How to Check Which Raspberry Pi Version You Have

If you own a Raspberry Pi and want to confirm exactly which model it is, there are several quick and reliable ways to check. This guide walks you through methods that work whether the device is powered on, still in the box, or already running an operating system.

1. Check the Physical Board

Every Raspberry Pi board has its model name printed directly on the PCB. Look for text such as:

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+
Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

This text is usually located near the GPIO pins or in the center of the board. For most users, this is the simplest way to identify the model.

2. Use the Raspberry Pi OS Terminal

If your Raspberry Pi is already running Raspberry Pi OS (or any Linux distro), you can use a simple command to identify the model and hardware revision.

Check the Device Model

cat /proc/device-tree/model

This command outputs something like “Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Rev 1.2”.

Get Detailed Revision Information

cat /proc/cpuinfo

Scroll to the bottom and look for the line starting with Revision. For example:

Revision : c03112

You can look up this revision code on the official Raspberry Pi documentation to determine:

Exact model
RAM size
Manufacturer
Board revision

3. Use the “neofetch” Tool (Optional)

If you prefer a more visual summary, you can install neofetch:

sudo apt install neofetch
neofetch

It will show system specs including the Raspberry Pi model.

4. Check the Packaging or Kit

If you still have the original Raspberry Pi box or starter kit, the model is usually printed clearly on the labels. This is helpful when buying used hardware or sorting through multiple Pis.

5. Identify the Pi from the Connector Layout

Each Raspberry Pi generation has a distinctive layout. Some quick indicators:

Raspberry Pi Zero – tiny board, single mini-HDMI port
Raspberry Pi 3 – full-size HDMI, micro-USB power
Raspberry Pi 4 – dual micro-HDMI, USB-C power
Raspberry Pi 5 – single PCIe FPC connector, large active cooler mount points

Conclusion

Identifying your Raspberry Pi model is simple whether you examine the hardware directly or use software tools. The quickest method is checking the board printing, but for detailed revision data, the terminal commands provide the most complete information. Knowing your exact model helps ensure you install the right OS image, accessories, and performance optimizations.