The small-sized Pi Zero series has more powerful members and is well worth a moderate investment.

Author: Simon Beeson | November 4, 2021 | Topic: Internet of Things

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W has the same form factor as the previous model, but adds a quad-core RP3A0 SoC.

Raspberry Pi Zero has been around for six years and was originally launched as a USB-only device in November 2015 at a price of US$5. Over the years, the appearance has continued to evolve. In 2017, the wireless function was added at a price of $10, and the pre-welded connector was added in 2018. But one thing has not changed over the years: the processor. That is still the familiar BCM2835, which launched the original Raspberry Pi in 2012. 

Nearly ten years of life is a good thing for processors, but as workloads evolve and Pi-based projects become more and more complex, it is beginning to show its age. I recently tried to use Pi Zero WH to drive a 4-inch touch screen for simple monitoring projects, and quickly replaced it with Raspberry Pi 4. At the same time, Pi Zero's consumables began to dry up, faster than expected for the current chip famine. Is there a new Pi Zero on the horizon?

The launch of the $15 Pi Zero 2 W is still a surprise. It not only provides a considerable speed upgrade, but also introduces a new Raspberry Pi specific silicon package in RP3A0. Starting from the same quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A53 SoC used in the Raspberry Pi 3 (BCM2710A1), it encapsulates the processor chip as a 512MB SDRAM and puts the memory in the same package as the SoC. The packaging even includes its own copper heat sink, which should mean that the Pi Zero 2 W operates at a lower temperature than its predecessor-even if it runs at 1 GHz. It's not that Raspberry Pi develops its own silicon like RP2040, but it provides its own silicon package. 

Although it seems logical that the Raspberry Pi team continues to add features to its core single-board computer family, it actually makes sense to introduce a smaller, lower-cost version of the technology. Not everyone needs the power of Raspberry Pi 4, and Pi Zero 2 W allows you to use everything you have learned to create smaller versions of existing versions, or to undertake hardware projects delayed due to the need for computing modules. That is small enough . 

This is another benefit of Pi Zero 2 W. It has been certified as a wireless module itself, so it can be put into hardware without a new certification. From prototype to product has always been difficult, but if you can use the prototype as part of the product, you can save a lot of time. Building on the Pi platform also enables you to update software and operating systems wirelessly. 

Place Pi Zero 2 next to Pi Zero and you will find almost no difference. It is still the same 65mm x 30mm board with the same mounting holes. The new RP3A0 chip occupies the dominant position of the motherboard, and there is a large shielded area that contains all the wireless circuits next to it. You will get a pair of identical Micro-USB ports, one for power supply, one for OTG-based I/O, and one Mini-HDMI port. Everything is in the same place, so you should be able to put the new board in as a replacement for any old Pi Zeros. There may be a minor issue with the HDMI port because the socket is slightly larger, so if you use a 3D printed custom case, you may need to make some changes to the design. 

Other ports include the standard camera port of the Raspberry Pi and the pin output for the Pi GPIO port. Currently, Pi Zero 2 does not have a set of connector pins like Pi Zero WH. This means soldering your own. This shouldn't be too difficult, but I recommend practicing before raising the soldering iron to your Pi! If you plan to use Pi Zero 2 W with any HAT, adding headers is essential. 

Most Raspberry Pi suppliers sell complete sets of connectors and adapters for Pi Zero. If you use Pi Zero 2 for development, then the investment in one is very worthwhile. You need a Micro-USB to USB-A converter, a Mini-HDMI to HDMI converter, and a set of GPIO header pins. If your project uses only a part of the pins, you can choose to solder the connecting leads directly to the circuit board. 

I tested Pi Zero 2 W with a 32-bit copy of Raspberry Pi OS. Although the device SoC supports 64-bit ARM code, 512MB of SDRAM may be a limitation. Using a 32-bit operating system can help you squeeze more from its limited memory, because the development team stated that there will be no other memory options. 

This is the first Pi Zero considered suitable for basic desktop operations. The built-in HDMI port is suitable for most screens, although the available memory is again limited. In practice, you are more likely to use the device in headless mode, use an alternative display module (such as e-paper), or only use SSH to connect to your Pi from a PC. 

The last option is how I choose how to use my device, configure SSH and wireless connection when building the boot Micro-SD card. Once it is connected to my wireless network, I can log in with the default username and password combination before updating the operating system. If you are not familiar with Raspberry Pi OS, it is a Debian-derived Linux, and use the familiar apt tool to manage software packages. Other operating system options are available, use the PC-based Raspberry Pi imaging tool to download the image and load it onto the Micro-SD card. 

See: What is quantum computing? Everything you need to know about the strange world of quantum computers

As you might expect, this is a Raspberry Pi. If you have used it before, then you should be familiar with the basic installation of Raspberry Pi OS and its addition to development tools such as Python. The performance is good, although surprisingly the Beta Arm7 version of the Geekbench benchmark test suite crashed when trying to test the device. 

Most of my current Python-based projects are running well, and I can use the Visual Studio Code remote extension to process them through a wireless connection, install the Code remote server and explore the file system, and read and write files from my development computer. The original Pi Zero is difficult to run remote servers, and the new hardware is completely fine. 

Pi Zero 2 W should be able to replace the old Pi Zeros, although some custom 3D printed enclosures may need to be adjusted to accommodate larger HDMI sockets. 

It is best to compare Pi Zero 2 W with Raspberry Pi 3 Model A. Both have similar characteristics and have the same 512MB SDRAM. Yes, Pi Zero 2 W has fewer ports, no Ethernet, and a slightly lower clock, but it can be a reasonable replacement device and takes up much less space. You can port code quickly, because both use the same GPIO port layout (and the same HAT), and hardware integration should be relatively easy. 

One thing is clear: Pi Zero 2 W does not replace Raspberry Pi Zero. Instead, it's best to think of it as the third member of the Pi Zero series at a new price point. The original Pi Zero price was 5 US dollars and Pi Zero W was 10 US dollars. Now our Pi Zero 2 W is 15 US dollars. It will also last a long time, and plans to put it into production at least before the beginning of 2028. If you need low-cost single-board equipment, the investment is very worthwhile. 

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W: The new $15 board offers up to 5 times the performance of its predecessor 

New Raspberry Pi: Zero WH promises cheaper and simpler homemade hardware 

Raspberry Pi Zero W, hands-on: a very popular new member of the family 

Start hands-on practice with Raspberry Pi Zero 

Raspberry Pi price increases for the first time, global chip shortage is the culprit 

Your Raspberry Pi 4 may have just received an unexpected speed increase

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