Raspberry Pi Price | Buy Raspberry Pi in India- Device Interactions



Which Raspberry Pi should you buy?



Raspberry Pi price depends on getting the right model and peripherals

The Raspberry Pis are mini computers that can be booted from an SD Card. It started as an educational platform, and has now evolved into a base for several commercial products as well. It's a fine example of how open source technology can change things for the better. The best part about the Pi family is that they work with Linux and have an extensive family of users that provide tips, support and help at every stage.

As a product developer and inventor working with IoT, I have had the pleasure of working with Raspberry Pis ever since 2014. My first attempt at a start up involved the use of a Raspberry Pi 2 B+ as a server to an IoT system for a Smart Home.

The first time I used the Raspberry Pi, I had to order it from the Indian branch of a large American electronics distributor. It took 7 days to arrive, and it left me hoping for a better experience. A lot has changed since 2014, and today Raspberry Pis, all models and sizes, are available online. The advantage of ordering through a known e-commerce site is the security and guarantee of a brand new & good condition product, as well as a buyer-friendly refunds and return policy. When you are buying something that expensive, you deserve some peace of mind.




I first tried buying Raspberry Pis online in late 2015, and since then my experience has gotten better. Since my work involved the use of Raspberry Pis so often, I even shortlisted some specific listings to use every time. More recently, the Pi 3 and Pi 4 were released and have become available on Amazon as well.


Getting Started with the Raspberry Pi

To get started with the Raspberry Pi, you will need more than just the board. Make sure you have the following to be able to use the Pi:

An HDMI compatible Monitor / Screen / TV
You will need a monitor to set up your Raspberry Pi, unless you are a pro. You might also want to use it with the screen for the first few times, until you get comfortable with remote control with SSH. 

An HDMI convertor / adapter
Raspberry Pis have various types of HDMI ports depending on the model. 
You might need a HDMI convertor cable to connect between your monitor and the Pi.
  • If you are using a Pi Zero, you will need a mini HDMI to standard HDMI convertor
  • If you are using a Pi 4, you will need a micro HDMI to standard HDMI convertor
  • If you have a VGA compatible monitor (the big blue connector), you should use a VGA to HDMI convertor

A power source
You will need either plug point near the monitor to power the Pi or a Battery / Power pack that can deliver constant current of 2.5A or higher at 5V.

A Memory Card 
An SD Card (Class 10, 16GB and above recommended) with the Raspberry Pi OS installed on it
  • If you don't have one, you can get an SD card with a pre-installed OS on it
  • Or you can get an SD card and flash the OS yourself 
USB Keyboard and Mouse
You will need a USB keyboard and a mouse, if you are getting started by connecting the Pi to a monitor.

Start the Pi up
Once you have these things, all you need to do to start the Pi up is :
  1. Insert the flashed SD Card into the Card slot of the Pi
  2. Connect the HDMI from the Pi to the Monitor
  3. Switch on the Monitor, and navigate to the right HDMI input
  4. Plug in a USB Keyboard and Mouse (use a USB micro to USB OTG adapter for the Pi Zero)
  5. Connect the Pi's power supply to it and switch it on


For this article and your convenience, I have put together all my quick shortlists of reliable Raspberry Pi sources on Amazon. This way you can save some time and effort while ordering your Pi from the right source. Here is an evaluation of the available Raspberry Pi models and where you can buy them online.



Raspberry Pi Zero

The Raspberry Pi Zero is the smallest Pi available, but packs some impressive specs for it's size. It is literally the size of a credit card. It gives you a 512 MB RAM, 1GHz ARM processor that can be plugged into your Monitor with a mini-HDMI cable. It is the cheapest Pi available.
The Raspberry Pi Zero W brings in WiFi and Bluetooth to the Raspberry Pi as well. The same processor as the Pi Zero, it allows easy connectivity to the a network, and is an extremely convenient and affordable little board to get started with learning Linux and IoT.

The Pi Zero is ideal for beginners, students and experimenters. It's cheap, small and allows you all the functionalities of a PC. Keep in mind that networking is over WiFi, and there are only micro USB provisions. The kit packages together all the peripherals like SD Card and Power Supply to get you started. 

Raspberry Pi 3


The Raspberry Pi 3 was the first Pi with a 64-bit system. It offers an impressive 1.4 GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex Processor with 1GB of RAM. It connects to a monitor via standard HDMI, and comes with a regular Ethernet port and 4 USB 2.0 ports. As good as a regular computer, with a really good size and plenty of online support to work with it. It also has a GPU unit - in case you are interested in some heavy processing projects like AI or Image Processing. Of course, it also  has WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities.

There is a lot you can do with the Pi 3. It is perfect if you want to learn how to work with Linux, or if you just want to experiment. The Pi 3 is perfect for a prototype, product development or even production level stage (in some cases). Especially for startups, this is a reliable mini-Computer that can be incorporated into your product at a great price. The kit includes all the peripherals to get started.


Raspberry Pi 4


The Pi 4 comes in 3 variants  - 1GB RAM, 2 GB RAM and 4 GB RAM. All of them have a 1.5 GHz 64-bit ARM (v8) Cortex Processor, 2 mini HDMI slots and 4 USB slots (2 of which are USB 3.0). The rest is similar to the Pi 3 - Ethernet slot, WiFi and Bluetooth built in (BLE 5.0 here!).


The Raspberry Pi 4 is a more powerful version of the Raspberry Pi 3. It's ideal for requirements that demand a more powerful processor. It can also work as a proper PC. I've tried using it for everyday tasks and it works fine - as long as you are comfortable using Linux. The Kit contain all the peripherals to get you started.


Recommended listings to buy from: 
Raspberry Pi 4B 1GB - Board ★★★★+ Rs. 3,600
Raspberry Pi 4B 2GB - Board ★★★★+ Rs. 4,198
Raspberry Pi 4B 4GB - Board ★★★★+ Rs. 5,430
Raspberry Pi 4B - Starter Kit  ★★★★+ Rs. 5,687


Essential Peripherals (for all Raspberry Pi Models)


A) Power Supply


Plug-in Power Supply (best practice)



Remember that a power supply of less than 3A might damage the Pi and you may lose data. Your regular mobile charger is not designed to provide the continuous power load of the Pi.
Recommended listing to buy from: 
5V 3A Plug-in Power Supply


Battery Power Supply


Power banks and battery packs can be used to power the Raspberry Pi in operation as well. However, this usually requires a power bank with a large capacity and the capability to provide continuous power at a high current of over 2.5A.

Recommended listing to buy from:
5V/3A battery pack for Raspberry Pi





B) Memory Card


This is good to start with. The Pi can also handle SD cards of higher capacity. Always try to use Class 10 SD Cards for your Pi for the best performance. Here are links for SD Cards with the Raspberry Pi OS pre-installed. This should save you some time!




C) Display Connectors


Standard HDMI Cable

The first time you use the Pi, you may need to connect it to a screen and see what's happening. It's a lot like a normal PC, and the NOOBS OS comes with a nice desktop GUI that will keep things intuitive. Since most monitors work with normal HDMI, it makes sense to get a regular HDMI cable and get a convertor or adapter (if needed) to connect to the Pi on the other side.


Recommended listing to buy from: 
HDMI Cable for Raspberry Pi


HDMI mini OTG Adapter - for Raspberry Pi Zero


The Raspberry Pi Zero comes with a HDMI mini slot, in order to keep its size in check. Luckily, its not that difficult to get an OTG adapter for this, and you can easily get one online. 


Recommended listing to buy from: 
HDMI Mini OTG Adapter



 
HDMI micro OTG Adapter - for Raspberry Pi 4

Raspberry Pi 4 went even smaller with the HDMI connector. The Pi 4 uses an HDMI micro, which is even smaller than the mini. Again, you can get an OTG adapter for this. 


Recommended listing to buy from: 
HDMI Micro OTG Adapter





D) Control Devices


 USB Keyboard and Mouse

First time Pi users might feel the need to use the Pi like a PC before moving to remote control via SSH. If that's you, there are some decent keyboards and mice available for you.
It is easiest to set up the Pi the first time using the GUI.
Recommended listings to buy from: 
USB Keyboard 
USB Mouse 
USB Keyboard + Mouse Combo  
For Raspberry Pi Zero, use with USB micro to USB OTG adapter






E) Networking



LAN Cable CAT6

The Pi works great as a headless computer (without a monitor) and as a part of a network of computers. Intermediate Pi users can try connecting it to the LAN as well as the Internet through a LAN Switch or Router. Don't forget to get a reliable CAT6 cable for your networking connections.
Recommended listing to buy from: 

LAN Patch Cable CAT6 (Not for Raspberry Pi Zero) 
 


Router

Mini Router

Connecting your Pi to a network is great, and you don't have to invest in a large domestic router either. Pocket routers like this one work with mobile networks and dongles while allowing wired and wireless LAN connectivity to devices like Raspberry Pis. Highly recommended.

You can also go for a basic standard home Router that has a decent speed and covers a good range.

Recommended listings to buy from:




The total cost of a Raspberry Pi is more than just the price tag on the board - it also includes the peripherals. The best way to minimise the Raspberry Pi price is to make sure that you have the right peripherals from reliable sources. Now that you know exactly what you need to get started, you can start your Raspberry Pi projects without any worries.

Each model of the Raspberry Pi is designed for a different kinds of project. So whether you are a student, prototyper, hobbyist or professional, there is a Raspberry Pi that can help you learn and build something great.

Go on and build something great!



Cheers,

Ranjit from Device Interactions


We are registered Amazon Affiliate Partners. All recommendations are unbiased and genuine.
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