# Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ > credit-card-sized single-board computer **Wikidata**: [Q58882263](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q58882263) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/raspberry-pi-3-model-a ## Summary The Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ was established on November 15, 2018 [1]. ## Summary The Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ is a compact, credit-card-sized single-board computer released on 15 November 2018 that delivers a 1.4 GHz 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor and 512 MB of RAM in the smaller "A+" form factor for US $25. It is the final 3-series board in the Raspberry Pi family and the immediate successor to the 2014 Raspberry Pi Model A+. ## Key Facts - Released on 15 November 2018, succeeding the Raspberry Pi Model A+ (10 Nov 2014). - Priced at US $25, maintaining the low-cost mission of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. - Powered by a Broadcom BCM2837B0 SoC with a 1.4 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU. - Ships with 512 MB of LPDDR2 RAM; no on-board Ethernet or USB hub. - Operates from a 5 V supply and consumes noticeably less power than the 3 Model B+. - Measures 65 mm × 56 mm, identical footprint to earlier A+ boards. - Provides one USB 2.0 port, HDMI 1.3a, MIPI CSI camera, DSI display, 40-pin GPIO, micro-SD slot, and 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.2. - Official product page: https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/raspberry-pi-3-model-a-plus/ ## FAQs ### Q: What is the difference between Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ and 3 Model B+? A: The A+ halves the RAM to 512 MB, omits the Ethernet port and USB hub, and uses less power, while keeping the same 1.4 GHz CPU and wireless features in a smaller, cheaper design. ### Q: Can I run the same operating systems on the 3 Model A+ as on other Pi boards? A: Yes—any 32- or 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS image that supports ARMv8 will boot, although performance will be limited by the 512 MB RAM. ### Q: Does the 3 Model A+ need a special power supply? A: It accepts the standard 5 V USB-C or micro-USB supplies used by other Pis; a 2.5 A adapter is recommended when driving USB peripherals. ### Q: Is the 3 Model A+ still in production? A: Raspberry Pi Trading keeps models in production as long as demand and component availability allow; check the official product page for current status. ## Why It Matters The Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ fills a niche for cost-sensitive, space-constrained projects that still require 64-bit compute power and wireless connectivity. By trimming the RAM, Ethernet, and USB hub, the Foundation delivered a US $25 board that sips power—ideal for battery-powered robots, sensor gateways, handheld emulators, and IoT devices. Its release in late 2018 also marked the end of the Pi 3 generation, cementing the "A+" line as the compact, efficient option within the family. For educators, hobbyists, and OEMs, the 3 A+ offers enough performance to run Linux or bare-metal code while staying within tight budgets and power envelopes, reinforcing Raspberry Pi's role in democratizing computing worldwide. ## Notable For - First and only 64-bit A+ board, closing the 3-series lineup. - Lowest-cost wireless-enabled Raspberry Pi at launch (US $25). - Smallest Pi 3 form factor—65 mm × 56 mm, same as the original A+. - 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 delivers roughly 10× the CPU performance of the original 700 MHz ARM11 A+. - Power draw under 200 mA at idle, making it ideal for battery applications. ## Body ### Position in the Family The Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ arrived two years after the flagship Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and eight months after the refined 3 Model B+. It continues the Foundation's tradition of offering a trimmed-down "A+" variant roughly one year after the full-size "B" release. ### Hardware Details - SoC: Broadcom BCM2837B0, the same 64-bit chip used in the 3B+ but under-clocked to 1.4 GHz base. - GPU: VideoCore IV at 300 MHz, supporting 1080p30 H.264 encode/decode and OpenGL ES 2.0. - Memory: 512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM; no upgrade path. - Networking: 2.4 GHz single-band Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2/BLE via Proant "accredited" antenna, matching the 3B+. - USB: One USB 2.0 type-A port directly off the SoC; no hub, so total system bandwidth is shared. - Expansion: Standard 40-pin GPIO header, MIPI CSI-2 camera, and DSI display connectors. - Power: 5 V via micro-USB; peak consumption ~350 mA without USB peripherals. - Storage: micro-SD card slot; no on-board eMMC option. ### Software Support All current Raspberry Pi OS releases (32-bit and 64-bit) boot out-of-the-box. Third-party images—Ubuntu Server, LibreELEC, RetroPie—detect the board automatically. Thermal throttling engages above 70 °C, so passive heatsinks are recommended for sustained loads. ### Use Cases Because of its small footprint and low power, the 3 A+ is popular in handheld gaming kits, drone companion computers, LoRaWAN gateways, and classroom robotics where Ethernet is unnecessary. Commercial products embed it for digital signage, kiosk controllers, and edge AI inference when cost trumps RAM capacity. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/new-product-raspberry-pi-3-model-a/)