Just when it seemed that it was everything you thought it could be, the Raspberry Pi family got a whole lot smarter and easier to use. The Raspberry Pi Foundation recently announced its latest super-cheap DIY computer chip: the Raspberry Pi Zero W.
The Raspberry Pi Zero W and its three interchangeable lids. Image source: Lifehacker.
Being five years since the Foundation launched the original Pi and sold 100,000 units on the first day, this milestone was a reason to celebrate. Priced at just $10, the new variant of Raspberry Pi Zero comes equipped with wireless LAN and Bluetooth. This means that you won’t need a separate hardware to connect to the internet for building your projects.
The Zero W module will certainly add to the popularity of the tiny computer among electronics hobbyists and students. Also released with the new Pi is an official case set for the Zero W module with three interchangeable lids that can be used with a camera and other attachments, along with a camera adapter and rubber feet to ensure Zero or Zero W’s grip.
As expected, the Raspberry Pi Zero W comes with most of the same specs as the standard Pi Zero, except for adding in the same 802.11n Wireless LAN and Bluetooth chip that the Raspberry Pi 3 has. The CPU and RAM are the same as the standard Pi Zero, which are basically the same as the earliest Raspberry Pi 1 models. Below is a breakdown of the full specs on the Raspberry Pi Zero W.
- 1-GHz, Single-core CPU
- 512MB RAM
- Mini HDMI and USB On-The-Go ports
- Micro USB power
- HAT-compatible 40-pin header
- Composite video and reset headers
- CSI camera connector
- 802.11n wireless LAN
- Bluetooth 4.0
The Raspberry Pi Zero was launched by The Raspberry Pi Foundation in November 2015, with the $5 device selling quickly among DIY enthusiasts and makers. After multiple complaints about the lack of connectivity in the Zero W chip, the Foundation resolved this issue for an additional $5.
The Raspberry Pi Zero W will be available for purchase this month.
Source: Raspberry Pi Foundation
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