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.
...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
@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
@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.
@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+.
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