Raspberry pi models explained

Raspberry Pi makes computers in several different series:

• The flagship series, often referred to by the shorthand ‘Raspberry Pi’, offers high-performance hardware, a full Linux operating system, and a variety of common ports in a form factor roughly the size of a credit card.
• The Zero series offers a full Linux operating system and essential ports at an affordable price point in a minimal form factor with low power consumption.
• The Compute Module series, often referred to by the shorthand ‘CM’, offers high-performance hardware and a full Linux operating system in a minimal form factor suitable for industrial and embedded applications. Compute Module models feature hardware equivalent to the corresponding flagship models but with fewer ports and no on-board GPIO pins. Instead, users should connect Compute Modules to a separate baseboard that provides the ports and pins required for a given application.

Additionally, Raspberry Pi makes the Pico series of tiny, versatile microcontroller boards. Pico models do not run Linux or allow for removable storage, but instead allow programming by flashing a binary onto on-board flash storage.

Official link:

Raspberry pi page

Model B indicates the presence of an Ethernet port. Model A indicates a lower-cost model in a smaller form factor with no Ethernet port, reduced RAM, and fewer USB ports to limit board height.

Models with the H suffix have header pins pre-soldered to the GPIO header. Models that lack the H suffix do not come with header pins attached to the GPIO header; the user must solder pins manually or attach a third-party pin kit.

All Zero models have the following connectivity:

• a microSD card slot
• a CSI camera port (version 1.3 of the original Zero introduced this port)
• a mini HDMI port
• 2 × micro USB ports (one for input power, one for external devices)

Models with the H suffix have header pins pre-soldered to the GPIO header. Models that lack the H suffix do not come with header pins attached to the GPIO header; the user must solder pins manually or attach a third-party pin kit.