The best Raspberry Pi 4 in the UK 2023

Far from being a simple gadget, the Raspberry Pi 4 has all the connections of a standard-sized desktop PC. Even more powerful, this fourth generation allows you to surf the Internet, watch 4K videos, do word processing, and even play some video games. Follow our guide to find the best Raspberry Pi 4 for your needs.

Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 1GO
8/10

Best value for money

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Version 1GO

The best Raspberry Pi 4 in 2021

Enjoy incredible performance with the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB Version, a powerful nano-computer despite its credit card size. You can use it any way you want.

52 £ on Cdiscount

Compared to previous versions, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Version 1GO has undergone a notable performance upgrade. The microcomputer now embeds a 4-core ARM Cortex-A72 SoC clocked at 1.5 GHz that runs on 1 GB of LPDDR4 RAM. This card-sized computer is a little power monster that will perform many tasks without encountering difficulties. It runs on Linux, Windows and other operating systems.

Its VideoCore VI graphics card supports 4K HEVC decoding. The two micro HDMI ports ensure 4K display on two screens. Two USB 2.0 ports complete the Raspberry Pi 4's connectivity, whose capabilities, as well as its price, will surprise you.

Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 2GO
7/10

Best value for money

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2GB Version

The best entry-level Raspberry Pi 4

Despite its 45g, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2GO version has a lot to offer if you intend to use it in a classic way. Use it for programming, office automation or navigation.

50,36 £ on Cdiscount

Are you looking for a powerful and inexpensive Raspberry Pi? The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Version 2GO will fully satisfy you. It has an Intel Core i5 processor and a 2GB DDR4 RAM, all running under Windows 10. Without a doubt, this nano-computer is among the most powerful and efficient. Amateurs and professionals alike will be able to perform many tasks on it without ever having to bother with a big case.

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Version 2GO has a very complete set of connectors. Among other things, this microcomputer has USB (3.0 and 2.0), Ethernet, HDMI and composite video ports. The price is a major asset for the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Version 2GO. You could buy it at a very affordable price.

Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 8GB
9/10

Best value for money

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB Version

The best high-end Raspberry Pi 4

With 8GB of RAM and a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor, this Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is one of the most powerful models of the fourth generation. Its possibilities are numerous.

80 £ on Cdiscount

Imagine a powerful computer the size of a credit card. That's what the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB version offers. Despite its mini size, this machine can compete with any conventional computer. Its 64-bit, 4-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor, along with 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, ensures that many tasks such as streaming, browsing or programming run quickly and smoothly.

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB version comes without any accessories. However, its motherboard has full connectivity (USB, HDMI, Ethernet, Micro SD, Bluetooth) so you can use it properly for your home or business computing tasks. You will still have to do a bit of fiddling.

Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 4Go
8/10

A great choice

Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 4Go

Good performance to go with it

You need a powerful microcomputer? Let yourself be seduced by the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 4GB version. It is small, but powerful and undoubtedly efficient.

51,12 £ on Amazon
Buying guide • November 2023

Best Raspberry Pi 4

Any specific needs?

The best Raspberry Pi 4 in 2021

The best entry-level Raspberry Pi 4

The best high-end Raspberry Pi 4

Good performance to go with it

Your guide : Samuel

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Comparison table of the best Raspberry Pi 4

TOP OF THE TOP CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE EXCELLENT
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 1GO
8/10
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 2GO
7/10
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 8GB
9/10
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 4Go
8/10
OUR SELECTION
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Version 1GO
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2GB Version
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB Version
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 4Go
Enjoy incredible performance with the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 1GB Version, a powerful nano-computer despite its credit card size. You can use it any way you want.
Despite its 45g, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2GO version has a lot to offer if you intend to use it in a classic way. Use it for programming, office automation or navigation.
With 8GB of RAM and a quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor, this Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is one of the most powerful models of the fourth generation. Its possibilities are numerous.
You need a powerful microcomputer? Let yourself be seduced by the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 4GB version. It is small, but powerful and undoubtedly efficient.
Processor

ARM Cortex-A72 4 cores

Arm Cortex-A72 4 x 1.50 GHz

ARM Cortex-A72 quad-core 64-bit

ARM-Cortex-A72 4 x 1.50 GHz
Memory type
LPDDR4
LPDDR4
LPDDR4
DDR4
Dimensions
9.5 x 7 x 3 cm
85 x 56 x 17 mm
85 x 56 x 17 mm
85 x 56 x 17 mm
Connectics
1 x 3.5mm Female Stereo Jack, 1 x RJ45 Female, 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB Type C Female, 2 x micro HDMI FemaleAdditional connectors
: 1 x CSI (camera header), 1 x DSI (screen header), 1 x 40 pin GPIO (header)
1 x 3.5mm Female Stereo Jack, 1 x RJ45 Female, 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB Type C Female, 2 x micro HDMI FemaleAdditional Connector
(s) : 1 x CSI (camera header), 1 x DSI (monitor header), 1 x GPIO 40 pins (header)
1 x 3.5mm Female Stereo Jack, 1 x RJ45 Female, 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB Type C Female, 2 x micro HDMI FemaleAdditional Connector
(s) : 1 x CSI (camera header), 1 x DSI (display header), 1 x GPIO 40 pins (header)
1 x 3.5mm Female Stereo Jack, 1 x RJ45 Female, 2 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB Type C Female, 2 x micro HDMI FemaleAdditional connector
(s) : 1 x CSI (camera header), 1 x DSI (display header), 1 x 40 pin GPIO (header)
Raw memory
1 GB
2 GB
8 GB
4 GB

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Buying guide - Raspberry Pi 4

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How to choose your Raspberry Pi 4

Before choosing a Raspberry Pi 4 model that fits your needs, you need to know some selection criteria.
choisir raspberry pi 4

#1 - USB ports

The Raspberry Pi 3 has a USB/Ethernet HUB, which is connected to the USB 2 output, and since all communications share the same line, it forms a bottleneck. The foundation introduced the USB 3 HUB with a PCI Express bus with the Raspberry Pi 4. This eliminates the limitations encountered with USB on older versions.

#2 - Gigabit Ethernet

The Raspberry Pi 4 has a "true" 1 Gbit/s Ethernet port, which connects directly to the CPU without going through the USB HUB as in older versions. The Gigabit Ethernet port is based on the Broadcom BCM54213 chip. It handles 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T and 10BASE-T EEE (Energy Efficient Ethernet) 802.3az physical network layer functions.

#3 - Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

The Raspberry Pi 4 has a chip with 802.11ac Wi-Fi capabilities at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, as well as simultaneous Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Bluetooth communication. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can work at the same time. For example, this allows you to watch videos online via Wi-Fi while sending sound to a Bluetooth speaker.

#4 - Food

As for the power connector, switching from a micro USB plug to a USB-C plug is a way to provide an additional 500 mA of power. Now, connected USB devices can use 1.2 amps of current.

#5 - The micro SD card connector

The connector is located under the Raspberry Pi 4 board and is designed to accommodate a Micro SD card. According to the Raspberry Foundation, on this model, the access speed to the micro SD card has increased from 25 to 50 Mbps.

Raspberry Pi 4 or mini PC?

The Raspberry Pi 4

The Raspberry 4 has two USB 2.0, two USB 3.0 ports (at 5 Gbit/s), two Micro HDMI outputs and a gigabit Ethernet network port. Bluetooth 5 and Wifi 5 (802.11ac) also make their appearance. This version is also equipped with specific ports to connect, for example, a touch screen and the 40-pin GPIO. An SD port allows for a card that handles communication with the operating system. With triple the power, the Raspberry Pi 4 rivals a desktop PC. As a note, the Rapsberry Pi 4 is not equipped with a cooling system.

The mini PC

Depending on its configuration, the mini PC can become the small multimedia player for playing videos stored via the drive or in the hard disk. It is also an ideal tool for office automation, video editing and drawing, two activities that require a lot of power. It is light, compact and consumes less energy. Some models come with a complete configuration. However, it is less powerful than a single board computer.

Verdict

If you're looking for a compact PC that's ready to go, the mini PC is the ideal solution. Those who love computers and a little tinkering will be delighted by the possibilities and power of the Raspberry Pi 4.

Why choose a Raspberry Pi 4 ?

pourquoi acheter raspberry pi 4

Performance, energy saving and quietness are the words that characterize the Raspberry Pi 4. In addition, it offers a pleasant and complete desktop experience. It has resolutions of up to 4K in a multi-display configuration for manipulating spreadsheets, browsing the web and editing documents. This model has the same performance as an entry-level PC.

The Raspberry Pi 4 model B is even more powerful thanks to the new Broadcom BCM2711 SOC, quad-core Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) 64 -bit at 1.5 GHz, to replace Cortex A53 quad-core running at a frequency of 1.4 GHz, used in the previous version.

The Raspberry Pi 4 replaces the Videocore IV embedded on the Cortex A53 processor with VideoCore VI. This puts an end to single-screen Full HD video. Now the little computer is able to handle two screens at once and in 4K.

Replacing one HDMI port with two HDMI micro-ports allows you to connect to two monitors. The addition of OpenGL 3.0 support increases the graphics performance of the machine.

Many improvements have been noted in the network and connectivity. Raspberry Pi 4 is equipped with a 1Gigabit Ethernet port for faster data transfer. The dual-band wireless network (2.4/5.0 GHz) is accompanied by a Bluetooth 5.0 module.

We also notice the arrival of two USB 3.0 ports in addition to the two USB 2.0 ports already available on previous versions. From now on, transfers from the USB ports are up to ten times faster.

The USB-C port replaces the USB micro-B port. The Raspberry Pi 4 is connected to an external 5V/3A DC source via a USB-C connector or using the GPIO connector. In practice, the USB devices consume less than 500 mA in total. The fourth generation Raspberry Pi is also connected to a power over Ethernet (PoE) feasible with the PoE HAT card.

Tips

Use a cooler

High temperatures can be hazardous to computers and computer equipment. When overheating is imminent, some computers shut down or limit their performance. True, Raspberry has developed VLI operating software to reduce the operating temperature of the Raspberry Pi 4. But, to make sure that the heat generated does not deteriorate your single board computer, it is highly recommended to operate a heat sink.

Install the operating system with NOOBS

Use the NOOBS installer (in English New Out Of the Box Software) is an easy way to install an operating system. You can order a pre-installed NOOBS SD map from several vendors, such as Adafruit, Pimoroni, and The Pi Hut. NOOBS contains the Raspberry Pi operating system pre-loaded.

Handle the motherboard with care

Avoid fiddling with the card unnecessarily. And if you absolutely must, pick up the Raspbessy Pi 4 by the edges. This is because touching the circuit boards with your fingers can damage them given the size of the motherboard.

Be careful where you put the Raspberry Pi 4

The motherboard has a light weight. Even the weight of the cables to connect the peripherals can knock it over! If you haven't already planned to buy a case, lay out the Raspberry Pi 4 in a way that avoids unpleasant surprises. Also remove anything that might cause a short circuit near the motherboard.

When it comes to food, don't skimp on the means!

To save money, it's tempting to power the Raspberry Pi 4 with a smartphone charger. 5V voltage, micro USB plug... Sounds perfect, right? Well, not at all! The USB ports are designed to deliver 500 mA. But the Raspberry Pi will require a bit more in some situations. Too little power will inevitably cause reboots.

FAQ

What are the differences between the Raspberry Pi 4 and the Raspberry PI Pico?

In fact, the Raspberry PI Pico is a microcontroller unlike the Raspberry Pi 4 which is a full computer. Its RAM is therefore less substantial, at 264 Kb. However, it has a 133 MHz processor and uses 2 cores.

What are the application areas of the Raspberry Pi 4B?

The Raspberry Pi 4 version, with its 1GB RAM is still used as educational hardware for beginning technicians. DIYers, with its many interface options, connect the Raspberry Pi 4 to numerous sensors and extensions to proceed with the automation of household tasks and home equipment. The Raspberry Pi 4 B can be like a mini server. With its graphics performance, it can be used as a retrogaming console or media center.

Is the Raspberry Pi 4 compatible with Windows?

According to the Raspberry founder, Microsoft needs to undertake a very big job to optimize for example Windows 10 for the Raspberry Pi. It is less likely that Microsoft will show much interest in this project in the near future.

Is the Raspberry Pi 4 suitable for beginners?

If you are new to the field, a complete starter kit will be more suitable. Generally, the kit should include at least the essentials for comfortable use, namely a Raspberry Pi 4, a case with a fan, a power adapter, a TF card, heat sinks and HDMI cables.

What are the improvements on the Raspberry Pi 4 model B compared to the Raspberry Pi 3B+?

The new version, the Raspberry Pi 4 model B, comes with a multitude of innovations, including an ultra-fast processor running at 1.5 GHz, 2 micro HDMS outputs, USB ports in version 3.0, a 10x more powerful network socket, and the same goes for wireless networking. The power supply is even more efficient since it is USB-C.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
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  10. , itsfoss.com
  11. , fossmint.com
  12. , raspberrytips.com
  13. , raspberrypi-france.fr
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  20. , amazon.co.uk
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  24. , frandroid.com
  25. , okdo.com
  26. , framboise314.fr
  27. , pofilo.fr
  28. , elektor.fr
  29. , inpact-hardware.com
  30. , raspberrypi-france.fr
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  33. , journaldugeek.com
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  35. , smallcab.net
  36. , idealo.fr
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Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 1GO
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Version 1GO
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 2GO
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 2GB Version
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 8GB
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 8GB Version
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 4Go
Raspberry Pi 4 Modèle B Version 4Go

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