Is the Raspberry Pi 500+ and its mechanical keyboard worth it?
The Raspberry Pi 500+ is essentially a 16GB Raspberry Pi 5 Model B that has been squeezed into a keyboard case, with fancy mechanical key switches and attractive RGB lighting. It’s fair to wonder if this package is worth the $200 asking price or if you’d be better off with a regular Pi instead.
The Pi 500+ is a computer in a keyboard
Unlike the standard Raspberry Pi 5 and earlier single-board iterations, the Pi 500+ is designed for a slightly different audience. This is a desktop replacement; it comes with 256GB of NVMe storage connected to an M.2 slot, has two micro HDMI outputs for dual monitor support, and it’s a much larger unit because it’s built into a keyboard case.
You might think that the Pi 500+ is just a mechanical keyboard, since it’s comparable in weight and size to some of the thicker models on the market. However, flip the device over and you’ll find plenty of ports, including the Raspberry Pi’s signature 40-pin GPIO connector.
It’s not everyone’s idea of a good time. While it’s one of the smallest keyboard and computer combo units you can buy, it’s also the largest Raspberry Pi yet. If you’re buying a Pi to use without a monitor in a headless setup, for projects like running a Pi Hole or a Home Assistant server, the 500+ may not be the best solution (although it can absolutely still do those things).
I like the idea of a Pi inside a keyboard, since my main use is tinkering with Pi projects at my desk. I’m going to need a connected monitor almost all the time, so I might as well combine the two. The fact that the Pi came with the Raspberry Pi OS pre-installed on its NVMe drive was just an added bonus that got me up and running quickly.
Blue, clicky switches and a discreet typing experience
So far, I’m really enjoying the typing experience of the Raspberry Pi 500+. The keys are Gateron KS-33 Blue discrete switches. They are tactile, with an audible click that activates quickly. At the same time, there is a decent travel distance that allows you to bounce on the keyboard.
These clicky switches are quite loud, at least if you’re not used to the clicking of a blues-equipped mechanical keyboard. They might annoy the person sitting next to you, but I’m personally happy that the Raspberry Pi team made this choice. The typing experience is much improved over the mushy membrane keyboards that were a feature of previous Pi 400 and 500 models.
There are, however, a few signs that this is a computer designed to fit a tight budget. The switches can’t be swapped (although the discrete keys can), which means you can’t customize your keyboard or make repairs without breaking the soldering iron.
\On top of that, despite the piercing click, the keyboard itself doesn’t have the heavy “thwok” that many mechanical keyboard enthusiasts dream of. For me, it doesn’t matter. I split my time between an Apple keyboard and a NuPhy Air 75v2, so I prefer the discreet typing experience. What matters here is the feel, and typing feels good at this price.
The Pi 500+ offers good value for money
The price of the Raspberry Pi 500+ may seem a bit sensitive. At $200, this thing isn’t cheap, and that’s led many to wonder if it actually offers good value for money compared to buying a Raspberry Pi 5 Model B instead.
According to my calculations, the Raspberry Pi 500+ offers good value for money. Take into account the price of a comparable construction:
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Raspberry Pi 5 Model B 16GB ($145)
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M.2 HAT+ ($15)
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256GB NVMe drive ($30, if you’re lucky)
That’s a total cost of $190 (it was $165, but the price of a Pi 5B just went up due to RAM costs), meaning you’re $10 left to buy a decent mechanical keyboard. This is going to be a big ask. For comparison, Keychron’s C3 Pro can often be found for $40 to $50 on sale, and it also features soldered switches.
In this scenario, you’re also looking at managing two separate units and you’ll need to get your hands on a case. You can go either way, but for the sake of simplicity, the Raspberry Pi 500+ ticks the boxes for me. These are computers that make ideal home computers, for kids to do their homework on, and are surprisingly portable when paired with the right monitor.
Need PCIe? Avoid the Pi 500+
If you’re looking at the Pi 500+ and hovering over the “Add to Cart” button, then there’s one more thing you need to know. Unlike the Raspberry Pi 5 Model B, the Pi 500 does not have a free PCIe slot. This means you cannot use it with HAT+ modules like the AI Accelerator or SSD Add-on.
For storage, this isn’t a big deal since the Pi 500+ already has a 256GB SSD in the box. For use with the AI HAT+ this could be an issue. You can still use other HATs with the 500+, using the GPIO pins on the back; you simply won’t have a PCIe slot for accessories that require additional bandwidth.
Who knows where computer vision in a Raspberry Pi keyboard will go next? Maybe we’ll finally see a Raspberry Pi laptop at some point…
