The Raspberry Pi B+ Has Same $35 Price, More Ports, More Power


RaspPiBplusThe Raspberry Pi Foundation founder, Eben Upton, announced the latest version of the Raspberry Pi Model B, the Model B+, as the “final evolution” of the first-generation Pi. The upgraded version has 2 more USB ports, a microSD card reader,14 more GPIO pins, improved audio output, and lower power consumption. All of this, and the price remains the same $35. Sacrifices had to be made to fit the new hardware, yet Model B+'s appearance and performance are said to be an improvement on the Model B we all know and love.

RaspPiBplus1Model B+ still has 512MB of RAM, an ARM-based Broadcom BCM2835 chipset, and the same 700MHz low-power ARM1176JZ-F applications processor. Among the changes include the replacement of an old friction-fit SDcard socket with the more efficient, micro SD card reader. Two additional USB ports have been added for a total of 4; making it easy for folks to plug in a keyboard, monitor, and a Wi-Fi dongle. GPIO pins have been increased from the 26 on the Model B to 40 on the Model B+. A single four-port audio and video jack replaces the older model's separated ports. A low-noise power supply in the audio circuit promises reduced power consumption between .5W and 1W. A rounder form has been created for the Model B+, now that the USB connectors are aligned with the board edge, and the four mounting holes are in a rectangular arrangement.

RaspPiBplus2Despite the notable changes to the new model, the foundation pledged to keep the price the same in the U.S. and the UK. Additionally, Pi founder Eben Upton says, "to ensure continuity of supply for our industrial customers we’ll be keeping Model B in production for as long as there’s demand for it". The Model B+ is available to purchase now. Its new size offers dimensions of 85 x 56 x 17mm, compared to Model B's 85.6 x 53.98 x 17mm, which means users should be aware old cases won't fit.

Topics: Technology News Gadgets & Peripherals Inventions & Innovations Raspberry Pi

Join the conversation!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.