The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is a significant milestone in the Raspberry Pi lineage, offering a substantial upgrade over its predecessors with a focus on enhanced performance and expanded connectivity options. At its heart lies a 1.2GHz 64-bit quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU, which provides a substantial leap in processing power, making it more than capable of handling everyday computing tasks as well as more demanding applications like video streaming and gaming.
One of the defining features of the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is its improved connectivity, highlighted by the integration of dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless LAN, which allows for more reliable network connections, especially in environments with crowded Wi-Fi spectra. Additionally, Bluetooth 4.2 is onboard, enabling connectivity with a wide array of wireless peripherals and devices.
The Model B comes with 1GB of LPDDR2 SDRAM, which is a notable increase from the 512MB found in the Raspberry Pi 2, allowing for smoother multitasking and the ability to run more memory-intensive applications. For storage and operating system installation, it features a micro SD card slot, which is compatible with cards of varying capacities.
Video and audio output are well catered for with a full-size HDMI port that supports high-definition video output, making the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B suitable for use as a media center. Furthermore, it has a 4-pole stereo output and a composite video port for additional display options.