Raspberry Pi just launched the 1GB version of the Pi 5 for $45. At the same time, they’ve increased prices across the Pi 4 and Pi 5 lineups to offset rising memory costs.
The hikes are significant. The 8GB Pi 5 now costs $95, up from $80. The 16GB variant jumped from $120 to $145. Even the 4GB Pi 4 sees a $5 increase to $60.
According to Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton, the LPDDR4 memory shortage driven by AI infrastructure demand is the culprit. He calls it “painful but ultimately temporary” and promises to roll back prices once the market stabilizes.
The new 1GB Raspberry Pi 5 certainly appears to represent an entry point into the ecosystem. But $45 for 1GB in 2025 raises questions about value, especially seeing that there are competing brands with a better value proposition.
This is nothing new; two years ago, a redditor put out a post asking, “What’s the point of a Raspberry Pi above $50?.” They argued that rising prices betrayed Raspberry Pi’s mission to democratize technology.
Fast-forward to today, and that sentiment is still in the minds of hobbyists and tinkerers.
So, is the $45 Raspberry Pi 5 1GB worth it? Let’s explore what other single-board computers (SBCs) that money can get you in 2025.
What Else Can You Get in $45?
The single-board computer market has grown competitive. Several manufacturers offer boards with better specs than the Pi 5 1GB at similar or lower prices.
These alternatives often pack more RAM, faster processors, or even additional features. However, they will probably lack the polish and ecosystem support that a Raspberry Pi provides.
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The boards listed below are priced at $45 or less, excluding taxes and shipping. Prices may vary by retailer.
ArmSoM Forge1
At just $23, ArmSoM’s Forge1 is the budget option here. It targets industrial and IoT applications rather than general computing. The board uses the Rockchip RK3506J tri-core Cortex-A7 processor with 512MB of DDR3L RAM and 512MB of NAND flash.
It features dual 100 Mbps Ethernet ports, MIPI DSI display support, and RS-485/CAN Bus interfaces. ArmSoM promises 10 years of production support, as this SBC is set to remain in production until at least May 2035.
Radxa ROCK 3A
The Radxa Rock 3A starts at around $30 for the 2GB model. It uses the Rockchip RK3568 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor clocked at 2GHz that is paired with an Arm Mali-G52 GPU.
The board supports M.2 NVMe storage, PCIe 3.0, and includes a 0.8 TOPS NPU. It has HDMI 2.0 output supporting 4K@60fps, 2x USB 3.0 ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port.
PINE64 ROCK64
The ROCK64 offers 4GB of RAM for $44.95. That’s more memory than the Pi 5 1GB at roughly the same price. It is powered by the Rockchip RK3328 quad-core Cortex-A53 processor with Arm Mali-450MP2 graphics.
The board includes USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and 4K digital video output. If you have doubts, then you should know that PINE64 has a strong community and decent software support.
Le Potato AML-S905X-CC
The Le Potato costs $45 for the 2GB model. It positions itself as a direct Raspberry Pi 3 hardware replacement.
The board uses the Amlogic S905X quad-core Cortex-A53 at 1.5GHz with Arm Mali-450 graphics. It excels at media playback with hardware decoding for H.265, H.264, and VP9 up to 4K@60fps.
The Raspberry Pi 2/3 Model B/B+ compatible form factor and 40-pin GPIO header make it easy to use with existing Pi accessories.
But, The Raspberry Pi Ecosystem is Unmatched
The alternatives may offer better specs on paper. However, Raspberry Pi’s ecosystem provides advantages that raw specifications don’t accurately reflect.
Raspberry Pi OS is polished and officially supported. The distribution receives regular updates and includes pre-configured software for common use cases. The Raspberry Pi Imager tool makes setup trivial, even for beginners.
The HAT (Hardware Attached on Top) ecosystem is massive. Hundreds of expansion boards exist for everything from touchscreens to motor controllers. Most work without driver hassles or compatibility issues.
Educational resources are everywhere. Official documentation is comprehensive. Third-party tutorials cover a wide range of projects. The Raspberry Pi community is very welcoming, and the official forum has many helpful users and active moderators.
This ecosystem matters more than specs for many users. A board with 4GB RAM means little if you can’t get your project working because documentation is sparse or the community is inactive.
