If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to enter the world of DIY electronics, a Raspberry Pi is a great place to start. It’s a well-built, small PC board that uses standard input and outputs for audio and video, standard USB ports, a set of simple input/output pins to connect to just about anything, and most importantly, a massive collection of accessories and a vast community of developers. This spells success, whether you’re building a hobby project or a prototyping something more complicated.
The New Model
CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 2GB Basic Kit
Staff pick
The new Raspberry Pi 4 is a significant improvement over the 3 B+, and this kit from CanaKit has what you need to get up and running right away. With 2GB of RAM and all the accessories you need, this is where you want to start.
$65 at Amazon
Bare Bones
Raspberry Pi 4 with essentials
The new Raspberry Pi 4 has some changes that make a few accessories a must-have. This kit includes a 1GB board, heatsink, USB adapter, and HDMI adapter so you can drop your new board into an existing project. Neat!
$50 at Amazon
All ages
Kano Computer Kit
A Kano Computer Kit is designed for kids to be able to build their own PC and use it to do just about anything. It’s also an excellent way for anyone to get started with a Raspberry Pi no matter their age. The kit includes everything; simply plug it into any display with a free HDMI input and start having fun.
$80 at Amazon
Smart Car
Sunfounder PiCar-S
Build your own robotic Smart Car with Sunfounder’s PiCar kits. The PiCar-S comes with a set of sensors that can avoid obstacles, follow a line on the ground, or follow a light without any remote control needed. It’s not too difficult to assemble and program, and makes for a great project.
$170 at Amazon
Go Retro
Vilros Raspberry Pi 3 Retro Arcade Gaming Kit
There are some tremendous open-source arcade system images built for the Raspberry Pi, and a great kit complete with two controllers is a great way to get started with one. Everything you need except the television is in this kit, and getting started is simple. You’ll be feeling the nostalgia in no time.
$80 at Amazon
The Kitchen Sink
CanaKit Raspberry Pi 3 B+ Ultimate Starter Kit
CanaKit’s Ultimate Starter kit is a perfect addition to any workbench or electronics lab as well as the garage or spare room. Made for hobbyists that want to go to the next level, the Raspberry Pi comes with everything needed to attach the Input and Outputs to the rest of the world and do cool things.
$90 at Amazon
Get started in DIY
You can do so much with a Raspberry Pi. Yes, you. This little PC board was designed with education in mind, so it’s easy to learn, relatively simple to master, and extremely powerful when used to control things like a smart home or robot. Best of all, they’re incredibly inexpensive.
You’ll find kits for every level of skill and our staff pick — the Kano Computer Kit — is perfect for most people who aren’t quite sure where to start. Like the Pi itself, it was designed as a STEM tool for kids that have an interest in building a PC and programming, but it’s a complete system for everyone that’s super easy to get started with.
You’ll also find the perfect way to get started with the new Raspberry Pi 4 with CanaKit’s Basic Raspberry Pi 4 kit. You get the board, the new power supply that you’ll need to power it, and a set of heatsinks to keep everything running cool. It’s an awesome way to transition from an older version to the new model.
Or just buy the PiCar and have a load of fun out in the parking lot. You know you want to.
