Jeff Geerling

Raspberry Pi just announced the Pi 500+

It has a quad-core CPU, 16 GB of RAM, 256 GB SSD (built-in NVMe), and an RGB backlit mechanical keyboard (Gateron KS-33 blue switches).

Cost: $200.

First thing I did was yank the SSD out and replace it with an M.2 to OCuLink adapter, so I could game and local-LLM on the thing, using an AMD RX 7900 XT with 20 GB of GDDR6 VRAM.

Sep 25, 2025 at 7:08amWeb
Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025

...Then I swapped out the keycaps for two different sets, to see how that experience goes. The keys are ‘low profile’, and the keyboard feels great (though it makes clickety-clack sounds at around 60 dBA from a foot away).

If you crave more information, I have you covered:

Full video with all the details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv3RRAx7G6E

And if you enjoy text more than video, I have a couple blog posts:

Keyboard experience: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/testing-raspberry-pi-500s-new-mechanical-keyboard
eGPU testing: https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2025/full-egpu-acceleration-on-pi-500-15-line-patch

Show thread Kura  :kura_explode:Sep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy what's that "monitor"?
Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025
@kura That's the official Raspberry Pi Display, it's $99 I believe here in the US
Show thread Kura  :kura_explode:Sep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy Thanks! Though 300$ is a bit much for my Wallet right now.
Show thread🦃 Kat Callahan  🦃Sep 25, 2025

@geerlingguy

This is ridiculous, Jeff.

I mean, I LOVE it.

But it is very silly.

Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025
@jezebelkat Very silly (and usually somewhat functional) is my specialty! :D
Show threadChris MorganSep 25, 2025

@geerlingguy @jezebelkat “I’m Jeff Geerling and today I’m looking at the rpi 500+” (fully assembled easy-mode rpi)

*5 minutes later*

Super niche setup with unit in pieces, wire tangle, thousands of dollars extra gear, won’t boot.

“But this is fairly niche….”

Absolutely love it

Show threadunattributed 𓂃✍︎Sep 25, 2025

@geerlingguy I'm going to guess the reason the didn't make the switches swappable is that it requires a socket to be attached to the back of the PCB. That would add probably around 3mm to the over all thickness of the system -- which would probably mean they would have to adjust the case to fit it.

And I am guessing they don't want to add more sku's to offer different switch styles.

Although, I do agree, I am surprised they went with clicky switches. I would have thought some tactile switches would have been a good compromise between clicky and linear switches.

Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025

@unattributed From what I've heard, the keyboard has been worked on for a number of years... so I'm sure the debates were had frequently in the halls of Raspberry Pi :D

I'd love to see alternate 'top cases' though, and maybe the ability to put a top case onto a 3D printed bottom shell with a USB adapter that could be used independent of the Pi 500+.

Show threadDibsSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy come now, 600g/385g = 1.56, that's not "nearly two", Jeff!
Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025
@dtwx Well, it feels like it! I think I wrote that before I went and re-checked the weight of the Pi 500, oops.
Show threadDibsSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy 😂
Show threadSimon PooleSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy quite surprisingly the prices here seem to be essentially the US $ currency converted to CHF, instead of the normal one to one plus a markup (see https://www.pi-shop.ch/raspberry-pi/raspberry-pi-508). That makes the 500+ actually kind of a good buy (25 big macs), compared say to an Intel N... series based mini PC (which will naturally still be a lot faster).
Raspberry Pi - Raspberry Pi 500 - Raspberry Pi

Offizieller Raspberry Pi Reseller Shop der Schweiz.Grösste Auswahl an Raspberry Pi und Zubehör der Schweiz. Versand gleichentags ab eigenem Lager. Offizieller Schweizer Distributor von Raspberry Pi, Adafruit, Pimoroni, Sparkfun, JustBoom, HifiBerry, IQaudIO, SeeedStudio, WaveShare, Pi-Supply und anderen.

Pi-Shop.ch
Show threadSimon PooleSep 26, 2025
@geerlingguy that had to be too good to be true, price has increased from CHF 160 to 185 (aka ~27 big macs) :-/
Show threadChristoph RaitzigSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy Can you use it as a keyboard for another computer?
Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025
@talinx no, but I'm sure someone could tweak the connection point on the motherboard to be able to switch the keyboard to external USB mode... I believe it's just using a USB interface direct to the SoC?
Show threadChristoph RaitzigSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy Thank you for the answer! Being able to use it as a regular keyboard, too, would make it more useful IMO.
Show threadErik Uden 🚩Sep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy this is so cursed
Show threadHazmeisterSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy two warranties voided in one video, you are fearless!
Show threadStacySep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy - need a short extension cable that's male on one end, female on the other, and 45 degrees to make the port external.
Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025
@Sknashville didn't know 90 degree OCuLink was a thing!
Show threadaeberbachSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy suppose you prefer tactile but not clicky key switches - of course it would involve a couple of hundred de-solderings but how accessible is the keyboard PCB? (I prefer banana or brown switches, better feel, low noise)
Show threadMikalaiSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy
And now I start thinking about getting one of these specifically to run demos on at LUG presentations.
This is crack, or whatever they say 🙃
Show threadRedTechEngineerSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy micro HDMI 😭
Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025

@RedTechEngineer micro HDMI is soooooo fun to deal with lol

I bought about 10 micro HDMI to HDMI adapters for around the studio and home. At least I never run out of them anymore!

Show threadDaniel BrotherstonSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy Whoa! That's the hot rod of Pi! Moving to an NVMe and 16GB of ram is huge!
Show threaddeBaerSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy I'd love a smaller version of the 500+ with a matrix keyboard of, let's say, 12 by 5 keys. Like the @mntmn Pocket Reform as a desktop system.
Show threadLucie / minuteSep 25, 2025
@deBaer @geerlingguy you could build this yourself from pocket keyboard, motherboard, mnt rcm4 + pi cm5
Show threadLucie / minuteSep 25, 2025
@deBaer @geerlingguy or pocket keyboard standalone, which we'll launch soon, + pi 5 ^^
Show threadgunstickSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy how long until you get a PC only with a GPU and a small CPU on the side?
This is basically a GPU with a smart keyboard plugged into it.
Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025
@gunstick I've been working on something like that (early effort was Pi4GPU) :D
Show threadRasmus LindegaardSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy nice!
Show threadMichal  Sep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy *just* as I was about to buy the 500...
Show threadMichal  Sep 26, 2025

@geerlingguy Watched the review, I'm sold! Changing the content of my cart at a local rpi distributor who just got 500+ in stock.

Since this is meant for my kids, the "real keyboard" feel and customization options are going to be great for them to play and later work with.

Show threadDźwiedziuSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy
Blue switches by default? That's an act of declaring war in the office.
Show threadJeff GeerlingSep 25, 2025
@dzwiedziu haha can you imagine an entire classroom full of these??
Show threadDźwiedziuSep 25, 2025

@geerlingguy
I could

Then the flashbacks came…

Show threadDźwiedziuSep 25, 2025

@geerlingguy
Bloody hell, can't get a QWERTY in France.

Are the keycaps profiled?

Show threadOwl EyesSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy (Barely containing nerdgasm...) I personally would have preferred "brown" switches, not "blue", as I like the feel better.
Show threadMaaniSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy very impressive
Show threadKiwiTBSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy see this is what I've been talking about. A raspberry pi pro item. If that had a memory slot and 4 more cores a ton of people would use that as a daily driver.
Show threadgarySep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy why am I so unsurprised and underwhelmed - wait for the benchmarks; I have no faith in pi
Show threadWilliam 🂱 ∅ ∞Sep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy Someone get RISC OS working on it please.
(The heart wants what it wants)
Show threadJustMrLarzSep 25, 2025
@geerlingguy Because of this post, I bought one immediately. It is everything I wanted in the 500!
Show threadMeanderingOKSep 26, 2025
@geerlingguy I've been thinking about the 500 for a while. But after watching your vid, I'm sold on the +!
Show threadAfif R.Sep 26, 2025
@geerlingguy @gombang Now that’s a beauty @ubi
Show threadYukari K.Sep 26, 2025
@geerlingguy ngl made me spechless :exploding_head:, portable pc + powerful eGPU that sick mann, like BYD car with nitro oxide system. I want build that one in future. thank in advnace for sharing those wonderful creation :+1: