Raspberry Pi 400: All-in-One PC for Students and Makers

The Raspberry Pi 400 is one of the most interesting products the Raspberry Pi Foundation has ever made. It takes the Raspberry Pi 4B’s compute board and integrates it directly into a compact keyboard — creating a self-contained computer that looks remarkably similar to the home computers of the 1980s (Commodore 64, BBC Micro), but runs a full modern Linux desktop in 2025. For students, makers, and anyone looking for an affordable desktop computer in India, the Pi 400 deserves serious consideration.

This review covers everything you need to know about the Raspberry Pi 400 — specifications, real-world performance, project ideas, and where to buy it in India at the best price.

Specifications and What’s Inside

The Raspberry Pi 400 is based on the same BCM2711 SoC as the Pi 4, but with one key difference: it runs at a slightly higher base clock (1.8 GHz vs 1.5 GHz on Pi 4) thanks to improved thermals from the keyboard enclosure acting as a heatsink. This means the Pi 400 is marginally faster than a Pi 4 at the same price point.

The keyboard uses a good-quality membrane design with proper key travel and a standard QWERTY layout. It is not a mechanical keyboard, but it is genuinely comfortable to type on for extended sessions — significantly better than you might expect from a computer at this price.

The integrated heatsink in the keyboard base keeps the BCM2711 SoC running at full 1.8 GHz continuously, whereas a Pi 4 without active cooling will throttle under sustained load. This thermal advantage makes the Pi 400 a better choice for tasks like video encoding, compilation, and running multiple browser tabs.

Setting Up the Raspberry Pi 400

Out of the box, the Pi 400 Kit includes the keyboard unit, a USB mouse, two micro-HDMI to HDMI cables, a USB-C power supply, and a 16 GB SD card pre-loaded with Raspberry Pi OS. If you buy just the keyboard unit (without the kit), you supply your own SD card and power.

Step 1 — Flash the OS

Download Raspberry Pi Imager from raspberrypi.com/software and flash Raspberry Pi OS (64-bit) to a 32 GB or larger microSD card. Choose the full Desktop version for a complete computing experience.

Step 2 — Connect Displays

The Pi 400 has two micro-HDMI ports on the rear. Connect at least one monitor via a micro-HDMI to HDMI cable (or micro-HDMI to HDMI adapter). For dual-monitor productivity, connect both.

Step 3 — First Boot

Insert the SD card into the slot on the left side of the keyboard. Connect the USB-C power supply. The Pi 400 starts automatically — there is no power button. The first boot runs the Raspberry Pi OS configuration wizard: locale, time zone, Wi-Fi, password setup, and software updates.

Step 4 — Optimise the SD Card

Raspberry Pi OS on an SD card is noticeably slower than a USB 3.0 SSD. For dramatically better desktop responsiveness:

# Boot from USB SSD instead
# 1. Flash OS to USB SSD using Raspberry Pi Imager
# 2. Update bootloader to allow USB boot
sudo raspi-config
# Advanced Options → Boot Order → USB Boot

A USB 3.0 SSD improves boot time from ~45 seconds to ~15 seconds and makes general desktop use feel much snappier — applications open 3–4× faster.

Desktop Performance for Students

The Raspberry Pi 400 is a capable desktop computer for the price, but it is important to set realistic expectations. Here is a practical performance assessment for typical student tasks:

Web Browsing

Chromium runs on the Pi 400 with 2–4 tabs open before performance degrades noticeably. Avoid Flash or heavy JavaScript-intensive sites. YouTube at 720p plays smoothly using the h264ify extension which forces hardware-decoded H.264 video (the BCM2711 has a hardware H.264 decoder). 1080p YouTube works acceptably; 4K is not practical.

Word Processing and Spreadsheets

LibreOffice Writer and Calc run very well on the Pi 400. Documents up to 50+ pages and spreadsheets with thousands of rows perform smoothly. LibreOffice on Pi 400 is perfectly adequate for school assignments, report writing, and data entry.

Programming and Code Editing

VS Code runs on Raspberry Pi OS (ARM64 build). It is somewhat slow to start (~20 seconds cold start) but usable once loaded. Thonny (included with Raspberry Pi OS) is fast and the recommended IDE for Python programming education. Geany is an excellent lightweight alternative to VS Code.

Video Editing

Light video editing with Kdenlive is possible but painfully slow for anything beyond basic cuts and titles. Raspberry Pi 400 is not recommended for video production work. For photo editing, GIMP runs acceptably for most operations.

Coding and Education Use Cases

This is where the Raspberry Pi 400 genuinely shines. Raspberry Pi OS includes a carefully curated set of educational tools:

• Thonny — beginner-friendly Python IDE with step debugger
• Scratch 3 — visual programming for children aged 8–14
• Sonic Pi — learn to code through music composition
• Mu Editor — Python editor optimised for MicroPython and beginner use
• Mathematica — full Wolfram Mathematica (free for Pi, normally ₹30,000+)
• GCC / G++ — C and C++ compilers pre-installed
• Node.js — JavaScript runtime for web development learning

For Indian students preparing for competitive exams, the Pi 400 runs NCERT ebooks, Khan Academy (via Chromium), and all standard study apps that work in a browser. The total cost of the Pi 400 + monitor + keyboard is significantly lower than any Windows laptop, making it genuinely relevant for families on a tight budget.

Maker and Electronics Projects with Pi 400

The 40-pin GPIO header on the rear of the Pi 400 keyboard means it supports all the same HATs and circuits as a standard Pi 4. This is what separates it from other budget computers — it is both a desktop computer and an electronics prototyping platform.

You can connect LEDs, sensors, servo motors, relay boards, and display modules directly to the GPIO header while using the keyboard as your development environment. There is no need to SSH from another computer — you write and run code on the Pi 400 itself, then see the results on connected hardware immediately.

Pi 400 vs Raspberry Pi 5: Which Should You Buy?

This is the most common question Indian buyers ask. Here is a direct comparison:

Choose Pi 400 if: you want an all-in-one computer for a student, prioritise simplicity and value, or need something you can plug into a TV and immediately use as a desktop without buying extra accessories.

Choose Pi 5 if: you need maximum performance for computer vision, machine learning, or complex maker projects, or if you plan to use an NVMe SSD for fast storage.

Essential Accessories for India

To get the most from your Pi 400 in India, these accessories are worth adding:

• 32 GB+ microSD card (Samsung Endurance or SanDisk Endurance Pro — rated for continuous write cycles)
• USB 3.0 SSD — optional but transforms the desktop experience
• Micro-HDMI to HDMI cable — verify your monitor has HDMI input (most do)
• USB mouse — if not buying the Kit version
• 5V 3A USB-C power supply — 2A supplies will cause undervoltage warnings

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Raspberry Pi 400 replace a laptop for school use in India?

For basic schoolwork — document writing, web browsing, coding, and watching educational videos — yes, the Pi 400 is adequate. Its limitations are web browsing with many tabs, video editing, and any Windows-only software. It excels at coding education, Linux familiarity, and electronics projects. For families on a tight budget who already have a monitor or TV with HDMI, the Pi 400 represents excellent value.

Does Raspberry Pi 400 support Indian language input?

Yes. Raspberry Pi OS supports IBus input method framework, which enables typing in Hindi (Devanagari), Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, and other Indian languages. Install the ibus-m17n or ibus-table package and configure your preferred layout in the IBus preferences. The keyboard’s physical keys still show English letters, but the OS maps input method software to Indian Unicode characters.

Can I run Python machine learning libraries on Pi 400?

Basic NumPy, Pandas, Scikit-learn, and Matplotlib all work well on Pi 400 — these are pure Python + compiled C, and the ARM64 packages are available via pip. TensorFlow Lite also runs on Pi 400 and is suitable for running pre-trained inference models. Training full neural networks is not practical. For ML inference on Pi 400, expect 5–15 fps on small classification models with TFLite.

Is there a newer version of the Raspberry Pi 400 coming?

As of early 2025, Raspberry Pi Foundation has not announced a Pi 500 or Pi 400 V2. The Pi 400 remains based on the BCM2711 (Pi 4 chip). The Pi 5 is available as a board-only option if you want the newer chip. A Pi 500 (based on Pi 5 chip in keyboard form factor) would be a natural product, but there is no official release date.

Where can I buy the Raspberry Pi 400 in India?

Raspberry Pi 400 is available from authorised distributors and electronics stores in India. Zbotic.in stocks Raspberry Pi products including the Pi 5 boards that offer even better performance than the Pi 400. Check Zbotic.in for current availability, pricing, and fast delivery to all major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Pune.

Shop Raspberry Pi in India! Browse the full range of Raspberry Pi boards, accessories, and sensors at Zbotic.in — India’s trusted electronics components store with fast delivery nationwide. Explore the Raspberry Pi collection at Zbotic.in.