Raspberry Pi 400 vs. Raspberry Pi 4: Which Is Best For You

Compare the latest Raspberry Pi 400 vs. Raspberry Pi 4. They both have almost the exact specifications. Find out which is best for you!

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B was released in June 2019 with a 1.5 GHz 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 processor, on-board 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, full gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and dual-monitor support via a pair of micro HDMI ports for up to 4K resolution.

Raspberry Pi 400 was released in November 2020. It is a Raspberry Pi 4 built into a compact keyboard. Because it is a Raspberry Pi 4, the Raspberry Pi 400 has almost the exact specifications as the Raspberry Pi 4, with 4 GB of memory.

As such, it also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. There are some differences, however. In short, the Raspberry Pi 400 is quite a powerful keyboard computer with Wi-Fi and USB.

Raspberry Pi 400 & Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Specs

Since the Raspberry Pi 400 is based on the Raspberry Pi 4, most computer features are the same.

Raspberry Pi 400Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
Raspberry Pi 400Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
Release DateNovember 2020June 2019
SoC Type (Processor)Broadcom BCM2711C0Broadcom BCM2711B0
Core TypeQuad Core Cortex-A72 64-bit (ARM v8)Quad Core Cortex-A72 64-bit (ARM v8)
CPU Clock1.8 GHz1.5 GHz
GPUVideoCore VIVideoCore VI
Audio OutputHDMIHDMI or 3.5mm Audio & Video Jack
Memory/OS storagemicroSD or USB BootmicroSD or USB Boot
RAMLPDDR4: 4GBLPDDR4: 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB
EthenetGigabit EthernetGigabit Ethernet
USB Port2 x USB 3.0 + 1 x USB 2.02 x USB 3.0 + 2 x USB 2.0
HDMI2 x microHDMI support Dual Display (up to 1 x 4Kp60 or 2 x 4Kp30)2 x microHDMI support Dual Display (up to 1 x 4Kp60 or 2 x 4Kp30)
WiFiIEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz+5GHz)IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz+5GHz)
Bluetooth5.0 + BLE5.0 + BLE
GPIO40-pin Header40-pin Header
Thermal PerformanceBuilt-in HeatsinkNA
Power Input5V via USB Type C (up to 3A)5V via USB Type C (up to 3A)
5V via GPIO header (up to 3A)
DSI PortNA1mm pitch 15-pin Port
CSI PortNA1mm pitch 15-pin Port
Kensington LockReadyNA

You might notice in the Pi 400โ€™s specs a new, higher default clock speed than you get with the year-old Pi 4 Model B. Itโ€™s clocked at 1.8 GHz out of the box, while the Pi 4 Model B is at 1.5 GHz.

But you can overclock a Pi 4 to that level quickly, given adequate cooling.

However, the Pi 400, with its overclocked CPU, can a little better handle more CPU-intensive tasks like opening multiple internet tabs, streaming videos, and multitasking.

Other differences are that the Raspberry Pi 400 only offers HDMI for audio output, whereas the Pi 4 also has a 3.5mm audio and video jack. Thereโ€™s also one fewer USB 2.0 port on the Raspberry Pi 400. 

Price

There are two packages for the Raspberry Pi 400: the basic and the complete kit, for $70 and $100, respectively.

The basic kit includes only Raspberry Pi 400 in itself. The extra $30 (complete kit) gets you:

  • Raspberry Pi 400
  • USB mouse
  • USB-C power supply
  • SD card with Raspberry Pi OS pre-installed
  • micro HDMI cable for the display
  • Raspberry Pi Beginner’s Guide.

On the other hand, the Raspberry Pi 4 4GB RAM costs $55.

Is the Raspberry Pi 400 for you?

The Raspberry Pi 400 is a well-designed, easy-to-use cheap computer to surf the Internet with. Its nice looks will attract users who, up to now, might have been intimidated by the bare Raspberry Pi boards. It is a great general purpose computer-in-a-keyboard.

You can use the Pi 400 like you would use a regular Raspberry Pi 4. Which is best for you depends on what you’re going to do. So, is the Raspberry Pi 400 for you?

The answer is simple: If you want a Raspberry Pi to use as a traditional computer, you want the Raspberry Pi 400. 

But Raspberry Pi 400 isn’t a device for hardware hackers. As Raspberry Pi notes in the user manual:

There are no user-serviceable parts inside Raspberry Pi 400, and opening the unit is likely to damage the product and will invalidate the warranty.

Overall, the Raspberry Pi 4 and Pi 400 perform the same. You can use the Pi 400 or the Pi 4 to do the same things because they’re essentially the same except for the keyboard that doubles as an enclosure. Which one to use is up to you.

Bobby Borisov

Bobby Borisov

Bobby, an editor-in-chief at Linuxiac, is a Linux professional with over 20 years of experience. With a strong focus on Linux and open-source software, he has worked as a Senior Linux System Administrator, Software Developer, and DevOps Engineer for small and large multinational companies.

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