Raspberry Pi 4 vs Arduino Uno: Which One Should You Choose?

The Short Answer

Arduino Uno = simple sensor/actuator control. Raspberry Pi 4 = full Linux computer with GPIO. Most advanced projects use both together!

Arduino Uno

Best for: Real-time control, motor driving, sensor reading, low-power applications, beginners.
Processor: ATmega328P @ 16MHz
RAM: 2KB SRAM
OS: None (bare metal C++)
Power: 5V, ~50mA
Price: ₹350–₹600

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

Best for: Machine learning, computer vision, web servers, complex UI, running Python/Node.js.
Processor: BCM2711 Quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 @ 1.8GHz
RAM: 1GB / 2GB / 4GB / 8GB
OS: Raspberry Pi OS (Linux), Ubuntu, etc.
Power: 5V 3A USB-C
Price: ₹4,000–₹8,000

Key Differences

Arduino has analog input pins (ADC) — Raspberry Pi does not. Arduino is better for time-critical tasks. Raspberry Pi can run a full web browser, stream video, and run AI models.

Use Both Together

Many professional projects use Raspberry Pi as the "brain" (processing, networking, display) and Arduino as the "muscle" (motor control, sensors, PWM) — communicating via USB serial or I2C.