If you are trying to choose between the Raspberry Pi 5 and Raspberry Pi 4, the good news is this: both are excellent boards. The real question is not which one is “better” in general, but which one makes more sense for your budget, your projects, and your performance needs.

For most buyers, the Raspberry Pi 5 is the stronger choice because it delivers a major jump in CPU performance, improved I/O, PCIe support, and more modern features. Raspberry Pi says the Pi 5 delivers a 2–3× CPU performance increase over the Pi 4, thanks to its quad-core Cortex-A76 processor at 2.4GHz.

That said, the Raspberry Pi 4 is still a very capable board. It remains a solid option for lighter projects, media playback, basic servers, retro gaming, and beginners who want to keep costs down. Raspberry Pi 4 uses a quad-core Cortex-A72 processor at 1.8GHz and still supports dual 4K displays, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, and up to 8GB RAM.

In this guide, we will compare Raspberry Pi 5 and Raspberry Pi 4 side by side so you can decide which one you should buy.

Raspberry Pi 5 vs Raspberry Pi 4: Quick Answer

Buy the Raspberry Pi 5 if you want better speed, smoother desktop performance, faster storage options, and more headroom for future projects. It is the better board for demanding tasks, modern accessories, and users who want the best overall experience.

Buy the Raspberry Pi 4 if you want to save money and your projects are relatively light, such as learning Linux, running a media center, building a Pi-hole, or doing simple GPIO projects. It is still highly usable for many common Raspberry Pi workloads.

Main Difference Between Raspberry Pi 5 and Raspberry Pi 4

The biggest difference is performance and platform capability.

Raspberry Pi 5 uses a quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 at 2.4GHz, while Raspberry Pi 4 uses a quad-core Cortex-A72 at 1.8GHz. Raspberry Pi’s official product brief states that the Pi 5 delivers roughly 2–3× more CPU performance than the Pi 4.

But the Pi 5 upgrade is not just about CPU speed. It also adds:

• a PCIe 2.0 x1 interface for fast peripherals such as NVMe SSD adapters

• dual 4-lane MIPI transceivers for camera/display flexibility

• a real-time clock

• a power button

• support for Raspberry Pi 5’s dedicated cooling ecosystem and 27W PSU recommendation

The Pi 4, by contrast, remains simpler and more mature. It gives you the classic Raspberry Pi experience without some of the newer expansion features.

Performance Comparison

This is where Raspberry Pi 5 clearly wins.

For general desktop use, coding, compiling, multitasking, web browsing, and heavier applications, Raspberry Pi 5 feels much faster and smoother. Raspberry Pi explicitly says Pi 5 is up to three times faster than the previous generation.

That improvement matters in real usage:

• apps open faster

• pages load more smoothly

• multitasking is easier

• large updates and installs finish quicker

• emulation and server workloads have more headroom

Raspberry Pi 4 is still fine for lightweight use, but if you are buying today and can afford the difference, Pi 5 gives you a noticeably more modern experience. That is an inference based on the official CPU, memory bandwidth, and I/O improvements, not just raw clock speed.

RAM Options

Raspberry Pi 4 is available in 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB variants, depending on the model.

Raspberry Pi 5 is available with up to 16GB RAM, according to Raspberry Pi’s official product page.

For many beginners, 4GB is a comfortable starting point. For heavier desktop use, containers, development work, or more demanding multitasking, 8GB or higher makes more sense.

Storage and Expandability

Both boards boot from microSD, but Raspberry Pi 5 has a major advantage here: PCIe support. Its official product brief lists a PCIe 2.0 x1 interface, which enables much faster storage solutions through compatible accessories such as M.2 adapters. Raspberry Pi also sells an SSD line specifically positioned for Pi 5 and compatible devices.

This matters because storage speed can dramatically affect how responsive a Raspberry Pi feels.

Raspberry Pi 4 does not offer onboard PCIe expansion in the same way. It can still use USB 3.0 storage, and that is good enough for many uses, but Pi 5 offers a more advanced path for high-speed storage and future expansion.

Ports and Connectivity

Both boards include:

• Gigabit Ethernet

• dual-band Wi-Fi

• Bluetooth

• 2 USB 3.0 ports

• 2 USB 2.0 ports

• dual micro-HDMI output

• 40-pin GPIO header

Raspberry Pi 4 includes 2-lane MIPI CSI and DSI interfaces.

Raspberry Pi 5 upgrades this area with 2 × 4-lane MIPI camera/display transceivers, which gives it more flexibility for newer camera and display use cases.

So while both boards look similar at first glance, Pi 5 is more advanced under the surface.

Power and Cooling

This is an important practical difference.

Raspberry Pi recommends a 15W USB-C power supply for Raspberry Pi 4, and its official USB-C PSU is rated at 5.1V / 3.0A.

For Raspberry Pi 5, Raspberry Pi recommends the 27W USB-C Power Supply, and the official specification lists 5.1V / 5.0A output.

Raspberry Pi also notes that Pi 5’s higher performance ceiling can push peak power usage to around 12W, versus around 8W for Pi 4 under intensive workloads.

Cooling is also more relevant on Pi 5. Raspberry Pi provides dedicated active cooling options, including the official Active Cooler and the Pi 5 case with integrated fan.

In plain terms: Pi 5 is more powerful, but it also benefits more from proper cooling and the correct power supply.

Which One Is Better for Beginners?

This depends on what kind of beginner you are.

If you are a beginner who wants the best experience, smoother performance, and more room to grow, Raspberry Pi 5 is the better choice. It is easier to enjoy when the system feels fast and responsive.

If you are a beginner who wants the lowest-cost entry point and plans to do simple projects, Raspberry Pi 4 is still a very good starting board. It handles learning Linux, Python, GPIO basics, and many popular projects just fine.

So the better beginner board is:

• Pi 5 for a better overall experience

• Pi 4 for better value on simpler projects

Which One Should You Buy for Specific Use Cases?

Buy Raspberry Pi 5 if you want:

• desktop-like use

• faster coding and compiling

• heavier multitasking

• better future-proofing

• SSD/NVMe-style expansion

• newer accessories and features

• more demanding emulation or server projects

Buy Raspberry Pi 4 if you want:

• Pi-hole

• media center use

• lightweight home server tasks

• retro gaming

• learning Linux and Python

• basic electronics projects

• a cheaper board for general tinkering

Is Raspberry Pi 4 Still Worth Buying in 2026?

Yes, absolutely.

Raspberry Pi 4 is not obsolete. It is still officially listed, still supported, and still capable for a wide range of projects. Its December 2025 product brief still positions it as a full-featured board with dual 4K display support, hardware video decode, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and multiple RAM options.

But if you are buying brand new and the price gap is reasonable, Raspberry Pi 5 is usually the better long-term investment because of its much stronger performance and newer platform features. That is the most practical conclusion from the official specifications.

Final Verdict

For most people, Raspberry Pi 5 is the one to buy.

It is faster, more capable, more expandable, and better suited to modern Raspberry Pi use. The jump from Pi 4 to Pi 5 is meaningful, not minor. If you plan to use your Raspberry Pi regularly, keep it for years, or run demanding projects, Pi 5 is the smarter purchase.

Still, Raspberry Pi 4 remains a strong value option. If your workload is light and you want to spend less, it can still do a lot. It is especially attractive for simple automation, media, education, and entry-level projects.

The simple answer is this:

Buy Raspberry Pi 5 for performance. Buy Raspberry Pi 4 for budget.