We’re on the case!
A case isn’t just for Christmas – it’s a life-long home for your chosen Raspberry Pi project, so make sure you pick a good one!
Although you can run a Raspberry Pi effectively without one (Raspberry Pi co-founder Pete Lomas designed it that way), many people want a case that can protect the single-board computer while offering an attractive design, built-in cooling or even special features. Originally, the Raspberry Pi was not supposed to be contained in anything, but over the years the number of cases available has become almost as numerous as decimal places in the number pi, so choosing the right one for your model and project can be a challenge.
There’s no single best Raspberry Pi case for all uses, because what you would want for a media centre is different from what you need for maker projects or extreme overclocking. Some cases can turn the humble SBC into a desktop computer, while others are designed like classic retro consoles to hit the nostalgia node of our brains, and some cases completely engulf the Pi in a shield of aluminium or acrylic. Let’s start by considering what you need from a case:
GPIO, camera, display
Many cases limit or completely block your access to the GPIO pins, which you need for attaching the best Raspberry Pi HATs and other lights, motors and sensors. Before you buy, consider whether you plan to use the GPIO pins and whether you need to put a HAT directly on top of your Pi or you are comfortable using a ribbon cable to connect to the pins, because some cases allow only that. The CSI camera and DSI display ports may also be blocked by some cases.
Cooling solution
Some cases come with built-in fans, while others use passive cooling by turning the top of the case into a heatsink. Others leave room for a fan but don’t come with one. Are you planning to use the case in the living room? Could fan noise become an issue? If so, a passively cooled Pi makes more sense. Cooling with the Pi 4 is more critical than for other models.
Special requirements
Some cases enable you to put the Pi on the back of a screen or come with a screen attached. Other models are meant to look or function like retro game consoles. The more advanced cases offer extra features, such as the Argon One M.2, which has connectivity for an M.2 SATA SSD.
The Pi 400
With the release of the Raspberry Pi 400, we see a modified Raspberry Pi 4 4GB inside a keyboard chassis. We have access to the GPIO and great cooling but no connections for the official Raspberry Pi Camera or touchscreen. If you are just starting out, the Raspberry Pi 400 may be the best all-round purchase.