Choosing a Raspberry Pi Model and Accessories

What actually differs between Raspberry Pi models, and the handful of accessories every setup needs regardless of which one you pick.

The Raspberry Pi family spans several models released over the years, and picking one mostly comes down to three specs:

• RAM — more RAM (1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB depending on model) matters most if you'll run a desktop environment, a browser, or several programs at once; a GPIO-only headless project needs far less.
• Connectivity — most current models include built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; older or budget variants (like the Pi Zero W family) trade some processing power for a much smaller size and lower cost.
• GPIO header — nearly every current model shares the same 40-pin GPIO layout (covered in Lesson rpi-08), so code and wiring you learn transfers across almost the whole lineup.

For following this course, any model with 40 GPIO pins and Wi-Fi works — the lessons don't depend on raw processing power. Regardless of model, you'll also want:

• A microSD card (16GB or larger) to hold the operating system.
• A power supply matched to your specific model's connector and current rating — an underpowered supply is a common source of mysterious instability.
• A case, mainly to protect the board's exposed components and GPIO pins from accidental shorts while you're learning.

You don't need a monitor, keyboard, or mouse dedicated to the Pi at all — Lesson rpi-04 covers setting one up entirely "headless," controlled from your everyday computer instead.