· ai-devtools
GitHub traces Pi Zero 3 W, Pi 4 Model A in linux repository
The potential arrival of a new Pi Zero successor, along with a different version of the Pi 4, is suggested by traces found within the raspberrypi/linux repository.
A pull request titled "Add device tree for Pi Zero 3 W and Pi 4A" has been merged, pointing toward forthcoming hardware, which includes an update to the Pi Zero 2 W, a board that first appeared five years ago. That older board, while offering substantial value for its price, only possessed 512 MB of memory. Back when it launched, we believed its performance was closer to the Raspberry Pi 3 rather than the flagship Pi 4, yet it sufficed as long as multitasking in the browser was kept minimal.
According to reports from Phoronix, referencing the source tree, the forthcoming board might incorporate the Broadcom BCM271, an upgrade from the RP3A0 found in the current Zero. If this is true, it implies a notable boost in processing power, although it remains uncertain if the 1.5GHz clock speed of the Pi 4, which shares the same System on a Chip, will be maintained. Thermal management presents a serious hurdle, as the Pi 4 has a known tendency to generate significant heat under heavy use without active cooling, leading to performance throttling as temperatures rise. A device as compact as the Zero will face even greater difficulties in dissipating heat. Should this thermal challenge be successfully overcome, it would represent a welcome advancement for the long-serving Pi Zero 2.
Details regarding the memory capacity of the new device are currently absent; given the current expense of RAM and the necessity of keeping the price near that of the Zero 2 W—which is still available for approximately $18—we cannot envision a substantial increase. Furthermore, while the code alludes to eMMC storage, this feature seems unlikely to make it into the final product, likely due to cost considerations.
Alongside the Pi Zero 3 W, the repository also shows the Raspberry Pi 4 Model A. Whereas the Zero 3 W appears to be a genuine enhancement, the 4 Model A seems more like a response to increasing component prices, involving some cost reductions. Model A versions typically feature reduced memory allotments and lack an Ethernet port, and the 4A specifically appears to feature only a single HDMI output instead of two.
Enthusiasts will certainly appreciate an updated Pi Zero after more than half a decade, provided the pricing remains sensible and heat management is adequate. Concurrently, the appearance of a scaled-down Pi 4 feels almost inevitable in this current climate of rising component costs. When we inquired with Raspberry Pi about any upcoming plans, the company stated it had nothing further to announce. It is possible that these specifications could shift before any physical hardware reaches consumers.
Why it matters
These repository changes indicate upcoming hardware releases that will affect the developer ecosystem. Working developers should watch for official announcements regarding performance changes and feature sets for these new Pi variants.
