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The new Raspberry Pi has 5 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2

The new Raspberry Pi has 5 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2

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Raspberry Pi Foundation

There are quite a few different Raspberry Pi models in existence, but it’s not too hard to keep them straight: new ones are better.

For instance, the brand new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ might have a confusing name, but it’s a clear upgrade over 2016’s Raspberry Pi 3 Model B.

The new board has a slightly faster 1.4 GHz quad-core processor, Bluetooth 4.2 (an upgrade from 4.1), and dual-band Wi-Fi. I’m especially excited about the Wi-Fi upgrade, because for some reason The Verge offices only have 5 GHz available, so we have to use a rogue 2.4 GHz testing network to work with the Raspberry Pi and many other IoT devices.

Raspberry Pi Foundation

Speaking of the Internet of Things, the new Pi’s Wi-Fi has “modular compliance certification,” which means if developers use this Pi hardware in their final product, they won’t have as much of a hassle getting the Wi-Fi certified by regulators. Also, the existence of dual-band Wi-Fi on a Raspberry Pi could be a good sign that 2.4 GHz’s reign of terror over IoT is coming to an end.

Overall, the new Pi is extremely similar to its predecessor, especially when it comes to plugs and form factor — which means it should work just fine with existing Pi cases and accessories. Also, the price is still right: $35, just like always.