connection – so it’s nice to see the Pi 4 B continue this trend, and it’s what we expect moving forward on standard form factor models.

Raspberry Pi 4 vs Raspberry Pi 3 : Final word

That’s all we have to say regarding these two Raspi generations right now. Even older generations of the Raspberry Pi are worth looking into – it’s all about what exactly you’ll be using yours for.

The Pi 5 is due to turn up relatively soon (based on release patterns so far). That means it’s worth checking out what’s on the market right now for these cheap – but effective – single-board computers.

The Raspberry Pi 5 has finally been made available for pre-order, we take a look at the Raspberry Pi 5 compared to the Pi 4.