$10 Raspberry Pi Zero W is new Raspberry Pi Zero variant with wireless WAN and Bluetooth

“Today is Raspberry Pi’s fifth birthday: it’s five years since we launched the original Raspberry Pi.”

They announced the Pi Zero W, which in essence means that the little Raspberry Pi Zero is going wireless, now with WiFi and Bluetooth capability.

A video was posted of the announcement of the Pi Zero W: wireless LAN and Bluetooth for only $10.

Adnan Farooqui in Ubergizmo remarked that “Raspberry is keeping the original Zero board at $5 but since the Zero W has additional functionality, it’s going to cost $10. The Foundation is also selling new injection molded cases with interchangeable lids.”

The group launched the Raspberry Pi Zero in 2015, but this Raspberry Pi Zero W, said Jon Brodkin in Ars Technica, is a newer version that, yes, lacks “some niceties” such as Ethernet and full-sized USB-A ports but is cheaper than the flagship.

Brodkin said the new Pi Zero W “is almost identical to the original, but doubles the price to $10 and adds a wireless chip that supports 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (2.4GHz-only) and Bluetooth 4.0.”

According to the Raspberry Pi announcers, the Raspberry Pi Zero, since its launch, had found its way “into everything from miniature arcade cabinets to electric skateboards.”

The Raspberry Pi Zero W was called a new variant of the $5 Raspbertry Pi Zero, priced now at $10.

Zero W uses the same Cypress CYW43438 wireless chip as Raspberry Pi 3 Model B to provide 802.11n wireless LAN and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.

What could you do with a Zero W? The blog post said, “We imagine you’ll find all sorts of uses for Zero W.”

“It makes a better general-purpose computer because you’re less likely to need a hub: if you’re using Bluetooth peripherals you might well end up with nothing at all plugged into the USB port. And of course it’s a great platform for experimenting with IoT applications.”

They said that Raspberry Pi Zero W was available from Zero distributors as of Tuesday—and if you are not sure of a distributor location near you, then they provide icons on their page to find the stockist in your area.

Summing up, Nick Heath, chief reporter for TechRepublic, wrote: “Despite the price bump, the Pi Zero W remains one of the cheapest computers you can buy, and by adding Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, the Pi Zero is now easier to use than ever. Providing you’re realistic in your expectations of what a $10 computer can do, it’s unlikely you’ll be disappointed.”