Raspberry Pi 4 2 GB Discontinued? No

[g8gkq]

Hi

One of my colleagues has just tried to place an order for the Rapsberry Pi 4 2GB version with CPC in the UK and has been told that it is "no longer made".

Is this just a pause in production of the affordable model (as I suspect/hope), or are we all going to be forced to buy the more expensive 4GB model to get the features of the Pi 4?

Thanks

Dave, G8GKQ

[trejan]

I doubt it is discontinued. They're still making the Pi 4 1GB model for industrial customers even though it is the same price now as the 2GB model. The Farnell page for the 2GB model says next stock availability is November. RS doesn't have it at all. It may be that the 2GB model is now manufactured by Raspberry Pi Trading and the 4GB + 8GB models are made by Farnell/RS. It used to be that the 1GB model was RPT and the 2GB+4GB models were made by Farnell/RS.

[pidd]

All statements I have seen has said the Pi 1GB has been relegated to special purchase only, all other PI's are batch made to try and meet demand.

I can't find the Pi4 obsolescence statement any longer. There are plenty of pages saying the Pi4 is available in 2GB, 4GB or 8GB.

I wonder if CPC got mixed up with the 1GB?

Collided!

[PeterO]

I suggest trying somewhere like PiHut or Pimoroni who are much more likely to know the true situation about Pi supply than some telephone sales droid at a large general electronics supplier.

https://thepihut.com/products/raspberry ... 4052674622
https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/rasp ... 7087412307

PeterO

[trejan]

I suggest trying somewhere like PiHut or Pimoroni who are much more likely to know the true situation about Pi supply than some telephone sales droid at a large general electronics supplier.

They're not just a general electronics supplier. CPC is Farnell.

[W. H. Heydt]

Very doubtful that the Pi4B2 has been dropped. That would imply that DRAM prices had gotten so low that the Pi4B4 could be sold for $35 and they'd be seriously contemplating the launch of a Pi4B16.

Side note on the Pi4B1. If you hunt around, you can still find retailers with them in stock, should you want one.

[trejan]

I can't find the Pi4 obsolescence statement any longer. There are plenty of pages saying the Pi4 is available in 2GB, 4GB or 8GB.

It is on the tech specs page

Obsolescence Statement

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B will remain in production until at least January, 2026

[PeterO]

I suggest trying somewhere like PiHut or Pimoroni who are much more likely to know the true situation about Pi supply than some telephone sales droid at a large general electronics supplier.

They're not just a general electronics supplier. CPC is Farnell.

I know perfectly well who CPC are thank-you! Maybe you missed the "Wink" ?

BUT they are a general electronics supplier/wholesaler for whom the PI is just another product line.
The suppliers I mentioned are focused on the Pi and similar products, and as such their customer support are much more likely to know what is going on with Pi supply that CPC customer support. Just one reason to use the smaller, focused suppliers.

PeterO

[AkulaMD]

I doubt it is discontinued. They're still making the Pi 4 1GB model for industrial customers even though it is the same price now as the 2GB model. The Farnell page for the 2GB model says next stock availability is November. RS doesn't have it at all. It may be that the 2GB model is now manufactured by Raspberry Pi Trading and the 4GB + 8GB models are made by Farnell/RS. It used to be that the 1GB model was RPT and the 2GB+4GB models were made by Farnell/RS.

Thanks for the sharing. May i know where can i get the info regarding who is making what version of RPi? Thank you in advance.

[pidd]

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentati ... /README.md but read the full page.

[W. H. Heydt]

I can't find the Pi4 obsolescence statement any longer. There are plenty of pages saying the Pi4 is available in 2GB, 4GB or 8GB.

It is on the tech specs page

Obsolescence Statement

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B will remain in production until at least January, 2026

While good and useful, that doesn't commit to having any specific variant available in retail channels. That said, I still think it highly unlikely that the Pi4B2 has been discontinued. They may be in short supply due to high demand for other versions, though.

The Pi4B2 isn't the only product to see spot shortages. My current preferred vendor appears to be having trouble getting RPF HQ cameras, for instance. (Though that doesn't concern me since that item isn't going to get to the top of queue to purchase for some time yet.)

Edit to add... Given that there is some expectation of a potential launch of the CM4 this month, it is possible that the Pi4B2 shortage is driven by production capacity being used for pre-launch production of the CM4 instead.

[hippy]

Very doubtful that the Pi4B2 has been dropped. That would imply that DRAM prices had gotten so low that the Pi4B4 could be sold for $35 and they'd be seriously contemplating the launch of a Pi4B16.

Or - to play Devil's Advocate - that DRAM prices have risen and/or there's not enough profit in a $35 2GB, so they've dropped that to focus sales on the more profitable $55 4GB and $75 8GB.

But I suspect it hasn't been "discontinued" at all; was just a poor response from someone who didn't realise what ripples it would cause.

[Raspberry Paul]

Pi 4b 2gb (and 1gb) no longer listed on CPC's website

Example here
https://cpc.farnell.com/b/raspberry-pi? ... spberry+pi

So it does look like it's been removed rather than just no stock.

[trejan]

The Pi4B2 isn't the only product to see spot shortages. My current preferred vendor appears to be having trouble getting RPF HQ cameras, for instance. (Though that doesn't concern me since that item isn't going to get to the top of queue to purchase for some time yet.)

jamesh posted to say there was a shortage of the IR filter but that has been resolved and it is in full production again.

Or - to play Devil's Advocate - that DRAM prices have risen and/or there's not enough profit in a $35 2GB, so they've dropped that to focus sales on the more profitable $55 4GB and $75 8GB.

Not sure that'd happen. RPT are proud that they've managed to keep the $35 price point for the Model B. Suddenly jumping up to $55 is a big increase.

Pi 4b 2gb (and 1gb) no longer listed on CPC's website

Example here
https://cpc.farnell.com/b/raspberry-pi? ... spberry+pi

So it does look like it's been removed rather than just no stock.

There is still a 2GB on there but its under the bulk SKU which says "More stock available week commencing 24/08/20". Farnell still has the Pi 4B 2B which says "More stock available to supplier lead times which is approximately 16/11/20". Farnell has better inventory than CPC even though they're all part of the same company as they operate semi-independently.

[jamesh]

No.It has not been discontinued. I suspect covid has affected the supply chain.

[g8gkq]

Thanks for the confirmation that it has not been discontinued @jamesh.

It's a shame that CPC talked my very elderly (85+) colleague into purchasing a 4GB model that he did not need. I did not get a chance to recommend that he buy from another supplier (Pimoroni or the PiHut for example) before he placed the order.

He is buying it to build a Digital Amateur Television transmitter https://github.com/BritishAmateurTelevi ... portsdown4 - great to see at his age.

Dave, G8GKQ

[jamesh]

Note, I said I suspect, not that I am sure it supply chain. We have had to reassign production because demand has been huge over the lockdown. So could be any number of reasons.

But definitely not discontinued.

[W. H. Heydt]

Note, I said I suspect, not that I am sure it supply chain. We have had to reassign production because demand has been huge over the lockdown. So could be any number of reasons.

That could also be construed as a "supply chain" issue. I do recall comments about an urgent demand for a lot more Pi0s to go into medical equipment.

But definitely not discontinued.

Didn't think so. Probably a sales droid looking for an explanation that doesn't get a lot more questions.

[jiml8]

I have purchased 3 Pi 4 2 GB models in the last month, two of them in the last two weeks. So I don't think they are discontinued.

[Alex17]

I have purchased 3 Pi 4 2 GB models in the last month, two of them in the last two weeks. So I don't think they are discontinued.

Agree, they're in stock and ready to ship at Pimoroni as of today (about £37 including P&P)

[AkulaMD]

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentati ... /README.md but read the full page.

Thanks for the info.

Was all of the RP4 made by Sony UK even at the peak demand during the lockdown?

[fruitoftheloom]

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentati ... /README.md but read the full page.

Thanks for the info.

Was all of the RP4 made by Sony UK even at the peak demand during the lockdown?

The revisions page shows where Raspberry Pi / Compute Module is manufactured:

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentati ... /README.md

[AkulaMD]

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentati ... /README.md but read the full page.

Thanks for the info.

Was all of the RP4 made by Sony UK even at the peak demand during the lockdown?

The revisions page shows where Raspberry Pi / Compute Module is manufactured:

https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentati ... /README.md

I know. My question was to determine whether or not this was applied even at the peak demand during the lockdown. Or did other manufacturer help to fullfil the high demand during that period?

[W. H. Heydt]

I know. My question was to determine whether or not this was applied even at the peak demand during the lockdown. Or did other manufacturer help to fullfil the high demand during that period?

Why would it matter? All Pis of any model are made to the same specs, regardless of where the assembly takes place. Might as ask if manufacturing the SoCs was farmed out to companies other than TSMC.

[jamesh]

We do have manufacturing capacity in China, but it's not so easy just to switch. For example, setting up the production and testing line is an expensive and time consuming business. So not sure if China was used. Pretty sure almost all Pi4's came from Sony though.