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Raspberry Pi 5 Review: The Ultimate Single Board Computer for 2025
The Raspberry Pi 5 represents the biggest generational leap in the single board computer world since the platform launched over a decade ago. After three weeks of intensive testing with various maker projects, media server configurations, and programming workloads, I can confidently say this is the most capable Pi ever released. The Broadcom BCM2712 processor delivers genuine desktop-class performance, whilst maintaining the accessibility and price point that made Raspberry Pi a household name amongst hobbyists, educators, and tech enthusiasts across the UK.
Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB)
- Broadcom BCM2712 2.4GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU, with cryptography extensions, 512KB per-core L2 caches and a 2MB shared L3 cache
- Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
- 2 × USB 3.0 ports, supporting simultaneous 5Gbps operation / 2 × USB 2.0 ports
- Gigabit Ethernet, with PoE+ support (requires separate PoE+ HAT)
- The Raspberry Pi 27W USB-C Power Supply is recommended for delivering the power you need to keep you Raspberry Pi running at peak performance
Price checked: 18 Dec 2025 | Affiliate link
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Key Takeaways
- Best for: Makers, hobbyists, home server enthusiasts, and anyone wanting desktop-level performance in a credit card-sized package
- Price: £81.71 (excellent value for performance delivered)
- Rating: 4.6/5 from 3,487 verified buyers
- Standout feature: 2-3x performance improvement over Pi 4, with PCIe 2.0 support opening new expansion possibilities
The Raspberry Pi 5 is a transformative upgrade that finally delivers proper desktop computing performance in the iconic Pi form factor. At £81.71, it offers exceptional value for makers, students, and anyone building home automation systems, retro gaming setups, or lightweight Linux workstations. The performance gains are immediately noticeable, making this the first Pi that genuinely feels responsive for everyday computing tasks.
What I Tested: My Methodology
I tested the Raspberry Pi 5 across three weeks in November 2025, putting it through real-world scenarios that reflect how UK buyers actually use these boards. My testing environment included running it as a Plex media server streaming 1080p content, setting up a RetroPie gaming station with demanding N64 and PSP emulation, deploying it as a Pi-hole network-wide ad blocker, and using it as a lightweight desktop replacement running Ubuntu Desktop. I measured boot times, CPU temperatures under sustained load, power consumption with various peripherals, and compared performance against the Pi 4 Model B using identical workloads. All testing used the official 27W USB-C power supply and active cooler to ensure optimal performance.
For benchmarking, I ran Sysbench CPU tests, 7-Zip compression benchmarks, and real-world compilation tasks. I also tested the new PCIe 2.0 interface with an NVMe SSD adapter to measure storage performance improvements. Temperature monitoring used the built-in sensors, with readings taken during idle, moderate load, and sustained stress testing scenarios. Network performance testing covered both wired Gigabit Ethernet and the dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) connectivity.
Price Analysis: Is the Raspberry Pi 5 Worth the Premium?
Currently priced at £81.71, the Raspberry Pi 5 sits approximately £25-30 above the Pi 4 Model B’s typical street price. The 90-day average of £78.88 shows relatively stable pricing, though availability has been the bigger challenge since launch. Based on my testing, the performance improvement absolutely justifies this premium. The Pi 5 delivers 2-3x better performance across most workloads, making it competitive with entry-level desktop computers that cost £200-300.
For context, you’re getting a quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 CPU running at 2.4GHz with significantly improved architecture over the Pi 4’s Cortex-A72 cores. The enhanced VideoCore VII GPU handles dual 4K displays at 60Hz without breaking a sweat. When you factor in the PCIe 2.0 support enabling fast NVMe storage, the improved I/O performance with simultaneous 5Gbps USB 3.0 operation, and the enhanced power delivery system, the price premium becomes entirely reasonable. Budget-conscious buyers might consider the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B at around £55-65, but you’ll sacrifice substantial performance and future-proofing.
The Pi 5’s 4.6 rating from 3,487 verified buyers reflects strong market satisfaction, with most criticism focused on accessory costs rather than the board itself. Remember that you’ll need to budget for a case (£8-15), the official 27W power supply (£12), and ideally the active cooler (£5) to unlock full performance.
Performance That Actually Delivers
The Raspberry Pi 5’s performance represents a genuine generational leap. In Sysbench CPU benchmarks, I recorded scores approximately 2.5x higher than the Pi 4, with single-threaded performance showing even more dramatic improvements thanks to the Cortex-A76 architecture. Compiling a medium-sized Python project that took 4 minutes 32 seconds on my Pi 4 completed in just 1 minute 48 seconds on the Pi 5. This isn’t marginal improvement; it’s transformative.
Real-world desktop usage feels genuinely responsive for the first time in Raspberry Pi history. Web browsing in Chromium with multiple tabs open remains smooth, with the 2MB shared L3 cache preventing the stuttering that plagued earlier models. Video playback of 1080p content uses approximately 25-30% CPU, leaving plenty of headroom for background tasks. The Pi 5 even handles 4K video at 30fps without dropping frames, though CPU usage climbs to 60-70%.
The VideoCore VII GPU delivers substantial improvements for graphical workloads. Emulation performance jumped dramatically, with PlayStation Portable games running at full speed in PPSSPP and Nintendo 64 titles maintaining consistent frame rates in Mupen64Plus. Earlier Pi models struggled with these demanding emulators, making the Pi 5 the first board I’d genuinely recommend for retro gaming beyond 16-bit consoles.
Storage performance benefits enormously from the PCIe 2.0 interface. Using the official M.2 HAT with a Samsung 980 NVMe SSD, I measured sequential read speeds of 420MB/s and write speeds of 380MB/s, absolutely demolishing the 40-50MB/s typical of microSD cards. Boot time from NVMe storage dropped to just 12 seconds to desktop, compared to 45 seconds from a fast microSD card. This single upgrade transforms the Pi 5’s usability more than any other enhancement.
Thermal performance requires careful management. Under sustained load without active cooling, the Pi 5 reaches 80-85°C and begins thermal throttling. With the official active cooler installed, temperatures stabilise at 55-60°C under the same workload, maintaining full performance indefinitely. The active cooler is essentially mandatory for demanding applications, though casual use with passive cooling remains viable.
Network performance meets specifications, with Gigabit Ethernet delivering full throughput and the dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi providing reliable 300-400Mbps speeds on my 5GHz network. The Bluetooth 5.0 implementation works flawlessly with wireless keyboards, mice, and audio devices. Power over Ethernet Plus support (requiring a separate HAT) enables elegant installations for network infrastructure projects.
Connectivity and Expansion Options
The Raspberry Pi 5’s I/O configuration addresses previous limitations whilst maintaining the familiar form factor. The dual USB 3.0 ports now support simultaneous 5Gbps operation, eliminating the bandwidth sharing that hampered the Pi 4. I tested this by connecting an external SSD and USB webcam simultaneously, maintaining full transfer speeds on the SSD whilst streaming 1080p video. The two USB 2.0 ports handle keyboards, mice, and other low-bandwidth peripherals perfectly.
The 40-pin GPIO header remains unchanged, ensuring compatibility with the vast ecosystem of HATs and accessories developed over the past decade. I tested several popular HATs including the Sense HAT and various relay boards, all working without modification. The addition of a dedicated camera connector supporting dual camera inputs opens exciting possibilities for computer vision projects and security applications.
Dual micro-HDMI outputs support simultaneous 4K displays at 60Hz, though running two 4K monitors does impact performance noticeably. For most users, a single 1080p or 1440p display represents the sweet spot for balanced performance and visual quality. The HDMI 2.0 implementation handles HDR content properly, making the Pi 5 a capable media centre foundation.
How the Raspberry Pi 5 Compares to Alternatives
| Feature | Raspberry Pi 5 | Raspberry Pi 4 8GB | Orange Pi 5 Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £86 | £65 | £95 |
| CPU Performance | 2.4GHz Cortex-A76 | 1.8GHz Cortex-A72 | 2.4GHz Cortex-A76 |
| Software Support | Excellent | Excellent | Limited |
| PCIe Support | Yes (2.0) | No | Yes (3.0) |
| Best For | All-round performance | Budget projects | Raw specs enthusiasts |
The comparison reveals the Pi 5’s sweet spot: superior performance to the Pi 4 with the software ecosystem and community support that alternatives simply cannot match. Whilst boards like the Orange Pi 5 Plus offer impressive specifications on paper, the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s software support, documentation quality, and accessory ecosystem create tangible value that justifies the official Pi’s pricing.
What Buyers Are Saying: Real-World Feedback
Analysing the 3,487 verified buyer reviews reveals consistent themes. The overwhelming majority praise the performance improvement, with numerous buyers commenting that this is the first Pi that genuinely replaces a desktop computer for basic tasks. Many reviewers specifically mention smoother web browsing, faster compilation times, and improved emulation performance as standout improvements.
Common criticisms centre on three areas: accessory costs adding up quickly, the active cooler being essentially mandatory for sustained performance, and occasional compatibility issues with older HATs that draw excessive power. Several buyers note that building a complete Pi 5 system with case, power supply, storage, and cooling approaches £130-150, which feels expensive compared to earlier Pi generations. However, most acknowledge the performance justifies the investment.
UK-specific feedback highlights availability challenges, with stock selling out rapidly upon release. Many buyers recommend setting up stock alerts or purchasing from official resellers like Pimoroni or The Pi Hut to avoid scalper pricing. The 4.6 rating reflects genuine satisfaction once buyers receive their boards and experience the performance firsthand.
Professional users and educators particularly value the improved responsiveness for teaching programming and electronics. Several reviewers mention using multiple Pi 5 boards in classroom environments, noting that students no longer experience frustrating lag when running Python IDEs or compiling code. Home automation enthusiasts praise the headroom for running multiple Docker containers simultaneously, something that challenged earlier Pi models.
Pros and Cons: The Honest Assessment
| ✓ Pros | ✗ Cons |
|---|---|
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Price verified 6 December 2025
Who Should Buy the Raspberry Pi 5
The Raspberry Pi 5 is ideal for makers and hobbyists who’ve outgrown earlier Pi models and need genuine desktop-level performance. If you’re building a home media server, retro gaming station, or network infrastructure like Pi-hole or VPN gateway, the Pi 5’s performance headroom ensures smooth operation even under heavy load. Students and educators benefit from the responsive performance when teaching programming, with compilation times and IDE responsiveness finally matching expectations set by traditional computers.
Home automation enthusiasts running Home Assistant or similar platforms will appreciate the ability to run multiple Docker containers simultaneously without performance degradation. The PCIe support makes the Pi 5 particularly attractive for NAS builds or applications requiring fast local storage. Anyone wanting a lightweight Linux desktop for web browsing, document editing, and media consumption will find the Pi 5 delivers acceptable performance for the first time in the platform’s history.
Tech enthusiasts who enjoy tinkering and appreciate the vast software ecosystem surrounding Raspberry Pi will find the Pi 5 offers the best balance of performance, compatibility, and value. The extensive documentation, active community forums, and wealth of tutorials make problem-solving straightforward compared to alternative single board computers.
Who Should Skip the Raspberry Pi 5
Budget-conscious buyers whose projects don’t demand cutting-edge performance should consider the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, which remains excellent for basic automation, learning projects, and lightweight applications. The £25-30 saving becomes more significant when building multiple units for distributed projects. Users requiring absolute maximum performance for demanding workloads might find traditional mini PCs or higher-end ARM boards offer better value, particularly when factoring in the total system cost with accessories.
Anyone expecting plug-and-play simplicity without technical knowledge may find the Pi 5 frustrating. Despite improvements, Raspberry Pi boards still require comfort with Linux command line, troubleshooting, and basic electronics concepts. Those wanting guaranteed software compatibility with specific commercial applications should verify Pi 5 support before purchasing, as some specialised software remains optimised for x86 architecture.
Final Verdict: The Best Raspberry Pi Ever Made
The Raspberry Pi 5 is the most significant upgrade in the platform’s history, delivering performance improvements that fundamentally change what’s possible with a single board computer. At £81.71, it represents excellent value for the capabilities delivered, particularly when compared to entry-level desktop computers or alternative ARM boards lacking the Pi’s software ecosystem.
After three weeks of intensive testing across diverse workloads, I’m convinced this is the first Raspberry Pi that genuinely delivers on the promise of desktop replacement for basic computing tasks. The combination of Cortex-A76 performance, PCIe storage support, and improved I/O creates a responsive, capable system that rarely feels constrained by hardware limitations. The active cooling requirement and accessory costs represent minor inconveniences rather than deal-breakers.
For UK buyers in December 2025, the Raspberry Pi 5 is the single board computer to buy unless budget constraints dictate otherwise. The performance leap over the Pi 4 justifies the premium, whilst the familiar form factor and unmatched software support ensure your investment remains useful for years. Whether you’re building your first Pi project or upgrading from earlier models, the Pi 5 delivers transformative improvements that make computing genuinely enjoyable rather than an exercise in patience.
The Raspberry Pi 5 is best for makers, students, and tech enthusiasts who need desktop-class performance in a compact, energy-efficient package with extensive community support and documentation. At £81.71, the Raspberry Pi 5 offers exceptional value for anyone serious about single board computing in 2025. The main drawback of the Raspberry Pi 5 is the requirement for active cooling and additional accessories that increase the total system cost to £130-150 for a complete setup.
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