Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W vs Raspberry Pi Zero W: Unveiling the Upgrades

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W vs Raspberry Pi Zero W: Unveiling the Upgrades

Introduced in 2017 as an enhancement to the 2015 model, the Raspberry Pi Foundation now presents its latest iteration, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. Below, we dissect the differences between the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W and its precursor, the Pi Zero W.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W vs Raspberry Pi Zero W: A Detailed Comparison

This article scrutinizes the Raspberry Pi Zero boards, evaluating design, CPU, ports, connectivity, and price. Let’s delve into the specifics.

Design

Starting with the design, Raspberry Pi Foundation engineers packed all hardware improvements into the original Zero’s form factor. Consequently, almost all cases and accessories designed for Zero W are compatible with the Zero 2 W. Both models share exact dimensions: 30mm x 65mm x 13mm.

While the form factor and dimensions remain unchanged, the Zero 2 W is heavier than the Zero W. How? The organization explains that the “Zero 2 W uses thick internal copper layers to conduct heat away from the processor.” Therefore, heavier workloads can now be run on this new Zero-series board, thanks to its higher sustained performance.

SoC & Performance

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W bridges the performance gap with a slightly underclocked 1GHz version of the Broadcom BCM2710A1 SoC, also found on the launch version of the Raspberry Pi 3. It is a quad-core 64-bit SoC with ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1GHz. The SoC and 512MB 450MHz LPDDR2 SDRAM are integrated as a system-in-package (SiP), referred to as RP3A0.

Notably, the Pi Zero W features a single-core 32-bit ARM11 Broadcom BCM 2835 SoC at 1GHz.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W vs Raspberry Pi Zero W: Unveiling the Upgrades

As per sysbench results cited by the foundation, Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W offers nearly five times the performance for multi-threaded workloads compared to its predecessor. This significant improvement enables faster boot-up and project initiation for your RPi Zero endeavors.

Ports and Connectivity

The ports selection and connectivity remain mostly unchanged in this upgrade. You get the usual HAT-compatible 40 pin I/O header, USB 2.0 with OTG, microSD card slot, mini HDMI port, composite video, CSI-2 Camera connector on RPi Zero 2 W.

Multimedia options include H.264, MPEG-4 decode (1080p/30), H.264 encoding at 1080p @ 30fps and support for OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0 graphics. It’s worth noting that the Zero 2 W uses Bluetooth 4.2 as opposed to Bluetooth 4.1 on the predecessor.

Price & Availability

Regarding price, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W costs $15. In India, the lowest price I found was Rs. 1,300 from Silverline Electronics. At other authorized resellers in India, prices go up to Rs. 1,950. Conversely, the previous-gen Raspberry Pi Zero W costs $10 or Rs. 910 in India. Fortunately, the Raspberry Foundation is not discontinuing the Zero W, but there are supply constraints due to the global semiconductor shortage. The foundation aims to restock Zero W units in 2022.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W vs Raspberry Pi Zero W: Specs Table

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W Raspberry Pi Zero W
Dimensions 30mm x 65mm x 13mm
Processor Broadcom BCM2710A1, quad-core 64-bit SoC
(ARM Cortex-A53 @ 1GHz)
Broadcom BCM 2835 SoC at 1GHz
GPU VideoCore IV
Memory 512MB 450MHz LPDDR2 wire-bond 512MB DDR PoP
Connectivity • 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN
Bluetooth 4.2, BLE
• HAT-compatible 40-pin I/O header footprint
• Mini HDMI port
• microSD card slot
• CSI-2 camera connector
• 1 × USB 2.0 interface with OTG
Improved PCB antenna
• 802.11 b/g/n wireless LAN
• Bluetooth 4.1, BLE
• HAT-compatible 40-pin header
• Mini HDMI port
• microSD card slot
• CSI camera connector
• Micro USB power
• PCB antenna
Video • Mini HDMI interface
• Composite video
Power 5V DC 2.5A
OS Raspberry Pi OS

Opt for the Right Raspberry Pi Zero for Your Project

With the Raspberry Pi Foundation retaining the Zero W, you can choose between the Zero W and Zero 2 W for your DIY endeavors. The performance enhancements, thanks to the quad-core processor, validate the $5 price increase of the new Zero 2 W. It promises an improved experience without disrupting your workflow. For project ideas, refer to our article on top Raspberry Pi Zero projects.