This is a question I get all the time and I thought I’d set the record straight.
Are you ready for the answer because this is going to rock your world!
Ready? Ready?
The answer is… drum roll please… neither!
Here’s why.
For the purposes of this blog post I’m talking about a traditional Arduino Uno vs. a traditional raspberry Pi (Rpi).
Asking which of these two platforms is better is a bit like comparing apples to space shuttles.
They are both made for very specific applications yet have somethings in common.
One is microcontroller based (Arduino) and the other is microprocessor based (Raspberry Pi).
But let’s dig in a bit deeper and get to the core of it.
If you’re looking to do PC type things like I mentioned in my previous blog post, then Raspberry Pi is the way to go.
For example, if you’re application needs a screen to display fancy graphics then this is definitely the way to go.
The latest Rpi 4 has the ability to support dual 4K display screens, supports USB 2,3 & C and even has a built in Ethernet jack.
Now here’s where things get interesting, its also has a bunch of general-purpose inputs/outputs (I/O) which you can attach sensors and all sorts of other things to.
If you read my last blog post, this is going to sound familiar because an Arduino has this same set of features. It has a bunch of I/O which you can attach sensors to and make motors spin etc.
But here is a key distinction which might lead you to chose one over the other.
Please queue the second drum roll…
An operating system, yup, an operating system like windows or iOS.
You see Rpi needs an OS in order to do its thing, while Arduino does not.
Now, let’s say your application needs to just read a bunch of sensors and take some action then Arduino is definitely the way to go.
That’s because using an Rpi just for the ability to gain access to all the I/O requires you to tunnel through the OS which is a bit more complicated.
Especially if you’re just getting started.
However, since Arduino doesn’t have an OS, its WAAAAY easier to interface to sensors, motors, LEDs etc.
It's also a lot faster to get up and running, but that's just my opinion.
So, which one’s “better”? I leave that decision to you, if you are looking to get started with Arduino OR are a seasoned pro and need a reliable and easy to use development platform, I'd like to invite you to come check out our entire line of Arduino Uno and Nano based shields.
If you have some electronics experience the Dr.Duino Explorer is the choice for you. Just click the photo below to find out more about.
If you're new to Arduino and electronics, then the Dr.Duino Pioneer version is the best choice. Click the photo below to learn more.
Which one will you choose, click here to learn more about the Explorer or here to learn about the Pioneer!