• Raspberry Pi Pico: Small microcontroller board, ideal for simple tasks, only $3.99! 💲
• Raspberry Pi Zero: A fully functional computer, suitable for more complex DIY projects, and more powerful. ⚡
• They're very different: Pico is basic for small tasks, Zero is versatile for projects that need an operating system. 🌐

The original Raspberry Pi has spawned so many variants that it's actually hard to keep up. Both the Raspberry Pi Pico and Raspberry Pi Zero are available at different price points, but how different are they really? 🤔

What is the Raspberry Pi Pico? 🛠️

The Raspberry Pi Pico is the only product in the Raspberry Pi line that isn't a fully functional computer. Rather, it's designed to be implemented in all sorts of DIY projects. It's a microcontroller board, designed for simple, repetitive tasks, and runs a single program at a time.

Its design is much simpler than other boards made by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. It features a dual-core ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontroller running at an impressive 133 MHz, has 264 KB of SRAM, doesn't support Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (you can get Wi-Fi with the W variant), and doesn't have an operating system—you'll have to code it to get things done. 🤖

If you are putting together a project and need a board to act as its brain, the Raspberry Pico is probably the perfect choice for you. It uses barely any power, is as small as a piece of gum, and despite its modest specs, it has surprising capabilities if you know how to use it properly. Plus, it's the cheapest device in the Raspberry Pi range, at just £14T3.99! 🥳

What is the Raspberry Pi Zero? 🖥️

We know that "Zero" sounds like it's smaller than "Pico," but in reality, the Raspberry Pi Zero sits above the Raspberry Pi Pico in the product hierarchy. Unlike the Raspberry Pi Pico, the Raspberry Pi Zero is actually a fully functional computer.

Its specs aren't surprising: it features a single-core ARM CPU, 512MB of RAM, a mini HDMI port, a micro USB power connection, and a 40-pin header, in addition to the composite video and reset headers. If you opt for the Zero W, you'll also get full Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, in addition to everything else mentioned. And if you opt for the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W, the processor goes from single-core to quad-core, significantly improving performance. 🚀

The performance this offers won't blow you away, but that's not the point. Instead, it allows you to build other types of small DIY projects (more complex than the Raspberry Pi Pico would allow), while keeping its size extremely small. For example, a Raspberry Pi Zero is perfect for projects where you need an operating system, to run more sophisticated software, or if you're looking for wireless connectivity. 🌍

How Different Are They? ⚖️

They're extremely different. As I mentioned, the Raspberry Pi Pico is a basic microcontroller board that you can program to perform tasks, but that's about it. It's the kind of board that's perfect for things like robotics, controlling sensors, interacting with hardware, or if you're feeling brave, even some simple games! There are many interesting projects that can be made using the Raspberry Pi Pico—in fact, we've listed some of the coolest ones.

The Raspberry Pi Zero can be used as a standalone computer with an operating system, allowing you to use it for things you can't really do with a Raspberry Pi Pico. Think of things like building a low-cost desktop computer, a mini web server, a retro gaming console, or a wireless network adapter. And because it's still small, you can use it in projects where space is limited. 📦

No Raspberry Pi product is truly huge (the full-size Raspberry Pi is about the size of a credit card), but some applications require smaller boards, and this is where you'll benefit from these options.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your needs. You should choose the Pico if you need a small, low-power device for simple tasks and embedded projects. Meanwhile, if you need a more versatile and powerful computer for general computing and projects that require an operating system, you may want to spend a few bucks more and opt for a Raspberry Pi Zero instead. 💻