Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+: A New Version with the Exact Upgrades

The third generation of the Raspberry Pi was missing a piece. After the debut of the 3 B / 3 B+ variants and the Compute Module, it was only a matter of time before the A+ edition was presented to the world. Finally, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ is a fact. Unlike its predecessors, the Model A+ now brings the same quad-core SoC found in the Raspberry Pi 3 B+, dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy, while keeping the price of the original Raspberry Pi A.

At this point, it's basically a standard in the DIY space. If a project requires minimal processing power, a Raspberry Pi can serve as the brain. If space constraints aren't that important, then adding the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ isn't a bad idea, but if we need more compact dimensions and high portability, that's where the Raspberry Pi Zero W comes in with integrated WiFi. Now... what if we want the best of both worlds? A Raspberry Pi with the same SoC as the 3 B+ and a size closer to the Zero W. The answer is the new Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+.

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+: The New Member of the Family

First of all, the Raspberry Foundation confirmed that this new mini computer is mechanically compatible with the Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+, so we can reuse any case designed for that version. The most important and radical change is undoubtedly the SoC. Gone is the single-core 700 MHz, giving way to four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.4 GHz, which also enable improvements in the floating-point unit. On the other hand, RAM remains at 512 MB of LPDDR2, shared with the GPU. Regarding connectivity, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ again matches the 3 B+ with a dual-band ac WiFi chip and Bluetooth 4.2 Low Energy support. If you need an Ethernet port, you'll have to get one of its bigger brothers.

Other optimizations in the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ aim at better booting from USB mass storage devices and a more balanced thermal profile. The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ is known for getting very hot, and although a good case could solve that problem, the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ is the ideal candidate for improvements in that field. Its confirmed price is $25, and there will also be an official case, with a launch scheduled for the first days of December.

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