Raspberry Pi Foundation Unleashes Pi 5 16GB Model

Today, the Raspberry Pi Foundation announced the launch of a 16GB variant of the Raspberry Pi 5, priced at just $120. This new model caters to users running demanding applications like large language models, computational fluid dynamics, and heavyweight Linux distributions such as Ubuntu. I’m sure it’ll have some appeal to those using it for emulation, Plex and other home projects too, more RAM certainly couldn’t hurt.

Raspberry Pi 5 16GB

“We’re continually surprised by the uses that people find for our hardware,” says the Raspberry Pi Foundation. The increased memory capacity, coupled with the threefold performance increase over the Raspberry Pi 4, unlocks new potential for the platform.

This release is made possible by the optimised D0 stepping of the Broadcom BCM2712 application processor and a new memory package from Micron, combining eight 16Gbit LPDDR4X die.

Introducing Raspberry Pi Carbon Removal Credits

In a move towards greater environmental responsibility, the Foundation also launched Raspberry Pi Carbon Removal Credits. Priced at $4, these credits allow users to mitigate the carbon footprint associated with the manufacture and disposal of a Raspberry Pi 4 or 5.

Partnering with UNDO Carbon, the Foundation will utilise Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) technology to capture and store CO2 from the atmosphere. This process involves spreading crushed basalt rock on agricultural land, accelerating the natural weathering process that locks CO2 in solid carbonate form.

ERW offers additional benefits, such as improving soil health and reducing the need for fertilisers, while also helping to deacidify our oceans.

A commitment to a sustainable future

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has chosen ERW due to its rigorous, scalable, and verifiable approach to carbon capture. By embracing this technology, the Foundation aims to raise awareness and inspire others to participate in mitigating climate change.

“We’re doing the next best thing: paying UNDO to start an irrevocable process of carbon capture which will continue over the next two decades and beyond,” says the Foundation. “We hope that our embrace of ERW will help raise awareness of this world-changing technology, and perhaps inspire others to take their first steps with it.”

This launch marks a significant step forward for the Raspberry Pi Foundation, demonstrating its commitment to both innovation and environmental responsibility.