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Raspberry Pi for $5.43 — is it real? What can it do and why is it so cheap?
Perhaps you have already heard that Raspberry Pi announced the release of Pico 2, a second-generation microcontroller board based on the RP2350. With a higher core clock speed, double the memory, more powerful Arm cores, new security features, and updated interface capabilities, Pico 2 is expected to deliver a significant boost in performance and functionality while maintaining hardware and software compatibility with previous series members. Now that the hype around the new product has subsided a bit, it's time to talk about it in more detail. And at the same time, understand whether it will actually cost $5.43. Spoiler: unlikely!
New Raspberry Pi microcontroller board
The first thing that surprises is the announced price of the new product, which is set at just 5 dollars, which is a good example of pricing and has already attracted the interest of enthusiasts from all over the world. When the device appears in Russia, the price will be different, but the entry level is already good.
This is not the most complex component and therefore the manufacturer was able to keep the price minimal, making it truly mass-market. For understanding: in the three and a half years since the release of the original Pico, it and its wireless version Pico W have sold more than 4 million units. Most often it was bought for DIY projects and countless commercial devices such as pinball tables, synthesizers, and other gadgets. Here you can expect an even higher level of sales.
The RP2040 microcontroller offered two 32-bit cores, a lot of on-chip RAM, flexible interfaces thanks to the programmable input-output subsystem (PIO), and all this was connected by a deterministic bus. It allowed developers to squeeze as much power as they needed, naturally, subject to certain conditions. Enthusiasts even implemented game consoles based on the Commodore 64, which they eagerly shared on social networks. Below is an example of such a project.
https://youtu.be/F4_-2U_dQLA?si=xG2bnngeejoUqnXE
When creating the RP2040 microcontroller on the original Raspberry Pi Pico, specialists immediately "kept in mind" a set of functions that needed to be implemented in the new generation. Among them were increased on-chip memory and reduced power consumption in standby mode. And users demanded faster cores, more RAM, and code protection.
Users actively shared tips on how to use such a simple gadget in everyday life. There were many videos on this topic on the web, like this one, which presents 10 ideas for using Raspberry Pi Pico from homemade computer peripherals to a mining farm controller. Among the examples given in the video: creating an oscilloscope for a smartphone, a volume control for a computer, a game console, a grind regulator for a coffee machine, a robot controller, and others.
Difference between the new Raspberry Pi RP2350 and RP2040
Despite the good characteristics of the RP2040, the RP2350 model is much more advanced. The previous generation offered only one 7×7 mm package option, but now there is a choice between 7×7 mm (RP2354A) and 10×10 mm (RP2354B). The silicon die area is now 5.3 mm2 versus 2.7 mm2 for the RP2040. At the same time, the declared price of the basic version RP2350A is only 10 cents more expensive, and RP2350B - 20 cents more.
All versions of the RP2350 will go on sale by the end of 2024, and potential buyers can already apply and participate in the testing program.
Pico 2 combines RP2350A with 4 MB of external QSPI flash memory, which is twice as much as the first generation. In appearance, this board is similar to the Raspberry Pi Pico and in a separate version includes wireless communication features, which is indicated by the letter "W" in its name. The Pico 2 W version uses the same Infineon 43439 modem as the Pico W. Also, the Pico 2 and Pico 2 W versions come with pre-installed 0.1-inch connectors.
Programming Raspberry Pi
As expected, the launch of Pico 2 and RP2350 is accompanied by an updated release of the Pico SDK, as well as new images of MicroPython and CircuitPython. The RP2350 will undergo laboratory testing in a certified independent laboratory to achieve PSA Certified Level 2 before release.
In addition, Raspberry Pi announced a collaboration with Google to launch the Pigweed SDK with built-in support for Pico 2. Pigweed middleware libraries have been installed on millions of devices, including Google's own Pixel devices and Nest thermostats. The Pigweed SDK will make it easier to integrate these components into projects for Pico 2.
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 Security
Another important feature of the RP2350 is the signed boot, which has become part of the security model. If protection is enabled, then the binary file can only be loaded if it has been signed with a private key, and the hash of the corresponding public key is stored in OTP. Preventing an attacker from running arbitrary code makes it significantly more difficult to extract the contents of OTP, including cryptographic keys used to protect the code. This is a big plus for the new product, as manufacturers often ignore serious security requirements in similar products.
In anticipation of the launch, Raspberry Pi has commissioned NewAE and Hextree to audit the security architecture and even offers a reward of $10,000 for the first confirmed hack of the signed boot process. And if no vulnerabilities are found, the program will be extended.
The development of Pico 2 and RP2350 is not just part of the preparation of new products. The launch of the new products in terms of significance, number of innovations, and labor costs is comparable only to the launch of the Raspberry Pi 5. It remains only to test the new product in detail by completing several projects, but its launch itself is promising.
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