THIS ISN’T SOMETHING that we’d normally
review. It’s not a component, nor a game,
nor is it a full-fledged multi-thousand-
dollar gaming rig. But it’s undeniable
that the Raspberry Pi has only been
improving in recent years, getting ever
closer to becoming a proper desktop
computer in its own right. The Pi 4
Model B is the newest iteration in the
Raspberry Pi saga, taking the product
from a basic programming education
tool to a genuinely brilliant little PC.
All the software remains backward
compatible, as does the shape of the
little board itself; the Pi 4 can be easily
dropped into any existing projects you
might have if you’re a Pi fanatic. The
hardware also represents a significant
step up. The processor is a 1.5GHz quad-
core Cortex-A72 from Broadcom, an
upgrade from the 1.4GHz A53 chip in the
Pi 3 B+, while graphics are handled by
VideoCore VI, as opposed to VideoCore IV.
This enables the Pi 4 to support 4K
resolution at 60Hz, or at lower refresh
rates across two monitors at once.
The biggest step up is the RAM: While
the Pi 3 B+ offered 1GB of LPDDR2, the
Pi 4 comes in 1GB, 2GB, and 4GB models,
all in low-power DDR4. We’ve got the
4GB version in for review, which costs
$55, but if you’re looking for a more
budget version, the 1GB will only set
you back $35. This version of the Pi is
more capable than previous models—
not quite able to fully replace a desktop,
but expanding significantly on the
possibilities presented by previous
models. The 40-pin GPIO header from
the Raspberry Pi 3 returns, too, ready for
expansion and building purposes.
If you want to get going straight away,
there’s also a “desktop kit” available
for $120. This comes packing a 4GB
Pi 4 Model B with Raspbian Buster pre-
installed on a 16GB microSD card, two
Everyone’s
favorite tiny
computer is
back—and it’s
better than ever
Raspberry Pi 4
Model B
9
VERDICT Raspberry Pi 4 Model B 4GBLIFE OF PI Huge hardware
improvements; 4K and dual-
monitor support; USB 3.0 ports.
BLOWING RASPBERRIES USB-C
power supply issues; struggles with high-
res video playback.
$55, http://www.raspberrypi.orgSPECIFICATIONSProcessor Broadcom BCM2711
Cortex-A72
Graphics VideoCore VI with OpenGL
ES 1.1, 2.0, 3.0
Memory 4GB LPDDR4
Ports
2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0,
2x Micro HDMI, 1x Ethernet,
1x 3.5mm AVI, 1x MIPI DSI,
1x MIPI CSI
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band
802.11 Wi-Fi
Power
Requirements
3A, 5V
Dimensions 3.4 x 2.2 inches
Weight 0.1lb1m Micro HDMI to HDMI cables, a USB-C
power supply, a hefty printed beginner’s
guide, and a little plastic case for
containing your Pi. It also comes with a
wired keyboard and mouse in the quaint
white and pink colors of the Pi. They’re
well-branded enough that our editor
mistook the Pi case itself for the mouse
during testing, briefly perplexed as to
why the cursor wasn’t moving.PORT-ENTOUS
With full Gigabit Ethernet, onboard
Bluetooth 5.0, and two ports supporting
USB 3.0, the physical device itself is
better than ever. Video is delivered via two
Micro HDMI ports, and there’s a USB-C
port for power supply. Unfortunately, a
hardware design flaw means that some
smart charge cables will identify the
Pi 4 as an audio device, and fail to supply
power. While this is likely to be fixed at
some point, it’s something to bear in
mind if you’re looking to purchase a Pi 4
soon (or buy the $8 power cable at the
same time).
The teething problems don’t end
there, either. Raspbian Buster, the OS for
Pi devices, has been updated for Pi 4, and
while the OS itself functions as expected,
there are numerous pieces of software
that currently refuse to work properly.
Some Python libraries are incompatible
with the new version of the OS, while
programs such as the popular Retropie
fail to run at all. These are problems
that will be fixed in the not too distant
future, though. Retropie’s developers
have already stated that they are working
on a new version of the software for Pi 4,
and the Raspberry Pi Foundation itselfis committed to continual updating and
improvement of the OS. As such, we
won’t hold it against the Pi 4 for now. Any
new product is likely to encounter some
post-launch software issues, and we can
expect them to be ironed out in time. With
that in mind, we feel pretty happy giving
the Pi 4 a kick-ass rating; it’s the best the
Raspberry Pi has ever been, and we can’t
wait to see what crazy things people do
with it. –CHRISTIAN GUYTONmaximumpc.com SEP 2019 MAXIMUMPC 79