Today, Raspberry Pi announced its newest model, the Zero. Costing just $5, it represents a vast decrease in price that should afford more people the opportunity to use computers than ever before. Considerably smaller than the common Raspberry Pi model B, Pi Zero operates at 1GHz with 512MB of RAM, making it about 40–60% faster according to Raspberry Pi Foundation CEO Eben Upton.
Smaller than any previous Raspberry Pi at 30mm×65mm and only 6mm tall — the new form factor designed by Pi Foundation engineer Mike Stimson is in part due to the reduction of components. The board lacks both ethernet and composite video ports, the HDMI connector shrank from a standard size to an HDMI micro connector, and two micro USB connectors replace the standard size USB ports on the original Pi. Gone too are plastic CSI and DSI connectors for camera and display wiring. Fewer components means lower cost.