Raspberry Pi: What is it, how to get started & the best Raspberry Pi available

If you're in the market for a new side project, then you might want to check out the Raspberry Pi. This is a little computer available in a few different sizes, but the primary board comes in the size of a credit card. On the PCB, you'll find a bunch of little transistors along with a few different connection ports, and soldered right in the middle is the brains of the operation. But instead of coming pre-installed with Windows or macOS, you have the ability to choose what Linux-based operating system you want to use.

If you have an idea for some home automation, the chances are that the Raspberry Pi can provide the brains and brawn for the operation. Maybe you want to create a portable retro console; Raspberry Pi can do that, too. Or maybe you just want to learn how to code and use a command line. Well, the Pi can do that. The possibilities are truly endless for what can be accomplished with a little time, patience, and the Raspberry Pi.

What is a Raspberry Pi?

In short, the Raspberry Pi is a series of modular micro-computers that can have any Linux-based distro installed to provide an operating system. Originally, the Raspberry Pi was designed for the education sector, but it has since exploded in popularity as tinkerers and developers have taken to using the Pi for different applications. Millions use the Raspberry Pi across the globe for things as simple as learning how to program from the ground up to using it as a fully-fledged desktop PC in your home.

How many different versions are there?

Over the years, we have seen 12 different versions or variants of the Raspberry Pi released, starting with the Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+. The Raspberry Pi has come a long way from the days of the original model, which featured just 256MB of RAM and did not feature wireless onboard capabilities until the Raspberry Pi 2.

Picking the best Raspberry Pi

Unsurprisingly, only a handful of the Raspberry Pi models have been actually discontinued. However, unless you want one for the sake of nostalgia, we wouldn't recommend getting anything older than the Raspberry Pi 4. This board was launched back in 2019 and offered 1-4GB of RAM, onboard wireless capabilities, and an Ethernet jack.

The most recent model is the Raspberry Pi 5, which started shipping in December 2023.

The Raspberry Pi5 offers performance gains over the Pi 4, but it doesn't replace it. the Raspberry Pi Foundation says it plans to continue production of the Raspberry Pi 4B through partners such as Element14 and Sony.

One benefit the older model 4 has over the 5 is with supported accessories as it will be a while before we see the same incredible selection of add-ons built for the newest model.

Another option is the Raspberry Pi 400, which makes life easier for those who don't want to fiddle with plugging in a keyboard. Instead, the case of the Pi 400 is the keyboard, while you'll also find several ports on the back to connect USB peripherals and power. You can think of the Pi 400 as the "iMac" of the group, thanks to its all-in-one solution, minus the need for an external mouse and a Raspberry Pi screen.

Really, there's no "best" Raspberry Pi nowadays. Instead, picking the right one for you is determined by what applications and use cases you need for it.

What can you use Raspberry Pi for?

In order to determine which Raspberry Pi you should purchase, you'll need to figure out what you can do with it and what it will be used for. If you're into gaming in any type of capacity, specifically retro gaming, then you likely have heard about people building retro consoles. Almost all of these are powered by the Raspberry Pi, as you can install RetroPie on the Raspberry Pi, pair a Bluetooth controller, and play all of those classic games.

You can even turn the Raspberry Pi 400 into a Chromebox with ease, but the truth remains that the possibilities are really endless. Some have installed Kodi on a Raspberry Pi to create the ultimate low-powered media center, while others use the Pi as a hub for their Plex servers. You can even go so far as to use a Raspberry Pi to block all of the ads from appearing while browsing the internet, thanks to Pi-Hole.

And we still haven't even scratched the surface as to what's possible for controlling different accessories in your home. Between the Raspberry Pi board, different GPIO HATS (small boards that plug into the Raspberry PI), and a little bit of programming, you can enter one command and control everything in your home.

Everything you need to get started

For those who want to get their feet wet with the Raspberry Pi, it's not as easy as just plugging everything in and getting started. We'll assume that you've already figured out what the Pi will be used for, but from there, you're going to need a few things other than the board itself. Notably, power is a rather important requirement, and if you opt for the Raspberry Pi 4, you'll need a 27-watt USB-C power adapter. With the Raspberry Pi 4, you'll need to use a 15-watt USB-C power adapter to turn the lights on.

From there, you'll want to find a microSD card so that you can install the operating system and any applications or programs that you might want to use. The amount of storage needed varies, but the Raspberry Pi supports a 1TB microSDXC card. Chances are you won't need that much headroom, but hey, who knows? An even better option may be a USB drive or an SSD.

Before you can think about getting things powered on, you're going to want to check out one of the best Raspberry Pi cases. And to go with that, you'll need to make sure you have some heat sinks and fans to ensure that your Pi doesn't overheat, especially if you plan on using it as a retro console.

Although we compared it to an iMac earlier, this isn't entirely true for the Raspberry Pi or even the Pi 400. You'll still need to grab one of the best Raspberry Pi screens to see what you're doing after installing the operating system. With the Raspberry Pi you can use up to two of the best 4K monitors simultaneously, courtesy of the dual micro HDMI ports found on the board. But there are also smaller options available, including one directly from Raspberry Pi that was designed specifically for the board.

Last but not least, you're going to want to grab a keyboard and mouse. We recommend borrowing a friend's old and dusty wired keyboard and a wired mouse for the initial setup. But after you get into the OS, you can use any keyboard and mouse just like your normal-sized desktop PC. All it takes is a little bit of setup, and you'll be ready to go.

Getting a Raspberry Pi kit

Here's the thing. If you want to part out and buy every necessary piece of the Raspberry Pi setup, you can, and that's awesome. However, unless you live near a MicroCenter or a random RadioShack that's still hanging around, you probably aren't going to be able to walk into the store and do that. So instead, companies including the Raspberry Pi Foundation have created Raspberry Pi Kits.

Most of the time, these kits include everything you need for the Raspberry Pi itself, including power, a microSD card, a case, heat sinks, and maybe some compatible micro HDMI cables. The price differences are minor, as the kits usually are cheaper to purchase than if you wanted to buy everything separately.

Let's jump back to the microSD card for a moment. Most of the time, this is a key inclusion, even if it's a smaller 16GB card. In fact, you will usually find that these microSD cards include software known as NOOBS, or New Out Of the Box Software. On here, you'll be able to put together the Raspberry Pi kit, insert the SD card, boot, and be able to choose an operating system that you want to use.

There's also not really a "best of the best" when it comes to looking for the best Raspberry Pi kits. Again, it comes down to what you'll use the Pi for and what you need to accomplish that goal. For example, some kits just help you get everything set up to create a micro-desktop computer, while other kits allow you to create portable retro consoles, complete with batteries and everything else.

Installing an operating system

When you receive a brand new Raspberry Pi (or insert an unused microSD card), you're essentially looking at a blank slate. Nothing will happen when you boot up the Pi for the first time unless that microSD card has something installed on it like the NOOBS software mentioned previously.

This is great for tinkerers who know exactly what they plan to use the Raspberry Pi for, but it can be a bit cumbersome for a newbie. There are a wide variety of Linux-based operating systems that you can install on your Raspberry Pi. Some, like Raspbian, provide a fully-fledged desktop environment that does not look all that different from a Windows desktop.

Others, like RetroPie, don't feature a traditional interface and instead are something else entirely. But the great thing about using a Raspberry Pi is that you can figure out what you plan to use it for and then find an operating system that caters to those needs. In some instances, you can even install Raspbian and then install RetroPie as a separate application, giving you access to retro games, along with being a "normal" computer.

As for actually installing an operating system on your Raspberry Pi's microSD card, you'll need access to a computer and a way to insert the microSD card so that the operating system can be installed. From there, you'll want to download the OS that you plan on using so that it can be flashed to the card.

And since you're actually installing an operating system, you can't just simply drag and drop the OS onto the card. That's where something like Etcher comes in handy, so you can flash the .iso containing the operating system directly to the microSD card so it can be booted into with the Raspberry Pi.

Tinker with the Raspberry Pi and have fun

After you've installed your operating system of choice onto the Raspberry Pi, start diving a little bit deeper to see what's possible and what you can do with the Pi. It's an extremely versatile little computer, and you can even use it as a main computer thanks to the snappy little SoC and RAM.

There's also the world of Pi HATs that add even more functionality, such as using an M.2 NVME SSD for even faster speeds than what a microSD card can handle. If you plan on using multiple Raspberry Pi's for different tasks, some Raspberry Pi cases allow you to create towers.

The only thing we recommend is that you don't overthink it and just have fun.