Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi: A Detailed Comparison

Arduino and Raspberry Pi are two very popular boards used in the market. Both single-board computers have their own strengths and weaknesses. This makes it challenging to make one winner over the other. The Arduino board is simpler and easier to use, while the Raspberry Pi offers more processing power to handle complex projects. Therefore, this guide is going to talk in detail about Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi to clarify their differences and help you pick the right board based on your needs.

Ⅰ. What is Arduino?

Arduino is an open-source platform that provides developers an easy way to program and build electronic projects. It involves both software (Integrated Development Environment) and hardware (programmable circuit board).

The Arduino board includes digital Input/Output pins through which it can read inputs from sensors and other devices and produce corresponding outputs, such as turning on an LED, etc. It provides a simplified version of the C programming language, which makes it easy to program and design simple electronic projects.

Arduino Uno is one of the most widely used Arduino boards. So, the key features of Arduino, specific to Arduino Uno, are as follows:

· ATmega328P microcontroller

· 14 Digital Input/Output pins

· 6 Analog Input pins

· 16 MHz clock speed

· 32 KB flash memory

· 2 KB SRAM

· 1 KB EEPROM

In short, Arduino Uno or other types of Arduino boards incorporate all the components users need to create full-fledged electronic projects.

Ⅱ. What is Raspberry Pi?

Raspberry Pi is a fully functional single-board computer, meaning all the hardware is on a single electronics board. The main hardware components include CPU, memory, USB, LAN, micro HDMI ports, etc.

Think of Raspberry Pi as a mini computer that can connect to the computer monitor, mouse, and keyboard. It comes with its own operating system known as Raspberry Pi OS, a Linux-optimized version.

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is one of the most commonly used Raspberry Pi boards. So, the key features of Raspberry Pi, specific to Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, are as follows:

· Quad-core 64-bit ARM-Cortex A72 processor running at 1.5GHz

· 1-8GB of LPDDR4 RAM

· Dual 4K HDMI outputs

· Two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports

· Dual-band 2.4/5.0 GHz wireless LAN, Bluetooth 5.0, BLE

· Gigabit Ethernet and PoE capability (with add-on PoE HAT)

· H.265 (4Kp60) and H.264 (1080p60) hardware decoding

· Support for Linux, Raspberry Pi OS, and other operating systems

· Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin GPIO header with various interface options

· Mature Linux software stack with recent Linux kernel support

In short, Raspberry Pi's powerful specs make it able to assist in simple to complex electronic projects that involve multiple inputs and outputs with precise functionalities, such as robotics, IoT, etc.

Ⅲ. Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi: Key Differences

Now that we have cleared the basics of Arduino and Raspberry Pi, let's shift our focus on what are the differential elements between them.

1. Microcontrollers vs. Microprocessors

Arduino boards use microcontrollers (e.g., ATmega series), which are not computers and are meant to mainly do tasks around I/O operations.

Raspberry Pi boards use microprocessors (e.g., ARM Cortex), which are similar to what you see in computers. They are capable of running operating systems and provide computer-like functionality.

2. Operating Systems

Arduino does not come with a dedicated operating system. It works on simple instructions provided through the Integrated Development Environment (IDE). In contrast, Raspberry Pi supports a wide range of operating systems, including its own Raspberry Pi OS.

3. Connective Options

Arduino provides limited I/O pins with limited analog and digital pins. Besides that, it provides a small number of communication ports, mostly a USB port. The communication is mostly based on SPI, UART, and analog pins. In short, you get basic connectivity options with Arduino.

Raspberry Pi offers advanced connectivity options. It comes with more I/O analog and digital pins and a wide range of communication ports, such as HDMI, Ethernet, etc. It can also connect to various USB peripherals, such as mouse, keyboard, webcams, etc.

4. RAM

Arduino boards come with limited memory, ranging around 2-8 KB RAM for different boards. On the other hand, Raspberry Pi comes with more RAM, even ranging up to 8 GB RAM. This means that Raspberry Pi is more suited for complex projects that require more memory.

5. Cost

Arduino boards are cheaper than Raspberry Pi boards. For instance, you can get Arduino UNO REV3 for around $28, while Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (4 GB) costs around $55.

6. Processor & Clock Speed

As mentioned earlier, Arduino includes a microcontroller (e.g., ATmega series) with an average 16 MHz clock speed for most boards. In contrast, Raspberry PI includes a microprocessor (e.g., ARM Cortex) with around 1.5 GHz clock speed. So, the higher clock speed with a powerful processor makes Raspberry Pi best suited for complex projects.

Ⅳ. How to Choose Between Arduino vs. Raspberry Pi for Different Scenarios?

From the above-detailed comparison, it is evident that Arduino and Raspberry Pi have their own pros and cons. Although Raspberry Pi is a more powerful board than Arduino, it cannot simply replace the usability of Arduino. They both are useful in different scenarios. So, the next question is how to choose between Arduino and Raspberry Pi.

To better understand the different scenarios where Arduino and Raspberry Pi are effective, below we are listing a few sets of projects/tasks where they suit best.

Arduino is usable in:

· Simple robots (robot arm)

· Parking lot counter

· Repetitive tasks (reading from sensors, closing door, turning light on/off)

· Weighing machines

· Smart home devices

Raspberry Pi is usable in:

· Complex, multitasking software

· Sophisticated robots

· Media center to stream local/online content

· Smart home

· Home security

· Industrial applications

In simple words, Arduino is great for simple projects with low power consumption and may involve repetitive tasks. In contrast, Raspberry Pi should be considered as a computer capable of handling any complex project that involves the internet or complex functionalities.

Ⅴ. Wrapping Up

Arduino and Raspberry Pi are globally used due to their ability to perform specified tasks despite being compact in size. Arduino is widely used by beginners or someone working on simple projects. However, Raspberry Pi finds application in complex projects, even at the industrial level. Therefore, this guide will conclude that there is no winner in this comparison. So, it is recommended to pick between Arduino and Raspberry Pi based on the project requirements.