Good news for fans of computer hacking. After months of shortages due to Covid and semiconductor supply difficulties, Raspberry PIs are slowly starting to come back into stock at several retailers. In a blog post posted on December 12, 2022, CEO Eben Upton allows himself to make a small update on the availability of well-known microcomputers.
“For the first time in two years of hell […] we have good news for you” begins the manager. After months of selling its products primarily to companies, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has managed to put “just over 100,000 units” aside for the general public. This rab that everyone was impatiently waiting for is divided between the different models of the Raspberry Pi 4, the Raspberry Pi A+ and the “nano-computer” Raspberry Pi Zero.
More generous availability in summer 2023
Stocks won’t be overflowing right away, but the RpiLocator site already lists a few European stores that are once again selling copies of the Raspberry Pi 3A+ at decent prices. Unfortunately, no French supplier has yet restocked. Good news however, Eben Upton explains that the availability of microcomputers should improve in the coming months. “We can confidently say that after a difficult first quarter, we expect supply to return to pre-pandemic levels in the second quarter of 2023, and to be unlimited in the second half.“explains the CEO of the foundation.
Unfortunately, this return to stock will be accompanied by price increases on certain models. The base price of the Raspberry Pi 4 has already taken a few euros in recent months, and the same will be true for the Raspberry Pi Zero which will go from $5 to $10 in the United States. It is therefore to be expected that the prices of this model (sold around 11 € here) and of the Zero W model (which adds wireless compatibility) will also increase on the old continent.