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Different categories

Arduino vs Raspberry Pi

Explains the difference between the Arduino microcontroller-board platform (shown with UNO R3 and UNO R4 WiFi) and Raspberry Pi single-board computers (shown with Pi 5 and Zero 2 W), and when to use each or both.

These are not the same kind of thing

Arduino UNO boards are microcontroller boards. Raspberry Pi 5 and Zero 2 W are single-board computers that run an operating system. They do different jobs. A bigger number in a row does not make one better. It shows which kind of job each board is built for.

BenchRove does not pick a winner. Each value and statement carries its own label: Documented (from a primary source), Inferred (reasoned from sources) or Unverified. No prices are shown. How we verify

What each side means here

  • Platform

    Arduino

    Arduino is a platform made up of boards, the Arduino IDE and the Arduino language. This page uses two UNO boards as representative models. Other Arduino boards differ.

    Shown with:

  • Product family

    Raspberry Pi (computers)

    Raspberry Pi single-board computers, shown with Pi 5 (full size) and Zero 2 W (small). The Raspberry Pi Pico is a microcontroller board and is covered on cmp-raspberry-pi-pico-vs-esp32.

    Shown with:

Side by side

Values come from each product's own BenchRove record. A blank cell means our records have no sourced value for it.

Arduino vs Raspberry Pi: documented values side by side
FieldArduinoArduino UNO R3ArduinoArduino UNO R4 WiFiRaspberry Pi (computers)Raspberry Pi 5Raspberry Pi (computers)Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Main chip ATmega328P microcontroller Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • mcu: ATmega328P Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16

Renesas RA4M1 (Arm Cortex-M4) + ESP32-S3 radio module Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • mcu: Renesas RA4M1 (R7FA4M1AB3CFM#AA0), Arm Cortex-M4 with FPU; ESP32-S3-MINI-1-N8 co-module Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

Broadcom BCM2712, quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • mcu: Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

Broadcom BCM2710A1, quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 (in RP3A0) Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • mcu: Broadcom BCM2710A1 quad-core 64-bit SoC (Arm Cortex-A53) in the Raspberry Pi RP3A0 SiP Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

Clock speedMicrocontroller clocks vs application-processor clocks: not a like-for-like benchmark. UNO R3 value is the 16 MHz board clock. 16 MHz Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • cpu_clock_max: 16 MHz Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16

48 MHz Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • cpu_clock_max: 48 MHz Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

2400 MHz Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • cpu_clock_max: 2400 MHz Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

1000 MHz Evidence: Documented
Source (1)
Working memorySRAM inside a microcontroller vs RAM on a computer. 2 KB SRAM Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • sram: 2 KB Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

32 KB SRAM Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • sram: 32 KB Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 GB LPDDR4X Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • ram_options: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 GB (LPDDR4X-4267) Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

512 MB LPDDR2 Evidence: Documented
Source (1)
Where your program is stored 32 KB flash inside the chip Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • flash: 32 KB Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

256 KB flash inside the chip Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • flash: 256 KB Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

Raspberry Pi OS on a microSD card Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • Raspberry Pi OS is installed to a microSD card with Raspberry Pi Imager, available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi OS · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18

microSD card slot (OS on card) Evidence: Documented
Source (2)

  • It is powered via a micro USB socket (5V DC 2.5A listed) and has a mini HDMI port, microSD slot, CSI-2 camera connector and a USB OTG port. Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W has an unpopulated footprint for a HAT-compatible 40-pin GPIO header, plus a microSD slot, a CSI-2 camera connector and a USB OTG port. Evidence: Documented

    Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview, p.2 · retrieved 2026-10-19

GPIO logic level 5 V Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • UNO R3 is a 5 V logic board. Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

5 V (RA4M1); ESP32-S3 module 3.3 V Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • The RA4M1 operates at a fixed 5 V while the ESP32-S3 module is 3.3 V; the two communicate through a logic-level translator. Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

3.3 V; do not apply 5 V Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • Raspberry Pi 5 GPIO header pins are 3.3 V logic; do not apply 5 V to them. Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · GPIO and the 40-pin header > Alternative functions; Voltage specifications · retrieved 2026-10-18

3.3 V (inferred) Evidence: Inferred
Source (1)
Analog inputs on the board 6 (10-bit) Evidence: Documented
Source (2)

  • analog_inputs: 6 count Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16

  • Arduino's analogRead() reference says an Arduino UNO contains a multichannel 10-bit ADC that maps input voltages from 0 V to the +5 V operating voltage onto 0-1023, and that the default analogRead() resolution on Arduino boards is 10 bits, for compatibility, changeable with analogReadResolution(). Evidence: Documented

    Arduino · analogRead() Description (2nd and 3rd paragraphs); Returns · retrieved 2026-10-19

6 (up to 14-bit; 10-bit by default) Evidence: Documented
Source (3)

  • analog_inputs: 6 count Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • analog_input_resolution: 14 bit Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Arduino's analogRead() reference says an Arduino UNO contains a multichannel 10-bit ADC that maps input voltages from 0 V to the +5 V operating voltage onto 0-1023, and that the default analogRead() resolution on Arduino boards is 10 bits, for compatibility, changeable with analogReadResolution(). Evidence: Documented

    Arduino · analogRead() Description (2nd and 3rd paragraphs); Returns · retrieved 2026-10-19

None listed in the documents read (inferred) Evidence: Inferred
Source (1)

  • In the RP1 GPIO function-selection table (Table 4) the datasheet text names no ADC function for the GPIO pins; the datasheet says function selections without a named function are reserved. From this, the documents read list no analog input on the Pi 5 40-pin header (inference from absence). Evidence: Inferred

    From Read an analog sensor with a Raspberry Pi · Raspberry Pi Ltd · RP1 Peripherals datasheet: section 1 feature list (ADC); section 3.1.1 Function select (Table 4) · retrieved 2026-10-18

Not covered by the Zero 2 W record.
Wireless None listed in the datasheet read Evidence: Inferred
Source (1)
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz; Bluetooth 5 LE Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz, up to 150 Mbps); Bluetooth 5 LE Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 5.0/BLE Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • wireless: Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 5.0/BLE Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.2/BLE Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • wireless: 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2, BLE, onboard antenna Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

Power input 6-20 V on VIN (datasheet maximum-input limit) Evidence: Documented
Source (2)

  • input_voltage_min: 6 V Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

  • input_voltage_max: 20 V Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

6-24 V (VIN/barrel jack) Evidence: Documented
Source (2)

  • input_voltage_min: 6 V Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • input_voltage_max: 24 V Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

5 V / 5 A USB-C supply recommended Evidence: Documented
Source (2)

  • power_input: 5V/5A via USB-C (PD supported) Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

  • A Pi 4 power supply may be under-powered; a 5V 5A USB-C supply is recommended. Evidence: Documented

    From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

5 V DC 2.5 A (micro USB) Evidence: Documented
Source (1)
How you program it Arduino IDE over USB-B; sketch uploaded to the chip Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • Offline programming uses the Arduino Desktop IDE over a USB-B cable. Evidence: Documented

    From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

Arduino IDE Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

  • UNO R4 WIFI - programming: Arduino Desktop IDE (offline programming per datasheet). Evidence: Documented

    From Compare boards: documented capabilities · Arduino · UNO R4 WiFi datasheet: description; Wi-Fi; Bluetooth; operating voltage; IDE · retrieved 2026-10-18

Programs run on Raspberry Pi OS (Linux); Python 3 pre-installed Evidence: Documented
Source (1)
Raspberry Pi OS 64-bit supported Evidence: Documented
Source (1)

What they have in common

  • Both are small circuit boards that you connect to buttons, sensors, LEDs and motors (motors through a suitable driver), and both have rows of pins (GPIO) your code can switch on and off or read. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (3)

    • UNO R3 is based on the ATmega328P with 14 digital I/O pins (6 PWM) and 6 analog inputs. Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • gpio_header_pins: 40 count Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • gpio_buses: I2C, SPI, UART, PWM Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · GPIO and the 40-pin header > Alternative functions; Voltage specifications · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Both speak the common chip-to-chip buses: UART serial, SPI and I2C are documented for the UNO R4 WiFi and for the Pi 5 header, so many of the same sensor modules can be used with either, as long as the voltage matches. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (3)

    • Communication: 1x UART (D0/D1), 1x SPI, 2x I2C (incl. Qwiic), 1x CAN (external transceiver required); built-in 12x8 LED matrix. Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • gpio_buses: I2C, SPI, UART, PWM Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · GPIO and the 40-pin header > Alternative functions; Voltage specifications · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • On the 40-pin header, the Raspberry Pi hardware documentation lists I2C on GPIO2/GPIO3, SPI0 and SPI1, serial on GPIO14/GPIO15 and hardware PWM on GPIO12/13/18/19 (generic page for current boards). Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · GPIO and the 40-pin header > Alternative functions; Voltage specifications · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Both come with official software from their makers: the Arduino IDE for Arduino boards and Raspberry Pi OS for Raspberry Pi computers. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (2)

    • Arduino IDE 2.3.10 is listed on arduino.cc as the new major release of the IDE, with autocompletion, code navigation and a live debugger; the legacy IDE 1.8.19 is still offered for download. Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino IDE · Arduino · Arduino IDE section of the software page · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • Raspberry Pi OS is the official operating system for Raspberry Pi computers, is free, and is based on Debian Linux with support for over 69,000 Debian packages. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi OS · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18

Key differences

  • The key difference is the kind of chip. An Arduino UNO is built around a microcontroller, a single chip that runs the one program (a "sketch") you upload to it. A Raspberry Pi 5 or Zero 2 W is a single-board computer with a multi-core processor that runs a full operating system, Raspberry Pi OS (based on Debian Linux), from a microSD card. Your programs run as applications on that system. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (5)

    • Arduino describes itself as an open-source electronics platform of hardware and software: you program the microcontroller on an Arduino board using the Arduino programming language and the Arduino Software (IDE). Evidence: Documented

      Arduino · "What is Arduino?" opening paragraph · retrieved 2026-10-19

    • Raspberry Pi 5 uses a Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core Cortex-A76 at 2.4 GHz with RAM options up to 16GB. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • Zero 2 W uses a Broadcom BCM2710A1 quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A53 at 1 GHz inside the RP3A0 SiP, with 512 MB LPDDR2 SDRAM. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • Raspberry Pi OS is the official operating system for Raspberry Pi computers, is free, and is based on Debian Linux with support for over 69,000 Debian packages. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi OS · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • Raspberry Pi OS is installed to a microSD card with Raspberry Pi Imager, available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi OS · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Starting up works differently. An Arduino sketch starts on its own: setup() runs once after each power-up or reset, then loop() repeats for as long as the board has power. A Raspberry Pi first has to boot its operating system from the card before your program runs. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (3)

    • In an Arduino sketch, setup() runs once when the sketch starts, after each power-up or reset of the board. Evidence: Documented

      Arduino · setup() Description · retrieved 2026-10-19

    • After setup(), an Arduino sketch's loop() function runs repeatedly and is used to actively control the board. Evidence: Documented

      Arduino · loop() Description · retrieved 2026-10-19

    • Raspberry Pi OS is installed to a microSD card with Raspberry Pi Imager, available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi OS · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • The two sit at very different scales. The UNO R3 runs at 16 MHz with 2 KB of SRAM. The Pi 5 runs at 2.4 GHz with 1 to 16 GB of RAM. That is why a Pi can run a desktop (Raspberry Pi OS desktop edition) and Python with Debian packages, while an UNO runs one compiled sketch. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (6)

    • cpu_clock_max: 16 MHz Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • sram: 2 KB Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • cpu_clock_max: 2400 MHz Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • ram_options: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 GB (LPDDR4X-4267) Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • Raspberry Pi OS comes in three editions: the desktop edition, Full (adds applications such as LibreOffice, KiCad and Scratch) and Lite (command-line only, no graphical desktop). Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi OS · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • Raspberry Pi OS comes with Python 3 pre-installed; from Bookworm onwards pip installs into a Python virtual environment (venv) rather than into the system Python. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi OS · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Voltage matters as soon as you wire things up. UNO boards use 5 V logic. Raspberry Pi GPIO pins are 3.3 V, and Raspberry Pi says not to apply 5 V to them. A 5 V part that works on an UNO can damage a Pi pin if you connect it directly. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (3)

    • UNO R3 is a 5 V logic board. Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • The RA4M1 operates at a fixed 5 V while the ESP32-S3 module is 3.3 V; the two communicate through a logic-level translator. Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • Raspberry Pi 5 GPIO header pins are 3.3 V logic; do not apply 5 V to them. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · GPIO and the 40-pin header > Alternative functions; Voltage specifications · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Analog inputs are another difference. UNO boards have six analog inputs on the board: 10-bit on the R3, and up to 14-bit on the R4 WiFi (10-bit by default). The documents we read list no analog input on the Pi 5 header, so reading a potentiometer or an analog sensor on a Pi needs an external ADC chip such as the ADS1115. Evidence: Inferred

    Evidence (5)

    • analog_inputs: 6 count Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • Arduino's analogRead() reference says an Arduino UNO contains a multichannel 10-bit ADC that maps input voltages from 0 V to the +5 V operating voltage onto 0-1023, and that the default analogRead() resolution on Arduino boards is 10 bits, for compatibility, changeable with analogReadResolution(). Evidence: Documented

      Arduino · analogRead() Description (2nd and 3rd paragraphs); Returns · retrieved 2026-10-19

    • analog_input_resolution: 14 bit Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • In the RP1 GPIO function-selection table (Table 4) the datasheet text names no ADC function for the GPIO pins; the datasheet says function selections without a named function are reserved. From this, the documents read list no analog input on the Pi 5 40-pin header (inference from absence). Evidence: Inferred

      From Read an analog sensor with a Raspberry Pi · Raspberry Pi Ltd · RP1 Peripherals datasheet: section 1 feature list (ADC); section 3.1.1 Function select (Table 4) · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • The ADS1115 is a 16-bit, I2C-compatible ADC with four single-ended or two differential inputs and a 2.0 V to 5.5 V supply range, so it can be supplied at 3.3 V. Evidence: Documented

      From Read an analog sensor with a Raspberry Pi · Texas Instruments · ADS111x datasheet SBAS444E: Features; section 7 Table 7-2 ADDR pin connection · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Power needs differ too. The UNO R3 datasheet gives 6-20 V as the maximum input range on the VIN pad (a limit, not a recommended range); Arduino recommends 6-24 V on VIN for the UNO R4 WiFi. A Pi 5 needs a 5 V 5 A USB-C supply, and Raspberry Pi warns that a Pi 4 supply may not provide enough power. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (3)

    • input_voltage_max: 20 V Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • Recommended input voltage on VIN/barrel jack is 6-24 V; the USB-C port should not be powered with more than 5 V. Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • A Pi 4 power supply may be under-powered; a 5V 5A USB-C supply is recommended. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

  • Wireless depends on the model. The UNO R3 datasheet lists no wireless. The UNO R4 WiFi adds Wi-Fi and Bluetooth through an ESP32-S3 module. Pi 5 and Zero 2 W both have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in. Evidence: Inferred

    Evidence (4)

    • UNO R3 - wireless: None listed in the datasheet text read. Evidence: Inferred

      From Compare boards: documented capabilities · Arduino · UNO R3 datasheet: description; IDE; pin table · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz, up to 150 Mbps); Bluetooth 5 LE Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • wireless: Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 5.0/BLE Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • wireless: 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11b/g/n wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.2, BLE, onboard antenna Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

When Arduino fits

  • Choose an Arduino UNO when the project is one dedicated control job, such as reading sensors and switching LEDs or driving a servo, and you want it to run as soon as power is applied, with no operating system to install first. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (2)

    • In an Arduino sketch, setup() runs once when the sketch starts, after each power-up or reset of the board. Evidence: Documented

      Arduino · setup() Description · retrieved 2026-10-19

    • UNO R3 is based on the ATmega328P with 14 digital I/O pins (6 PWM) and 6 analog inputs. Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16

  • Choose it when you need analog inputs on the board itself, or 5 V logic to match 5 V parts. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (2)

    • analog_inputs: 6 count Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • UNO R3 is a 5 V logic board. Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16

  • Choose it to learn electronics and programming with the Arduino IDE and the Arduino language. Arduino lists maker, beginner and education as target areas for the UNO R4 WiFi (that is the vendor's positioning). Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (2)

    • Arduino sketches use the Arduino programming language, which Arduino's Language Reference divides into functions, values (variables and constants) and structure; its function list includes analogRead() and a Wi-Fi library. Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino IDE · Arduino · Language Reference index · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • The manual lists target areas as maker, beginner and education (vendor positioning, not an independent assessment). Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Pick the UNO R4 WiFi over the R3 if you want Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, more memory (256 KB flash, 32 KB SRAM) and the 14-bit ADC. Pick the R3 if you want its socketed ATmega328P, which can be replaced. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (4)

    • UNO R4 WiFi is the first UNO board with a 32-bit microcontroller (Renesas RA4M1, 48 MHz Arm Cortex-M4) plus an ESP32-S3 Wi-Fi/Bluetooth module (ESP32-S3-MINI-1-N8). Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • Memory: 256 kB flash, 32 kB SRAM, 8 kB EEPROM (data memory). Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • analog_input_resolution: 14 bit Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R4 WiFi · Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • The ATmega328P is replaceable (not soldered). Evidence: Documented

      From Arduino UNO R3 · Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16

When Raspberry Pi (computers) fits

  • Choose a Raspberry Pi when the project needs a computer: a screen and desktop, files, a camera, networking, or Python with access to Debian's software packages. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (4)

    • Raspberry Pi OS is the official operating system for Raspberry Pi computers, is free, and is based on Debian Linux with support for over 69,000 Debian packages. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi OS · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • Raspberry Pi OS comes with Python 3 pre-installed; from Bookworm onwards pip installs into a Python virtual environment (venv) rather than into the system Python. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi OS · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • It is powered via a micro USB socket (5V DC 2.5A listed) and has a mini HDMI port, microSD slot, CSI-2 camera connector and a USB OTG port. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • wireless: Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 5.0/BLE Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

  • Choose the Pi 5 when you need more processing power than the Zero 2 W offers (2.4 GHz quad-core, up to 16 GB RAM, a PCIe 2.0 x1 interface). It needs Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm or newer. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (4)

    • Raspberry Pi 5 uses a Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core Cortex-A76 at 2.4 GHz with RAM options up to 16GB. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • pcie: 2.0 x1 Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • Raspberry Pi OS versions older than Bookworm do not work with Pi 5. Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • ram_options: 512 MB LPDDR2 Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

  • Choose the Zero 2 W for a small Linux board (65 x 30 mm, 512 MB RAM, 5 V 2.5 A input). Note that its 40-pin header is an unpopulated footprint: no header pins are fitted as described. Evidence: Documented

    Evidence (4)

    • form_factor: 65 mm x 30 mm Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • ram_options: 512 MB LPDDR2 Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • input_power: 5V DC 2.5A Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview p.2; Specification p.3 · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W has an unpopulated footprint for a HAT-compatible 40-pin GPIO header, plus a microSD slot, a CSI-2 camera connector and a USB OTG port. Evidence: Documented

      Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview, p.2 · retrieved 2026-10-19

Using them together

  • You can use both and split the work: the Arduino reads analog sensors and drives pins, and the Pi logs, displays or sends the results over the network. Arduino's Serial is designed for talking to a computer, and a Pi is a computer with USB ports, so a USB cable between them avoids wiring GPIO pins. Evidence: Inferred

    Evidence (3)

    • Arduino Serial is used for communication between the board and a computer or other devices; on the UNO (R3) pins 0 and 1 are used for communication with the computer, and TX/RX pins use TTL logic levels (5 V or 3.3 V depending on the board). Evidence: Documented

      Arduino · Serial Description and Notes · retrieved 2026-10-19

    • usb3_ports: 2 count Evidence: Documented

      From Raspberry Pi 5 · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16

    • Inference: the UNO R3 is a 5 V logic board and Raspberry Pi 5 GPIO pins are 3.3 V and must not receive 5 V, so a direct wire from an UNO R3 TX pin to a Pi GPIO RX pin would need level shifting; a USB cable link does not use the Pi GPIO header. Not tested by BenchRove. Evidence: Inferred

      Arduino · Serial Description and Notes · retrieved 2026-10-19

  • If you wire the UART pins directly instead of using USB, remember that the UNO is 5 V and the Pi is 3.3 V. The UNO's TX line needs level shifting before it reaches a Pi pin. This is an inference from the two documents and has not been tested by BenchRove. Evidence: Inferred

    Evidence (1)

    • Inference: the UNO R3 is a 5 V logic board and Raspberry Pi 5 GPIO pins are 3.3 V and must not receive 5 V, so a direct wire from an UNO R3 TX pin to a Pi GPIO RX pin would need level shifting; a USB cable link does not use the Pi GPIO header. Not tested by BenchRove. Evidence: Inferred

      Arduino · Serial Description and Notes · retrieved 2026-10-19

Caveats and limits

  • Clock speed and memory compare microcontrollers with application processors. They are not benchmarks. Three cells are inferences (class 2): Zero 2 W logic level, "no analog input" on Pi 5, and "no wireless listed" on UNO R3. Evidence: Inferred

    Evidence (3)

    • zero 2 w - gpio logic level: 3.3 V (documented for RP3A0-based products; inferred for Zero 2 W). Evidence: Inferred

      From Compare boards: documented capabilities · Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi hardware documentation: GPIO · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • In the RP1 GPIO function-selection table (Table 4) the datasheet text names no ADC function for the GPIO pins; the datasheet says function selections without a named function are reserved. From this, the documents read list no analog input on the Pi 5 40-pin header (inference from absence). Evidence: Inferred

      From Read an analog sensor with a Raspberry Pi · Raspberry Pi Ltd · RP1 Peripherals datasheet: section 1 feature list (ADC); section 3.1.1 Function select (Table 4) · retrieved 2026-10-18

    • UNO R3 - wireless: None listed in the datasheet text read. Evidence: Inferred

      From Compare boards: documented capabilities · Arduino · UNO R3 datasheet: description; IDE; pin table · retrieved 2026-10-18

Scope notes from BenchRove

What this page does and does not cover. These describe our review, not the products, so they carry no evidence label.

  • Category: this page compares a microcontroller-board platform with single-board computers. They do different jobs, so read the rows as "which job is this built for", not as a score.
  • Representative models: Arduino is a platform with many boards; UNO R3 and UNO R4 WiFi stand in for it here. "Raspberry Pi" here means the Linux computers, shown with Pi 5 and Zero 2 W. Raspberry Pi's Pico is a microcontroller board and is compared with ESP32 on a separate page.
  • Documentation review only; nothing on this page was tested on hardware by BenchRove. No prices are given.

Guides

Compare specs in the table tool

Sources

Last updated 2026-10-19. Audited by BenchRove (documentation review; nothing was tested hands-on).

  1. Raspberry Pi Ltd · Overview, p.2 · retrieved 2026-10-19
  2. Arduino · analogRead() Description (2nd and 3rd paragraphs); Returns · retrieved 2026-10-19
  3. Arduino · "What is Arduino?" opening paragraph · retrieved 2026-10-19
  4. Arduino · setup() Description · retrieved 2026-10-19
  5. Arduino · loop() Description · retrieved 2026-10-19
  6. Arduino · Serial Description and Notes · retrieved 2026-10-19
  7. Arduino · Product page, intro paragraph + 'EEPROM'/'Replaceable chip' sections · retrieved 2026-10-16 · via Arduino UNO R3
  8. Arduino · Description; Features; 2 Recommended Operating Conditions; 11.3 Pin Current · retrieved 2026-10-18 · via Arduino UNO R4 WiFi
  9. Raspberry Pi Ltd · Sections 'Specification', 'Your questions answered', 'Obsolescence' · retrieved 2026-10-16 · via Raspberry Pi 5
  10. Arduino · Features p.2; 1.2 Related Products p.5; 2.2 Power Consumption p.6; 3.2 Processor p.7; 4.1 p.9 · retrieved 2026-10-16 · via Arduino UNO R3
  11. Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS: intro; OS installation (Editions, Architecture); Use Python on a Raspberry Pi; Use GPIO from Python · retrieved 2026-10-18 · via Raspberry Pi OS
  12. Raspberry Pi Ltd · GPIO and the 40-pin header > Alternative functions; Voltage specifications · retrieved 2026-10-18 · via Raspberry Pi 5
  13. Raspberry Pi Ltd · RP1 Peripherals datasheet: section 1 feature list (ADC); section 3.1.1 Function select (Table 4) · retrieved 2026-10-18 · via Read an analog sensor with a Raspberry Pi
  14. Raspberry Pi Ltd · Raspberry Pi OS downloads: compatibility lists · retrieved 2026-10-18 · via Compare boards: documented capabilities
  15. Arduino · Arduino IDE section of the software page · retrieved 2026-10-18 · via Arduino IDE
  16. Texas Instruments · ADS111x datasheet SBAS444E: Features; section 7 Table 7-2 ADDR pin connection · retrieved 2026-10-18 · via Read an analog sensor with a Raspberry Pi
  17. Arduino · Language Reference index · retrieved 2026-10-18 · via Arduino IDE