A new 3GB Raspberry Pi 4 for $83.75, and more memory-driven price increases - Raspberry Pi
| Source: Mastodon | Original article
Raspberry Pi has unveiled a 3 GB variant of its flagship Pi 4, priced at US $83.75, while simultaneously raising the cost of higher‑memory models across its lineup. The new SKU fills the gap between the long‑standing 2 GB and 4 GB boards, giving makers a cheaper option when 4 GB is unnecessary. At the same time, the 16 GB Pi 5, which launched a year ago at roughly $120, now costs $245, and the Compute Module 5’s 8 GB and 16 GB versions have each climbed by about $100.
The price shifts reflect a broader market squeeze on DRAM and silicon. Global memory shortages, driven by surging demand for AI inference and large‑language‑model workloads, have pushed component costs higher, and Raspberry Pi’s supply chain appears to be passing those pressures onto end users. For hobbyists, schools, and small‑scale developers who rely on the Pi’s historically low price point, the hikes could force a reassessment of project budgets or a pivot to alternative single‑board computers.
The move also signals that Raspberry Pi is positioning its hardware for more memory‑intensive use cases, such as edge‑AI, computer‑vision, and generative‑AI experimentation—areas that have grown rapidly in the Nordic tech scene. By offering a 3 GB model, the foundation hopes to capture users who need a modest memory bump without paying premium rates, while still monetising the premium segment that now powers larger models.
What to watch next: the foundation’s upcoming supply‑chain updates, potential revisions to the Pi 5 that could stabilise pricing, and the reaction of the maker community, which may accelerate interest in competing boards or drive demand for bulk‑order discounts. Monitoring how quickly the 3 GB Pi 4 sells out will also indicate whether the price‑adjustment strategy successfully balances affordability with the rising cost of memory.
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