Created by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, the Raspberry Pi 4 is a single-board computer.  It is part of the Raspberry Pi series of SBCs, which was initiated primarily to help promote basic computer science education in developing countries and several schools. The Pi eventually branched out to a wider market so other industries could benefit from it (i.e., robotics). Raspberry Pi 4 came out in June of 2019 and has undergone several improvements since then. 


What is a single-board computer? 

SBCs or single-board computers are small but complete computers. These devices have the essential features of functional computers and are created using a single circuit board. To be more specific, SBCs put together a memory, output, input, and a processor, among others, in one board. SBCs may be small and their infrastructure simple and unchangeable, but they function well. They’re also not bug magnets, which is why they’re known for being reliable.

Single-board computers are used in different industries and purposes. As mentioned above, the Raspberry Pi 4 was initially built to help educate students and teach them how to program. Other applications of SBCs include robotics, experimentation, home automation, word processing, building a NAS drive or a media player, and web browsing. They’re also quite a major factor in the industrial scene. 

What does the Raspberry Pi 4 Do?

The Raspberry Pi 4 can actually replace a desktop computer. With a reliable power supply, a display, HDMI cable, USB mouse and keyboard, and microSD card, you can make your SBC do everything that your desktop does.

All this equipment is in the Pi 4 desktop kit. Users do not have to spend on anything or look for additional devices. All the essentials are in the kit.

Aside from turning into a desktop computer, there are other things that the Raspberry Pi 4 can do:

  • Edit documents
  • Create presentations
  • Make a stop-motion camera
  • Print documents on old printers
  • Create a retro game
  • Build robots
  • Time-lapse photography and videography
  • Host a blog or website

SBCs, like the Raspberry Pi4, are also ideal computing devices for medical imaging, video game consoles, traffic light controllers, mobile phones, and missile guidance systems. It is preferred in practically all industries – automotive, commercial, consumer, appliance, military, industrial, smart homes, and medical fields. 

What are the Features of Raspberry Pi 4?

  • RAM - Choices of 2, 4, or 8GB
  • Wireless Capabilities - 802.11ac (5.0GHz/2.4GHz IEEE)
  • CPU - BCM2711 (Broadcom)
  • HDMI Port - 4kp60
  • Operating Temperature - 0 to 50°C ambient
  • Graphics - OpenGL ES 3.0

Other significant features worth noting:

  • The device has USB 2 and USB 3 ports. Data transfer is multiple times faster.
  • Its power supply is USB-C.
  • The Pi 4’s micro HDMI ports offer support for two 4k displays.
  • The silent and fan-less Raspberry Pi 4 is energy-efficient.
  • Aside from Bluetooth and onboard wireless networking, the Pi 4 also has Gigabit Ethernet.
  • It has ports for video and stereo audio, as well as a two-lane camera port (MIPI CSI).
  • It is tested for compliance and follows international and regional standards.