Is the Raspberry Pi 500+ and its mechanical keyboard worth it?

The Raspberry Pi 500+ is most of a Raspberry Pi 5 Model B 16GB that's been squeezed into a keyboard case, with fancy mechanical key switches and some fetching RGB lighting. It's fair to ask whether this package is worth the $200 asking price, or whether 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 built for a slightly different crowd. This is a desktop replacement; it comes with 256GB of NVMe storage connected to an M.2 slot, features two micro HDMI outputs for dual monitor support, and it's a much larger unit on account of being built into a keyboard housing.

You could be forgiven for thinking 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. Turn the unit around, however, and you'll find plenty of ports, including the Raspberry Pi's signature 40-pin GPIO connector.

This isn't everyone's idea of a good time. While it's one of the smallest combined keyboard and computer 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+ might not be the best fit (though it can absolutely still do those things).

I like the idea of a Pi inside a keyboard, since my primary use is for tinkering with Pi projects at my desk. I'm going to need a monitor connected pretty much all of the time, so I might as well combine the two. The fact that the Pi came with Raspberry Pi OS preinstalled on its NVMe drive was just an added bonus that meant I could get up and running quickly.

Clicky, blue switches, and a low-profile typing experience

So far, I'm really enjoying the Raspberry Pi 500+ typing experience. The keys are Gateron KS-33 Blue low-profile switches. They're tactile, with an audible click that actuates quickly. At the same time, there's a decent amount of travel that allows you to bounce off the keyboard.

These clicky switches are pretty loud, at least if you're not used to the snap of a mechanical keyboard fitted with blues. They might annoy the person sitting next to you, but I'm personally happy that the Raspberry Pi team went with this choice. The typing experience is much improved compared with the mushy membrane keyboards that were a feature of the earlier Pi 400 and 500 models.

There are a few signs that this is a computer made to fit within a tight budget, however. The switches cannot be swapped out (though the low-profile keycaps can), which means you can't customize your keyboard or perform repairs without breaking out the soldering iron.

\\On top of this, despite the piercing click, the keyboard itself lacks the weighty "thwok" that many mechanical keyboard enthusiasts crave. For me, it's not a big deal. I split my time between an Apple keyboard and a NuPhy Air 75v2, so I'm partial to the low-profile typing experience. What counts here is the feel, and typing feels great at this price point.

The Pi 500+ offers solid value for money

The Raspberry Pi 500+'s price point can feel like a bit of a sore spot. At $200, this thing isn't cheap, and that's led many to ask whether it actually provides decent value for money compared with just buying a Raspberry Pi 5 Model B instead.

Based on my calculations, the Raspberry Pi 500+ provides good value for money. Take the price of a comparable build into account:

• Raspberry Pi 5 Model B 16GB ($145)

• M.2 HAT+ ($15)

• 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 ), which means you have $10 left over to buy a decent mechanical keyboard. That's going to be a tall ask. As a point of comparison, Keychron's C3 Pro can often be found for around $40 to $50 on sale, and it too features soldered switches.

You're also looking at dealing with two separate units in this scenario, and you'll need to get your hands on an enclosure. You could go either way, but for the sake of ease, the Raspberry Pi 500+ ticks the boxes for me. These are computers that make ideal living room PCs, something 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 the "Add to Cart" button, then there's one more thing you should know. Unlike the Raspberry Pi 5 Model B, the Pi 500 doesn't have a free PCIe slot. This means that you can't use it with HAT+ modules like the AI accelerator or the SSD add-on.

For storage, this isn't a massive problem since the Pi 500+ already has a 256GB solid-state drive in the box. For use with the AI HAT+, it might be a dealbreaker. You can still use other HATs with the 500+, using the GPIO pins on the back; you just won't have a PCIe slot for accessories that require extra bandwidth.

Who knows where the Raspberry Pi computer-in-a-keyboard vision will go next? Perhaps we'll finally see a Raspberry Pi laptop at some point…