The Raspberry Pi 6 is not expected to be released before 2028 and will not include an onboard Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for processing AI workloads. This information was revealed during an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with key engineers and leaders from the Raspberry Pi Foundation on Reddit.
Historically, major Raspberry Pi models have been released approximately every 3-4 years, with the Raspberry Pi 5 launching in 2023. Initially, there was speculation that the Pi 6 would be introduced in 2026 or 2027. However, co-founder and CEO Eben Upton clarified that due to current industry conditions, the Pi 6 is unlikely to debut until early 2028, allowing the Raspberry Pi 5 to remain the primary single-board computer (SBC) for longer.
Upton also discussed the anticipated features of the Pi 6, indicating it will not provide additional ports or an M.2 SSD slot. Instead, it’s expected to feature upgrades such as faster CPUs, increased I/O, and more DRAM bandwidth, while retaining a similar overall design.
The decision to omit an onboard NPU comes as the company prioritizes using faster CPUs for edge AI computing. Upton emphasized that enhancing CPU performance will better support a range of algorithms over time, indicating a preference for flexible computing over fixed-function chips. Although there are growing alternatives in the market with built-in NPUs for processing, Raspberry Pi aims to continue developing CPU and accelerator add-ons for AI tasks.
While waiting for the Pi 6 may take some time, the company is still progressing elsewhere, particularly in their microcontroller business, which has reportedly surpassed SBC sales in recent years. Additionally, they addressed component shortages that have affected the availability and pricing of the Pi Zero 2 W and its successor.
For more information, you can find the original discussion on Reddit.