by The Raspberry Pi 3 A+ is a slimmed down version of the Pi 3B Plus and the latest in the Model A class of the Raspberry Pi single-board computers.
This Pi is similar to the Raspberry Pi 3 B Plus but has had a few of its extra features removed. It still packs the same processing power but in a much smaller package.
Thanks to the removal of several components and reducing the amount of RAM the 3 A+ comes in at 20 mm smaller than its big brother the 3B+.
The Raspberry Pi 3 A Plus represented a considerable upgrade over the previous A Plus model. Bringing with it the improvements from two whole generations of Raspberry Pi.
The CPU
One of the most significant upgrades that came with the Pi 3 A Plus is the introduction of a much more powerful processor.
This upgrade replaced the antiquated single-core ARM processor from the first generation with a much improved quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 clocked at 1.4 GHz.
One of the bonuses of the more modern processor is that the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ can run most operating systems built for ARM.
This better support is mostly thanks to the ARMv8 instruction set that the CPU supports.
The RAM
Another upgrade over the original Raspberry Pi A Plus was the addition of another 256MB of RAM bringing the total amount of RAM to 512MB.
The increase in RAM was a much-needed upgrade as you could very quickly run out of the 256MB that was available on the original Raspberry Pi A models.
Increased connectivity
One of the best improvements over the original Raspberry Pi is the inclusion of WiFi and Bluetooth on the board.
With the 3 A+ only having one USB port, the more functionality that is built into the board, the better.
You will find that built into the Pi 3 A Plus is the same network module featured on the Raspberry Pi 3 B+.
This network module contains an 802.11b/g/n/ac dual-band WiFi module, as well as a Bluetooth 4.2 module.
Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ Hardware Specifications
CPU: 1.4 GHz quad core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU
GPU: 250MHz Broadcom VideoCore IV
RAM: 512mb (Shared with GPU)
Storage: Micro SD
USB 2.0 Ports: 1
USB 3.0 Ports: 0
Networking: 802.11b/g/n/ac dual band 2.4/5 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 4.2 LS BLE
Video Input: 15-pin MIPI camera interface (CSI) connector
Video Ouputs: HDMI 1.3, MIPI display interface, DSI
Audio Inputs: Audio over I2S
Audio Outputs: 3.5mm phone jack, Digital Audio via HDMI
Low-Level peripherals: 17 x GPIO, +3.3v, +5v, ground, Plus the following that can be used as GPIO: UART, I2C Bus, SPI bus with two chip select, I2S audio
Power Source: 5v via MicroUSB or GPIO header
Size: 65.00mm x 56.50mm x 17mm
Weight: 23 g (0.81 oz)
Hardware Diagram
Here we have included some schematics of the Raspberry Pi 3 A Plus hardware. These schematics show the general positioning of all the vital circuitry on the board.
The Raspberry Pi 3 A+ is a cut down version of the Pi 3B. As you can tell by its diagram, it features a single USB 2.0 Port. It’s only means of network connectivity is the inbuilt Wi-Fi module.
GPIO Pinout
Below we have a diagram showing the layout of the GPIO pins on the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+.
The GPIO pinout of the 3 A+ is the same as that of the Raspberry Pi 2. This layout means any project that utilizes the GPIO pins of the Pi 2 will still work on this smaller board.
If you need to know more about the GPIO pins, then be sure to check out our guide on them.
Buying a Raspberry Pi 3 A+
As the Raspberry Pi 3 A+ is relatively new, you can easily find it up for sale from various electronic stores or marketplaces such as Amazon.
You will be glad to know that you can pick this board up for roughly $25 USD, which is $10 USD cheaper than its bigger brother the Raspberry Pi 3 B+. You can find it at the typical Raspberry Pi retailers.
If you want to purchase a Pi 3 A+, then you can find one by clicking on the button below.
The Model 3 A+ is the perfect board for lots of different Pi projects where you want a smaller form factor and not need more than 512mb of RAM.
That’s all we have regarding the Raspberry Pi 3 A+ and its features. If you have any feedback regarding this article or have anything to add then, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.
