The Raspberry Pi Foundation celebrates "Pi Day" (14 March) with the launch of the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, an update of the micro-PC promising more power and better wireless connectivity.
The Model B+ runs on a Broadcom BCM2837B0 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU-- the same processor as the regular Model B, only clocked at a faster 1.4GHz. It also promises "power integrity optimisations and a heat spreader" allowing customers to either overclock the little machine or run it at lower voltages to reduce power consumption. Interestingly the maker says the B+ consumes "substantially more power than its predecessor," and recommends the use of a high-quality 2.5A power supply.
Meanwhile the addition of a Cypress CYW43455 "combo" chip and a Proant PCB antenna provide better wifi on both 2.4 and 5GHz bands. The wifi also has "modular compliance certification," making it easier for developers using Pi hardware to get their products regulated. Also updated is the ethernet through the addition of gigabit ethernet over USB 2.0.
Otherwise the B+ remains very similar to the model B, meaning it remains compatible with all existing Pi cases and accessories. It is available now.
