Raspberry Pi 500 and 500+: The Keyboard Computers Reviewed

The Raspberry Pi 500 and 500+ put a full BCM2712 desktop computer inside a keyboard. You plug in a monitor and power, and you have a Linux workstation with a 40-pin GPIO header on the back edge. The base model costs far less. The “+” model adds a mechanical keyboard, double the RAM and an NVMe SSD. Memory-driven price hikes in 2026 changed which one makes sense to buy, so the decision is no longer obvious.

Quick Takeaways

• Pi 500: Raspberry Pi 5 internals, with a quad-core Cortex-A76 BCM2712, 8GB LPDDR4X and a 32GB microSD card. It is the budget pick.
• Pi 500+: 16GB RAM, a 256GB NVMe SSD in an M.2 2280 slot, and a mechanical keyboard with per-key RGB. It is the premium pick.
• Price shift: The 500+ launched at $200. Memory-cost increases pushed it to roughly $410 by spring 2026 (see the pricing table below).
• Best use: Use the 500 as a desktop, a classroom machine or a GPIO prototyping bench. Choose the 500+ only if you need the RAM, the SSD or the typing feel.

Component Overview: What Sits Inside the Keyboard

Both machines share the same compute core. The Pi 500 is basically the Pi 400 design with a much faster SoC, double the memory and re-arranged rear ports. Its direct predecessor is the Pi 400, which Raspberry Pi still sells at $60.

The BCM2712 is the same chip used in the Raspberry Pi 5. It runs four 64-bit Cortex-A76 cores at 2.4GHz. Each core has 512KB of L2 cache, and the cores share a 2MB L3 cache. Graphics come from the VideoCore VII GPU. Because the silicon matches the Pi 5, any Pi 5 software, kernel build or driver works on both keyboard computers.

The RP1 I/O controller handles the USB, Ethernet and GPIO interfaces. This is why GPIO libraries that target the Pi 5 (such as lgpio under gpiozero) also work here.

Raspberry Pi 500 Hardware Notes

• Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X, soldered.
• Storage: A 32GB microSD card, preloaded with Raspberry Pi OS. The board boots straight into the setup wizard.
• Keyboard: A rubber-dome membrane layout, familiar from the Pi 400.
• Expansion: Testers noted that the board has room for an M.2 slot, but nothing is soldered there.

Raspberry Pi 500+ Hardware Notes

The 500+ spends its extra money in four places:

1. Memory: 16GB of LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM.
2. Storage: A 256GB Raspberry Pi SSD in an internal M.2 2280 slot. You can swap it for a larger drive, and tools for opening the case are included.
3. Keyboard: Low-profile clicky Gateron KS-33 Blue switches, driven by an RP2040 microcontroller running open-source QMK firmware.
4. Cooling: A one-piece aluminium heatsink for better thermal performance under sustained load.

The keyboard has 78, 79 or 83 keys per Raspberry Pi’s listing, though some outlets report 84 to 88 keys depending on the layout. Check your regional variant before ordering.

Pinout Configuration and Ports

The rear edge carries the same port layout on both models:

• 2× micro-HDMI, with up to 4K60 output each.
• 1× Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000).
• 2× USB 3.0 and 1× USB 2.0.
• USB-C power input, rated 5V/5A (the official 27W supply).
• 40-pin GPIO header, unchanged from the Pi 5 pin mapping.
• microSD slot with SDR104 support.
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0/BLE.

Key GPIO pins for common builds:

GPIO logic is 3.3V and is not 5V tolerant. Keep each pin’s current draw under about 16mA. Drive larger loads through a MOSFET, a transistor or a relay module. Put a level shifter between the Pi and any 5V logic device.

Pi 500 vs 500+: Direct Comparison

The performance gap comes from storage and memory, because the CPU is identical. Compile jobs, package installs and database work gain the most from the NVMe drive. Light desktop use sees little difference.

2026 Pricing: The Memory Crisis Changed the Math

Prices moved sharply after launch, so older reviews now mislead. Raspberry Pi blamed rising LPDDR4 costs, which had risen sevenfold in a year.

*Calculated by adding the April increase to the February price. Retailers vary, so verify current stock and price before buying.

Raspberry Pi’s CEO called the strain “challenging but temporary,” and expects prices to fall when memory costs stabilize. At roughly $410, the 500+ costs more than a Pi 5 16GB plus a case, an NVMe HAT and a keyboard. You pay the premium for integration.

Getting Started: First Boot and NVMe Check

On the 500+, confirm the SSD is detected and healthy after your first boot:

# List block devices — the NVMe drive appears as nvme0n1
lsblk

# Install NVMe tools and read drive health
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y nvme-cli
sudo nvme smart-log /dev/nvme0n1

# Quick sequential read test (hdparm reports MB/s)
sudo apt install -y hdparm
sudo hdparm -t /dev/nvme0n1

Update the bootloader and OS as well:

sudo apt full-upgrade -y
sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a   # applies pending EEPROM firmware updates

If you move the root filesystem from microSD to NVMe on a Pi 500 with an add-on adapter, set the boot order with sudo raspi-config under Advanced Options → Boot Order.

Real-World Project: Build a GPIO Environment Monitor

The keyboard form factor makes both machines good desk-side prototyping stations. This project reads temperature, humidity and pressure from a BME280 sensor over I2C.

Parts List

• 1× BME280 breakout (3.3V version)
• 4× female-to-female jumper wires
• 1× LED and 1× 330Ω resistor (for the status indicator)

Wiring

Connect the LED anode through the 330Ω resistor to GPIO17 (pin 11). Connect the cathode to GND (pin 9). The resistor limits current to roughly (3.3V − 2V) / 330Ω ≈ 4mA, which is safe for the pin.

Enable I2C and Install Libraries

# Turn on the I2C interface (0 = enable)
sudo raspi-config nonint do_i2c 0

# Confirm the sensor responds — expect address 0x76 (or 0x77)
sudo apt install -y i2c-tools python3-venv
i2cdetect -y 1

# Create an isolated Python environment
python3 -m venv ~/envmon && source ~/envmon/bin/activate
pip install adafruit-blinka adafruit-circuitpython-bme280 gpiozero lgpio

Firmware: Python Script

import time
import board                                   # Blinka pin definitions
from adafruit_bme280 import basic as adafruit_bme280
from gpiozero import LED

i2c = board.I2C()                              # Uses GPIO2 (SDA) and GPIO3 (SCL)
bme = adafruit_bme280.Adafruit_BME280_I2C(i2c, address=0x76)
status = LED(17)                               # Status LED on GPIO17

while True:
    status.on()                                # LED on while sampling
    temp_c = bme.temperature                   # degrees Celsius
    humidity = bme.relative_humidity           # percent RH
    pressure = bme.pressure                    # hPa
    print(f"{temp_c:.1f} C | {humidity:.1f} %RH | {pressure:.1f} hPa")
    status.off()
    time.sleep(5)                              # sample every 5 seconds

Run it with python envmon.py. If i2cdetect shows nothing, check that SDA and SCL are not swapped. Also check that the breakout is a 3.3V-compatible board. Add the script to a systemd service to start it at boot.

Protecting the Header

• Never connect a 5V signal directly to a GPIO pin.
• Add a flyback diode across any relay coil or motor you switch.
• Use an optocoupler to isolate mains-adjacent or noisy circuits from the 3V3 logic.
• Power hungry peripherals from their own supply, not the 5V header pin.

Keyboard Customization on the 500+

The 500+ keyboard runs QMK on an RP2040. That means you can remap keys, build layers and program the RGB effects at the firmware level. This is rare in a computer-in-keyboard. A hobbyist can learn QMK on the same machine they use daily, then flash and test changes without leaving the desk. The replaceable keycaps and the KS-33 Blue switches give it a distinct clicky sound. Expect noise in shared offices.

Which One Should You Buy?

Buy the Pi 500 if:

• You want a low-cost desktop for coding, browsing or teaching.
• You prototype with GPIO, I2C, SPI and UART and do not need 16GB of RAM.
• You are comfortable adding storage through USB.

Buy the Pi 500+ if:

• You run containers, virtual machines or large compile jobs.
• You want fast local storage without extra hardware.
• You value a mechanical keyboard and QMK remapping.

Skip both if you only need a headless server. A bare Pi 5 or an older board costs less and fits a case better. The Pi 400 at $60 also remains the cheapest all-in-one option.

FAQ

What is the difference between the Raspberry Pi 500 and 500+?

The 500+ doubles the RAM to 16GB, adds a 256GB NVMe SSD and swaps the membrane keyboard for a mechanical one with RGB lighting and replaceable keycaps. The CPU, GPU, ports and 40-pin GPIO header are the same.

Does the Raspberry Pi 500 have GPIO pins?

Yes. Both models expose a 40-pin GPIO header on the rear edge. It supports I2C, SPI, UART and PWM, with 3.3V logic.

Why did the Raspberry Pi 500+ price go up?

Raspberry Pi raised prices because of a global LPDDR4 memory shortage. The company increased the 500+ price in February and again in April 2026, and it expects the increases to be temporary.

Can I upgrade the SSD in the Raspberry Pi 500+?

Yes. The internal M.2 2280 slot accepts a replacement NVMe drive, and the case opens with the included tools. Check drive compatibility and power draw before you buy a larger one.