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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11In 2021, Raspberry Pi was expanding beyond its familiar single-board computers: it launched its own RP2040 microcontroller, saw strong uptake for Compute Module 4, and introduced Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. In a Make: interview, CEO Eben Upton described the year as a mix of ambitious product work, unexpectedly strong demand and supply constraints. His sales, production, market-size and performance figures are historical claims from that interview, not current estimates or independently verified results.
What made Raspberry Pi’s year unusual?
Upton’s account describes a company broadening its work while trying to meet demand for its existing products. Raspberry Pi had begun making its own RP2040 silicon and used the microcontroller in Pico. At the same time, Compute Module 4 was finding commercial customers, and Zero 2 W brought more capable computing into the compact Zero format.
The shift was not simply a new board launch. Upton called silicon a second business line alongside Raspberry Pi’s single-board computers and related products. Third-party boards using RP2040 also helped extend the chip’s reach beyond Pico.
How did the products differ?
| Product | Category and intended role | Design point Upton emphasized |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi Pico | Microcontroller board for embedded and electronics projects | Based on Raspberry Pi’s RP2040 microcontroller; third parties also built RP2040 boards. |
| Compute Module 4 | Compact computer module for integration into commercial products | Optional onboard wireless and a simplified 5-volt power arrangement. |
| Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W | Linux-capable single-board computer in the Zero form factor | System-in-package design brought a BCM2710-family die and memory into the small board, with reduced clock speed and memory compared with a Raspberry Pi 3-class design. |
These are different tools rather than three versions of the same device. Pico is a microcontroller board; Zero 2 W runs Raspberry Pi software in a Linux-capable computer; Compute Module 4 is intended for integration into a larger product or system.
#1 Best Overall
- The Raspberry Pi Pico is a beginner-friendly microcontroller board that uses MicroPython to give you a taste of the Internet of Things and microcontrollers. The RP2040 is a well-designed microprocessor that can be utilized in almost any Internet of Things project. It has enough power to complete the task quickly.
- 【Raspberry Pi RP2040 Microcontroller】Raspberry Pi Pico features Dual-core ARM Cortex M0+ processor, flexible clock running up to 133 MHz. With 264KB of SRAM, and 2MB of on-board Flash memory.Supports up to 16 MB of off chip flash memory via a dedicated QSPI bus
- 【Multiple Software Support】Pico has rich and complete software support, it comes with a complete Rasberry Pi official C/C++ SDK, Micropython SDK.The programming and burning of Pico need to be carried out on the computer. Supported operating systems and computers include:Raspberry Pie with Raspberry Pi OS,Other platforms equipped with Debian based Linux system Computer with MacOS, Computers with Windows, etc.
- 【Rich Hardware Interface】Raspberry Pi Pico has 30 GPIO pins, 4 pins for analog signal input and 26 × multi-function GPIO pins, 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, 16 × controllable PWM channels.USB 1.1 supported by host and device, The installation mode can be flexibly selected by users to facilitate welding with other development boards.
- 【Build Project in Tiny Size】Only 2.1cm*5.1cm ( as small as your thumb). Pico has been designed to use either soldered 0.1" pin-headers or can be used as a surface-mountable 'module'.
Why did Compute Module 4 gain traction?
Upton attributed Compute Module 4’s faster adoption than earlier Compute Modules to two practical design choices. Wireless could be included on the module, and the power arrangement was simpler: provide 5 volts and let the module generate its own rails. In his view, that reduced integration work for customers. He also reported strong commercial orders at the time; the interview does not establish current demand or availability.
What was new about Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W?
The featured announcement was Zero 2 W. Its system-in-package construction put a BCM2710-family processor die and memory together in the Zero-sized design. Upton characterized it as a downclocked, lower-memory Raspberry Pi 3-class computer, with software compatibility close to Raspberry Pi 3.
Rank #2
- Raspberry Pi Pico: A tiny, fast, and versatile board built using dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ processor (Comes with pinout card and stickers)
- Detailed Tutorial: Provides step-by-step guide with MicroPython, C and Processing (Java) Code (The download link can be found on the product box) (No paper tutorial)
- Example Projects: Each project has schematics, wiring diagrams, complete code and detailed explanations (Need extra items)
- Easy to Use: Just connect the board to your computer (installed IDE) with the USB cable to program it
- Get Support: Our technical support team is always ready to answer your questions
That compatibility focus distinguished it from Pico. Upton said Zero 2 W did not provide Pico-specific microcontroller capabilities such as PIO state machines or analog input. The two boards therefore suit different jobs: a compact Linux computer versus a microcontroller for direct hardware control.
Upton gave Zero 2 W a $15 launch price and cited a multithreaded benchmark showing roughly ten times the original Zero’s performance. Both are interview-era claims from 2021: the price is not a current quote, and the interview is not an independent benchmark report.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #3
- Latest Version: Higher core clock speed, double memory, more powerful Arm cores, optional RISC-V cores (compared to the 1 series) (This W version has onboard wireless LAN and Bluetooth)
- Switchable Cores: Allows users to choose between dual industry-standard Arm Cortex-M33 cores and dual open-hardware Hazard3 cores
- Compatibility: Delivers a significant performance boost, while retaining software- and hardware-compatible with the 1 series
- Detailed Tutorial: Provides step-by-step guide with MicroPython, C and Processing (Java) Code (The download link can be found on the product box) (No paper tutorial)
- Example Projects: Each project has schematics, wiring diagrams, complete code and detailed explanations (Need extra items)
What did Upton say about sales, supply and demand?
All of the figures below are Upton’s statements in the 2021 Make: interview, rather than independently audited or verified numbers:
- He said Raspberry Pi had sold about 42 million units by its nine-year mark, including about 7 million in the preceding year.
- He described production during the year discussed as roughly 600,000 to 800,000 units per month, while estimating demand ran 20 to 30 percent above expectations.
- He floated 7.5 million units as a possible total for that year and said the company had missed what might have been a 9 million-unit year. These were a projection and a retrospective estimate, not confirmed final totals.
- He characterized the microcontroller market as 28 billion units and $18 billion per year. The interview did not identify an underlying market study, so both figures should be read as Upton’s estimates.
The interview captures a particular moment of supply pressure and product expansion. Those figures do not establish Raspberry Pi’s present production, sales, market share or current board pricing.
Rank #4
- This breakout board is specially made for Raspberry Pi Pico, with additional pin headers, which are fully compatible with the board
- The product needs to be soldered by itself, and the pico can be inserted after successful welding
- The breakout board is gold-plated on both sides and holes are plated, and the material of the PCB board is excellent
- The breakout board is equipped with Raspberry Pi pico, which is convenient for users to develop and integrate flexibly
- Note: The package does not include Raspberry Pi pico. This product needs to be soldered and assembled by yourself
How did Upton decide what Raspberry Pi should make?
Upton described a product philosophy based on building things the team itself wants, then taking the time to engineer them for production at scale. He said that approach was not about averaging a list of customer requests. In the interview, he reflected: “We make the things we want.” He also acknowledged the long development cycle: “All of these things take a long time.”
For Pico, he said the surprise was not only that Raspberry Pi made a microcontroller, but that a community and demand were already waiting for it: “The surprise is that there was a community there waiting and there was demand waiting.” His closing sentiment was personal rather than a product claim: “And if it wasn’t fun, I’d stop doing it.”
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- RPi Pico 2 W Microcontroller Board (pre-soldered header (color-coded)), Based on Official RP2350 Chip, Dual-core & Dual-architecture Design. Upgraded hardware from Pico 2 with wireless communication, onboard antenna, features 2.4GHz 802.11n WIFI and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Adopts unique dual-core and dual-architecture design: dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 processor and dual-core Hazard3 RISC-V processor, flexible clock running up to 150 MHz.
- Onboard Infineon CYW43439 wireless chip, supports WIFI 4 wireless and Bluetooth 5.2.
- 520KB of SRAM, and 4MB of on-board Flash memory.
- Castellated module allows soldering direct to carrier boards. USB 1.1 with device and host support. Low-power sleep and dormant modes. Drag-and-drop programming using mass storage over USB.
What the interview can—and cannot—tell you
The interview is useful as a snapshot of Raspberry Pi’s strategy and Upton’s explanation for the design choices behind three products. It helps explain why RP2040 and Pico represented a move into silicon, why Compute Module 4’s power and wireless options mattered to integrators, and how Zero 2 W brought Raspberry Pi 3-class software compatibility to a smaller board.
It is not a present-day buying guide. The interview does not establish current retail prices, stock, regional availability or independent performance-test results. Check current product and retailer information separately before making a purchase or planning a design around availability.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
