Raspberry Pi supercharges its keyboard PC with 16GB RAM, SSD, mechanical switches

Raspberry Pi has unveiled the Raspberry Pi 500+, a significant upgrade designed for users who rely on their Raspberry Pi as a full-fledged computer. This new model enhances the original 500 configuration by doubling the RAM from 8GB to a robust 16GB and replacing microSD storage with a speedy 256GB NVMe SSD. One of the standout features of the 500+ is its premium keyboard, which now boasts mechanical switches, customizable keycaps, and individually programmable RGB LEDs. These improvements are aimed at providing a more sophisticated user experience, catering to both casual users and enthusiasts alike. The Raspberry Pi 500+ is currently available for purchase through various retailers, including CanaKit and Micro Center, with a starting price around $200, which is double that of its predecessor. According to Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton, the development of the 500+ began shortly after the release of the original model last year. Early testers had noted that the motherboard, which shares components with the standard Raspberry Pi 5 but features all ports on one side, had space for an M.2 slot, although it was initially unpopulated. The new model rectifies this by including a populated NVMe slot that accepts a 256GB M.2 2280 SSD, which users can upgrade for even more storage. Upton also confirmed that the system retains the ability to boot from microSD and USB drives, ensuring versatility in storage options.