On Monday, Rasberry Pi Foundation announced a cheaper and smaller version of Model A board. The new board, Model A+, will succeed the older, discontinued model A and costs around $20.
Though it sticks with the same processor (a Broadcom BCM2835 SoC) and amount of RAM (256MB) as before, the difference with the Raspberry Pi Model A+ is the size. At just65mm long versus its predecessor’s 86mm, the Model A+ can be incorporated into even more projects. It also draws less power and has an improved audio circuit with a dedicated low-noise power supply.
Another feature is the Model A+ uses MicroSD instead of SD cards and adds another 14 GPIO (General-purpose input/output) pins for a total of 40. It means the A+ can use the same HAT add-on boards that the B+ can use. This is intended to make life easier for users through auto-configuration and, while the makers of Raspberry Pi add-on boards dont have to use the HAT specification. For the Foundation, greater consistency of experience would also make for a healthier ecosystem.
When we announced Raspberry Pi back in 2011, the idea of producing an ‘ARM GNU/Linux box for $25’ seemed ambitious, so it’s pretty mind-bending to be able to knock another $5 off the cost while continuing to build it here in the UK, at the same Sony factory in South Wales we use to manufacture the Model B+
