Raspberry Pi reveals upgrade plans with Raspberry Pi 6 launching later than expected

Raspberry Pi has finally commented on upgrade plans for its popular single-board computer (SBC) ecosystem. For context, the company released the Raspberry Pi 5 in September 2023. Just over a year later, it repackaged that SBC inside the Raspberry Pi 500 (curr. $159 on Amazon) before introducing a mechanical keyboard alternative in September 2025.

With all that in mind, it would seem high time for Raspberry Pi to pivot to the Raspberry Pi 6. However, the company has now clarified that the Raspberry Pi 6 is not arriving anytime soon. In a Reddit AMA, the official Raspberry Pi Reddit account explained the following:

If you look at the historical cadence of major platform releases, it's roughly every 4-4.5 years. So not before early 2028 on that basis.

The company added that the Raspberry Pi 'really does have legs as platform', though. Hence, Raspberry Pi suggests that the Pi 5 could be 'sticking around as the flagship for a little longer'. With that being said, it expects to be shipping Raspberry Pi 6 units in five years' time.

Moreover, the Pi 6 is said to retain the same overall form factor and functionality as its predecessor. Raspberry Pi stresses that its next SBC will deliver 'quantitative changes' rather than qualitative improvements. Please see the company's Reddit AMA for more details.