Raspberry Pi 500

A brilliant update to the Pi 400, this "all in one" keyboard computer makes the most of the Raspberry Pi 5's power

- LES POUNDER

When the Raspberry Pi 400 (see issue 316, p58) was released in 2020, it evoked nostalgia for anyone who used Commodore or Sinclair machines in the 1980s. Evidently the idea of a computer in a keyboard retains similar appeal in the 2020s, as Raspberry Pi has followed it up with the Pi 500, based on the current flagship Raspberry Pi 5.

You can buy the computer on its own for £85, or as part of the Desktop Kit for £113. Both come with a 32GB A2 SDR104-compatible microSD card, but the Desktop Kit also includes a 27W USB-C power supply, microHDMI-to-HDMI cable and The Official Raspberry Pi Beginner's Guide book.

As with the Raspberry Pi 400, all of the ports sit on the back of the case, including a single USB-A 2 port for your choice of mouse, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and a microSD card slot (so the same as the Raspberry Pi 5). The sole USB-C input is only there to supply power, and there are also dual 4K micro-HDMI ports, a GPIO interface and a gigabit Ethernet port. Finally, there's a spot to lock your Pi 500 to a desk with a Kensington lock.

Having the ports at the back makes sense. It tidies up the cables, and means there's only need for one thick edge; the rest can be as thin as possible.

The keyboard is a membrane offering. Its chiclet keys are responsive and work well even under fast typing.

It has a power button in the top right, but don't fret: it takes a long press to trigger the power-off process.

Heading inside

Held together by a series of clips, again just like the Raspberry Pi 400, the Pi 500 is relatively easy to open. Just take your time, use plastic spudgers, and carefully apply heat from a hairdryer.