Whether you’re in the market for a Pi 4 or you already have one sitting alone in a drawer, you’re probably in need of some cool project ideas. Don’t fret—you have a ton of options.
Why Are These Projects Suited for the Pi 4?
Most of the projects that we’re listing are relatively simple. They don’t require a lot of experience with programming, and they’re popular enough that you won’t have any trouble finding guides on Google or YouTube. But really, why are these projects suited for the Pi 4? Why not use the cheaper Pi 3 Model A+, instead?
It all comes down to specs. The Pi 4 has an upgraded Broadcom BCM2711 SoC with four 1.5 GHz Cortex A72 CPU cores (i.e., a good CPU), a gigabit ethernet port, two micro HDMI ports for dual 4K displays, and three choices of RAM (1, 2, or 4 GB). These specs (and especially the RAM) make the Pi 4 much faster than any previous Pi computer. Just make sure you get the right charger for it.
While you can use older versions of the Raspberry Pi for any of the projects we’ve listed, they don’t offer the speed, flexibility, or reliability of the Pi 4. These features make a big difference when you’re working with a Pi-based computer, server, Plex media center, game console, or smarthome device.
Build a New Computer
Old models of the Raspberry Pi are relatively powerful, but not powerful enough to build a reliable computer. Thanks to the Pi 4’s upgraded RAM and CPU (not to mention its dual-display capabilities), building a Pi-based desktop, laptop, or tablet is easier than ever.
Here are some Pi 4 computer projects that might appeal to you:
- Desktop: The Raspberry Pi 4’s impressive RAM and CPU specs make it a great candidate for desktop use (whether you need a Linux or Windows PC). Grab an official Pi 4 Desktop Kit and go to town! And don’t forget the Pi 4 supports dual external displays.
- Laptop: The Pi’s tiny form factor translates well to small PCs and, especially, laptops. We suggest you work with the Pi-Top laptop kits (they’re simple and cheap). The Pi Foundation also has its own list of laptop kits. Just make sure the kit you choose works with the Pi 4 before you buy it.
- Tablet: There aren’t any Pi 4 tablet kits yet, but you can attach your Pi to the back of an official or unofficial touch screen monitor with some Velcro (now might be a good time to buy a Pi 4 case, too). This might sound ridiculous, but it’s a neat way to take your Pi on the go.
Of course, a Pi PC is no match for an average desktop computer. If you’ve already got your fix on desktops, laptops, and tablets, it might be time to focus on a different Pi project.
Enhance Your Home Network
At a basic level, the Raspberry Pi 4 is a cheap, tiny computer. While this limits its ability to function as a modern desktop PC, it makes the Pi a great candidate for just about any home network project. Rather than relying on bulky old computers to run BitTorrent and development servers, you can defer all that work to your credit-card sized Pi 4.
