Raspberry Pi Zero Series – Compact Single-Board Computers for Embedded

Overview

The Raspberry Pi Zero series delivers the core functionality of a Raspberry Pi in an ultra-compact 65 × 30 mm form factor. Designed for embedded systems, IoT devices, robotics, automation, portable electronics, camera projects, and educational applications, the series includes three main versions: Raspberry Pi Zero, Raspberry Pi Zero W, and Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.

All versions feature a 40-pin GPIO interface, Mini HDMI output, a CSI-2 camera connector, Micro USB OTG connectivity, a dedicated Micro USB power port, and a MicroSD card slot. The Zero W and Zero 2 W also include onboard wireless connectivity.

Model Options

Raspberry Pi Zero

The original Raspberry Pi Zero is a compact and cost-effective board powered by the Broadcom BCM2835 processor. It is suitable for lightweight embedded applications that do not require onboard Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Raspberry Pi Zero W

The Raspberry Pi Zero W retains the BCM2835 processor while adding built-in 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 with BLE. It is ideal for wireless IoT, remote monitoring, smart-home devices, and compact network-connected projects.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W offers a significant performance upgrade with the Broadcom BCM2710A1 quad-core 64-bit processor. It also includes 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 BLE, making it suitable for more demanding robotics, automation, multimedia, and IoT applications.

Key Features

Ultra-compact 65 × 30 mm board size
Up to a 1 GHz quad-core 64-bit processor
512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM
40-pin Raspberry Pi-compatible GPIO interface
Mini HDMI video output
CSI-2 camera interface
Micro USB OTG port with USB hub expansion support
Dedicated Micro USB power input
MicroSD card slot for the operating system and storage
Support for I²C, SPI, UART, PWM, and general-purpose digital I/O
Wireless connectivity available on Zero W and Zero 2 W

Specifications

Specification	Raspberry Pi Zero	Raspberry Pi Zero W	Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Chipset	Broadcom BCM2835	Broadcom BCM2835	Broadcom BCM2710A1
CPU	1 GHz ARM11 single-core	1 GHz ARM11 single-core	1 GHz ARM Cortex-A53 64-bit quad-core
GPU	VideoCore IV	VideoCore IV	VideoCore IV
Memory	512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM	512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM	512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM
Wi-Fi	No	2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n	2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth	No	Bluetooth 4.1, BLE	Bluetooth 4.2, BLE
Video Output	Mini HDMI	Mini HDMI	Mini HDMI
Camera Interface	CSI-2	CSI-2	CSI-2
USB	Micro USB OTG	Micro USB OTG	Micro USB OTG
GPIO	40-pin GPIO footprint	40-pin GPIO footprint	40-pin GPIO footprint
Storage	MicroSD card	MicroSD card	MicroSD card
Power Input	5V via Micro USB or GPIO	5V via Micro USB or GPIO	5V via Micro USB or GPIO
Dimensions	65 × 30 mm	65 × 30 mm	65 × 30 mm

GPIO Interface

The 40-pin GPIO interface supports a wide range of expansion modules, sensors, displays, motor controllers, communication modules, and custom circuits. Available interfaces include:

I²C data and clock
UART TX and RX
SPI interfaces
Hardware and software PWM
3.3V and 5V power pins
Multiple ground pins
General-purpose digital input and output

Please note that the GPIO header may be supplied as an unpopulated soldering footprint depending on the selected version.

Applications

IoT devices and wireless sensors
Smart-home automation
Robotics and compact controllers
Camera and monitoring systems
Portable electronic projects
Digital signage and lightweight media applications
Educational programming
DIY embedded systems
Remote data collection
Prototype development

Notes

A MicroSD card, power supply, cables, GPIO header, and accessories may need to be purchased separately.
Raspberry Pi Zero does not include onboard Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Raspberry Pi Zero W and Zero 2 W support only 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.
Confirm the selected model before ordering, as processing performance and wireless capabilities vary between versions.