The Raspberry Pi 400 is the most underrated Raspberry Pi ever made

Despite often being ignored in favor of other Raspberry Pi models, the Raspberry Pi 400 stands out as a truly underrated creation. With a design that integrates a keyboard into the Single Board Computer (SBC), the Pi 400 eliminated the hassle of setting up a Pi for beginners. This unique form factor offered a fully functioning keyboard without the additional cost or complexity of sourcing a separate enclosure and keyboard.

Boasting a quad-core Cortex-A72 chip, identical to the Pi 4, and 4GB of RAM, the Pi 400 delivers solid performance. It also includes ports for micro-HDMI, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0, allowing it to serve as a thin client or a lightweight secondary computer. Its functionality extends beyond just education, making it a versatile tool for retro gaming, running Pi-hole or Home Assistant, or learning Linux.

The Pi 400's keyboard enclosure proved to be more than just a novelty. It incorporated a wraparound aluminum heat spreader that functioned as an effective heatsink, utilizing thermal pad to provide excellent passive cooling. This feature ensured that the 1.8 GHz processor could handle demanding tasks without throttling. Though the board lacks camera and display connectors, it compensates with its affordability and the ability to boot from a microSD card, with an option to use an external SSD via an adapter.

While newer Raspberry Pi models like the Pi 500 and 500+ offer improved performance, they come at a significantly higher cost. A complete Pi 400 kit can be found for under $90, making it a cost-effective solution for those just starting out with an SBC. Though it may not include display and camera connectors, the Raspberry Pi 400 proves to be an affordable, practical option for hobbyists, students, and those on a tight budget.

Its innovative design and broad utility have rightfully earned it the title of one of the most influential Raspberry Pi models ever made.