Back in July, the Raspberry Pi Foundation announced the Raspberry Pi Model B+ – an upgraded version of the original Model B board. Today, the foundation unveiled a replacement for its entry-level Model A board. The new Model A+ is smaller than its predecessor, and priced at just $20, it’s the cheapest Raspberry Pi to date.
So how does the new Raspberry Pi Model A+ compare to the older Model A? Like its predecessor, the Model A+ is powered by a Broadcom BCM2835 processor and has 256MB of RAM, but it’s more power efficient than the Model A, and significantly shorter. While the older board measured 86mm in length, the new board is 65mm in length. As mentioned, it costs $20 – which is a reduction of $5 versus the Model A.
The Model A+ has also been afforded many of the improvements introduced with the higher-end Raspberry Pi Model B+. The GPIO header has been increased to 40 pins – making it compatible with the HAT standard for add-on boards, the SD card socket has been replaced with a Micro SD version, and the audio circuit features a dedicated low-noise power supply.
With regards to availability, the new Raspberry Pi Model A+ is available to order today from MCM in the US, and Farnell in the UK.
We’d love to hear what you think about the new model. You can let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below, via social, or on the forums.
[Source: Raspberry Pi Foundation]
