Raspberry Pi: Which Accessories You Need to Get Started

If you have no experience with Raspberry Pi devices, figuring out which items you need might not be evident to beginners like yourself. If you're unsure what items you need to start, you're in the right place!

If you don't already have a Raspberry Pi, be sure to also check out our recommended Raspberry Pi devices below.

Vilros Raspberry Pi Zero W Basic Starter Kit

Required Items to Start

Some Raspberry Pi kits include most items that are required for starting. With that said, it's best to make sure you have all that you need.

Below is a list of all that is required to begin. I've also included some recommended products to make it easier to choose.

Depending on the model, you will need either a micro USB or USB C power adapter to use your Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi 4B uses a USB C power adapter. The Raspberry Pi Zero W uses a micro USB power adapter.

Raspberry Pi 4B Power Supply on Amazon (affiliate link)

Raspberry Pi Zero W Power Supply on Amazon (affiliate link)

Lower capacity microSD cards ( 8 GB) will work for most projects, but a 32 GB or higher microSD card is recommended since there's not much price difference. A larger microSD card would allow you to repurpose the Raspberry Pi in the future or use it for multiple tasks.

I recommend the SanDisk Extreme Pro 32 GB SDHC Memory Card on Amazon (affiliate link) if you don't already have one and aren't getting one in a kit.

The Raspberry Pi 400 and 4 Model B both have an Ethernet port and Wi-Fi capability. The Raspberry Pi Zero W only has Wi-Fi.

Using Ethernet, which requires an Ethernet cable, may provide a slightly faster response time for some projects and a more stable connection than Wi-Fi. However, you most likely won't notice much of a difference between the two.

To first set up your Raspberry Pi, you will need a USB keyboard and USB mouse. After setting up your Raspberry Pi, you can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse if you want to instead.

If you need a keyboard, I recommend Mechanical Keyboards on Amazon (affiliate link) for the most enjoyable experience.

If you need a mouse, I recommend getting a Logitech Wired USB Mouse on Amazon (affiliate link).

You will need a TV or monitor to view the Raspberry Pi OS desktop environment.

Check out my other articles for Choosing the Best Monitor for Programming and How to Choose a Gaming Monitor.

To connect a display that has an HDMI port to the Raspberry Pi, you will need an HDMI to micro-HDMI cable or adapter.

I recommend the UGREEN 10FT Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable Adapter 4K 60 Hz on Amazon (affiliate link) if you don't already have one and aren't getting one in a kit.

If your project involves anything with sound, you will need either Bluetooth headphones or speakers.

I recommend the OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Portable Speaker on Amazon (affiliate link) if you want a small Bluetooth speaker.

If you want some headphones, check out my other article: Are Noise-Cancelling Headphones Worth the Added Expense?

If you aren't getting a Raspberry Pi kit, which includes a case, you may want one to provide protection and easier portability. Getting a case is optional, and your Raspberry Pi will still be usable without one.

Keep in mind that there are different versions of cases depending on which model of Raspberry Pi you are going to get.

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Cases on Amazon (affiliate link). Raspberry Pi Zero W Cases on Amazon (affiliate link).

Best Raspberry Pi Kits

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B is great if you want something faster with more flexibility than the Raspberry Pi Zero W. This Raspberry Pi requires some assembly, so if you want the experience of putting it together, it's a good choice. Plus, it's easier to customize if you're going to modify it later.

GeeekPi Raspberry Pi 4 8 GB Starter Kit

• Raspberry Pi 4 Model B specs:
  • 1.5 GHz quad-core 64-bit processor
  • 4 GB RAM
  • Supports dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz) Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • Gigabit Ethernet port
  • Two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports
  • 40-pin GPIO port
  • Two micro-HDMI ports (supports 4k resolution)
• The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B kit comes with a black case, cooling fan, heat sinks, power supply, a 64 GB microSD card, and micro HDMI cable adapter.
• Find the GeeekPi Raspberry Pi 4 8 GB Starter Kit on Amazon (affiliate link).

The Raspberry Pi Zero W is the lowest-cost and smallest kit option that's good for starting out. It has a slower processor along with less RAM than the other two. This Raspberry Pi is useful for projects such as robots since it requires less power. However, having fewer ports and lower speeds than the other Raspberry Pi devices may not have as much flexibility for a broader range of projects.

Vilros Raspberry Pi Zero W Basic Starter Kit

• Raspberry Pi Zero W specs:
  • 1 GHz single-core processor
  • 512MB RAM
  • Supports dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz) Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth 4.1
  • No Ethernet port
  • One micro-HDMI port (720p resolution or below recommended)
  • One micro USB port
  • 40-pin GPIO port
• The Raspberry Pi Zero W Starter Kit comes with a black case (3 interchangeable covers), USB OTG adapter, mini HDMI adapter, heat sink, camera module adapter, and power supply. SD card required!
• Raspberry Pi Zero W (Wireless) Basic Starter Kit on Amazon (affiliate link).

Alternative to Raspberry Pi

Depending on your use case, this Beelink Mini S PC might be an excellent alternative to the Raspberry Pi. It's small and compact, yet even more powerful. If you still want to use Pi OS, you can install it on this mini PC by following these instructions. Beelink Mini S Mini PC with N5095 CPU Check Price on Amazon Amazon Affiliate Link

• Beelink Mini S specs:
  • 2.9 GHz four-core processor
  • 8 GB DDR4 RAM
  • Supports dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz) Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Ethernet port
  • Two HDMI ports that support 4K 60 Hz
  • Four USB 3.0 ports
  • NO GPIO port
  • Only the mini PC is in the box, so you'll need the usual PC accessories.
• Beelink Mini S Mini PC with N5095 CPU on Amazon (affiliate link).