In 2025, the Raspberry Pi ecosystem has matured far beyond hobby boards. With the Raspberry Pi 5 offering PCIe lanes, high-speed I/O, and serious compute power, the Compute Module 5 (CM5) enabling custom carrier boards, and the RP2040/Pico 2 W powering real-time peripherals, developers are turning ideas into reliable hardware. This guide walks you through the ten most popular project categories this year-and for each, it covers the modules, accessories, PCB & system-level design, build strategy, and pitfalls to avoid.
Overview: Why Raspberry Pi Projects Are Booming in 2025
The rise of open-source hardware, affordable sensors, edge AI, and low-power computing has positioned Raspberry Pi as the go-to platform for electronics innovation. Thanks to major hardware upgrades in the Pi 5 and the expanded ecosystem of compute modules and microcontrollers, Raspberry Pi now powers projects well beyond the scope of hobbyists.
Some key reasons for this surge include:
- Affordable Performance: The quad-core, multi-threaded CPUs in the Pi 5 rival entry-level PCs.
- Expanded I/O: PCIe, HDMI 2.0, CSI/DSI, and USB 3.0 open up high-speed design possibilities.
- Modular Ecosystem: HATs, cameras, displays, motor drivers, and compute modules make integration easier than ever.
- Growing Community: Open-source repositories, forums, and GitHub projects dramatically lower the learning curve.
- Edge-Ready Design: With support for NVMe, AI accelerators, and low-power profiles, the Raspberry Pi is ideal for smart edge deployments.
Whether you're a student, engineer, educator, or startup founder, the Raspberry Pi offers a stable foundation for serious electronics projects in 2025.
1. Smart Home Automation Hub
Why it’s a breakout category: Local control, strong privacy, Matter/Thread/Zigbee bridges, and the ability to run full dashboards completely offline.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB or 8GB)
- Zigbee/Thread USB dongle or official HAT
- Official M.2 HAT+ to attach an NVMe drive for logs and storage
- UPS HAT for graceful shutdowns and data integrity
- Aluminum case with an active cooling fan for sustained performance
PCB & System Design Notes: When designing a custom carrier board or HAT for home automation, segment the PCB into three zones: a high-current mains input with relays/triacs, a logic supply (5V/3.3V), and an RF zone for Zigbee/Thread. Physical separation and careful ground-plane partitioning help minimize noise feed-through. Protect external lines with TVS diodes and keep the power ground separate from RF return paths.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Start by prototyping on a Pi 5 with a microSD card, deploy Home Assistant OS, and integrate your devices. When you move to a custom board, use an NVMe drive for logs instead of the SD card. Avoid: cheap switching power supplies without surge protection; neglecting firmware OTA (Over-the-Air) update capabilities; crowding the RF antenna near the cooling fan.
2. Retro Gaming Console / Handheld
Why it's popular: Emulation is more demanding than ever. The Pi 5 brings the performance needed to comfortably run PS2 and GameCube titles, apply modern shaders, and output at high resolutions. The handheld form factor is also booming.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Raspberry Pi 5
- USB or GPIO-based gamepads
- M.2 NVMe drive (via an adapter) for fast load times
- 5-7″ IPS display (HDMI or DSI)
- Custom PCB for battery management, power button, and audio amplification
PCB & System Design Notes: When building a handheld, the power rail must support 5V/4A, stepped down from a 2-cell Li-Po battery. Add over-current protection and a battery fuel gauge. Place the heat sink and fan strategically to keep the SoC under 60°C. For a console form factor, implement a latching power button, a safe shutdown script, and an integrated USB hub.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Install RetroPie on Raspberry Pi OS, then add shaders and controller mappings. Avoid: using a microSD card for heavy storage (it's slow and unreliable); ignoring thermal management; not implementing a safe shutdown mechanism, which risks corrupting your filesystem.
3. AI Vision & Edge Inference Camera
Why it's rising fast: The Pi 5, paired with add-on AI modules or the official AI Camera, lets makers build local inference systems-detecting people, vehicles, or equipment faults without relying on the cloud.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Official Camera Module 3 (Sony IMX708) or an upcoming AI Camera module
- Coral Edge TPU (USB/PCIe) or Hailo AI HAT+
- NVMe drive for fast recording and storage
- IR flood LED for night vision
PCB & System Design Notes: For an AI camera project, route CSI lanes with matched differential pairs, place an EMI shielding cage over the camera module, and properly decouple the power lines. If you add an M.2 HAT+, ensure your carrier board supports the PCIe x1 lane correctly. Thermal design is critical since both the SoC and the TPU generate significant heat. Use a solid ground plane.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Run TFLite or ONNX models with OpenCV. Use motion-triggered video capture instead of continuous streaming to save resources. Avoid: placing a fan directly over the camera (air currents can cause image distortion); storing video on the SD card; ignoring boot-time model caching for faster startups.
4. Robotics Platform (ROS 2)
Why it matters: Robotics is moving to open systems. The combination of a Pi 5 running ROS 2 with a Pico/RP2040 co-processor creates an affordable yet highly capable mobile robot platform.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Raspberry Pi 5 / CM5
- RP2040/Pico board for low-level sensor and actuator control
- IMU (BNO055), ToF, or LiDAR sensor (YDLidar, RPLIDAR)
- Motor driver board (based on DRV8353 or similar)
- Custom ROS 2-compatible carrier PCB with appropriate connectors
PCB & System Design Notes: Separate your power domains: 24V battery → 12V motor drivers → 5V logic. Use a star-point ground configuration originating at the battery negative terminal. Place motor driver MOSFETs with thermal vias and heatsinks. Isolate sensor analog grounds from motor power noise. On the carrier board, include a debug header (SWD) and a boot-select switch for ROS recovery.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Start by running ROS 2 on Raspberry Pi OS to test sensors and navigation. Then, design your custom board. Avoid: wiring motors directly to the Pi’s 5V rail; using a breadboard for main wiring; forgetting to account for chassis vibrations, which can affect the IMU.
5. IoT Environmental Monitoring & Gateway
Why it's trending: Affordable sensors combined with the Pi's processing power and dashboarding tools put a full data stack in your hands.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Pi 4/5 or Zero 2 W (for low-power remote nodes)
- Sensors: SHT45 (temp/humidity), BME688 (environmental), soil moisture, CO₂
- Optional LoRa/4G modem for remote sites
- IP-rated enclosure, with a solar panel and charge controller for off-grid use
PCB & System Design Notes: For a remote node, design a 2-layer PCB with a 3.3V regulator from a 12-24V input, a MOSFET disconnect for sleep mode, and screw terminals for sensor inputs. Add a watchdog circuit to auto-reboot the Pi if it becomes unresponsive. Use shielded cables for sensor networks longer than 30 cm.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Deploy a stack using Python scripts, MQTT, InfluxDB, and Grafana, preferably managed with Docker. Avoid: leaving the Pi powered by a cheap wall adapter in an outdoor box; forgetting about condensation inside the enclosure; having no upgrade path for sensors or firmware.
6. Mini NAS / Home Server with NVMe
Why it's powerful: The Pi 5’s PCIe lane unlocks NVMe SSDs, allowing you to build a low-power SMB/NFS server in a tiny footprint.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Raspberry Pi 5
- M.2 NVMe adapter board
- NVMe SSD (1TB+)
- Gigabit Ethernet (native) and an optional 2.5GbE USB-C adapter
- Heatsink with a thermal pad for the SSD
PCB & System Design Notes: Ensure the adapter board has proper PCIe lane routing and sufficient decoupling capacitors for the SSD's power supply. Use a heatsink and ensure the case has adequate airflow. Format the drive with ext4 or Btrfs and set up periodic data scrubs. For production, design a carrier board with an integrated M.2 slot and an ON/OFF header.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Install Ubuntu Server or Raspberry Pi OS, mount the NVMe drive, configure Samba/NFS, and set up snapshot scripts. Avoid: using the SD card for heavy storage; allowing the SSD to overheat; not using a UPS, especially with write-heavy loads.
7. Custom HAT / Carrier Board Design
Why it's a key milestone: Moving from a "DIY project" to "product-ready hardware," a custom HAT or carrier board changes the game entirely.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Compute Module 4/5 or a Pi 5 with its 40-pin GPIO
- HAT/Carrier PCB with required interfaces: HDMI, USB, Ethernet, Power
- Additional modules: PoE HAT, Audio HAT, Relay HAT, AI HAT
- Design tools: KiCad or Altium Designer
Design & PCB Notes: Follow the official mechanical specifications for HATs or the CM4. Use controlled impedance for high-speed signals like USB and HDMI. Segregate analog and digital ground planes. Add ESD protection on all external connectors. Prepare for CE/EMC compliance testing. Include an EEPROM for HAT auto-identification.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Prototype on an off-the-shelf board first, then migrate the design to a custom PCB. Avoid: mixing high-current motor traces with sensitive RF traces; forgetting to include a JTAG/UART test header; not designing a service mode-you’ll regret it during field fixes.
8. Edge AI Gateway & Analytics Station
Why it's advanced: This project overlaps with vision, IoT, and analytics. It involves local preprocessing of data, sending only critical events upstream to reduce bandwidth and latency.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Pi 5 with a Coral Edge TPU or mini-PCIe NPU
- Dual camera input (via CSI or USB)
- NVMe drive for event storage
- A software stack including Docker, MQTT, and Grafana
PCB & System Design Notes: Design high-speed lanes for the NPU and SSD. Implement a thermal solution for repeated inference cycles. Ensure the power delivery is robust enough for the accelerator module. The enclosure must support airflow while keeping noise manageable. Use an RTC or a battery backup for reliable edge deployments.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Implement event-driven processing, not constant streaming. Avoid: letting the Pi become a dumb camera that just forwards video; pulling raw video upstream; having no failure mode for network loss.
9. RP2040/Pico-Powered Real-Time Instrumentation
Why it's critical: This architecture divides tasks efficiently: the Pi handles high-level OS functions, while the Pico (RP2040) manages deterministic I/O and time-critical routines.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Raspberry Pi 5 (host)
- Raspberry Pi Pico or Pico 2 W (controller)
- Custom board for an analog front-end or motor control
- USB-C debug port and a boot toggle switch
PCB & System Design Notes: Use the Pico as a co-processor connected via UART or SPI. Keep the analog/sensor section's ground plane separate. Include a SWD header for debugging. The battery gauge, ADC front-end, and current sense circuits should all be on an independent power domain.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Use the Pico for tasks like reading encoders and generating PWM signals, while the Pi handles the UI and communication. Avoid: trying to perform real-time tasks on the Pi alone; mixing high-current loads on the same power domain as the Pico's analog circuitry.
10. Portable Cyberdeck / Handheld Linux Device
Why it's trendy: Minimalist, customizable, and portable, makers are building stylish handhelds and "cyberdecks" around the Pi.
Key Modules & Accessories:
- Pi 5 or Zero 2 W
- 5-7″ IPS screen (HDMI/DSI)
- 18650 or Li-Po battery with a BMS board
- Custom keyboard or gamepad
- CNC-milled or 3D-printed enclosure
PCB & System Design Notes: Design the battery power domain carefully: Li-Po → UPS/BMS → 5V rail. Include a switch-off circuit controlled by the Pi. A heat sink and fan are essential for active cooling. Keep HDMI/USB traces short and add an EMI filter for wireless modules. Place the internal audio amp board near the speaker.
Build Strategy & Pitfalls: Map keys via udev rules, implement a safe shutdown on the power button, and validate the battery runtime. Avoid: a cheap enclosure with no ventilation; a BMS that lacks protection circuits; not including a boot or recovery switch.
Engineering Foundations & PCB Best Practices
- Power & Grounding: Use a star-point ground topology. Separate motor/relay power from logic power.
- Thermal Management: Use heatsinks and active cooling when modules (NVMe, Edge TPU) generate more than 5W of heat.
- High-Speed Layout: For PCIe, NVMe, and HDMI, ensure controlled impedance, length matching, and proper via design.
- Protection & EMI: Use TVS diodes on external I/O, ESD protection on USB/HDMI, and ferrite beads on switching power supplies.
- Serviceability: Add a debug UART, a JTAG/SWD header, test pads, and a boot mode switch.
- Upgrade Path: Use a modular design (HATs, carrier boards) to accommodate future modules like the CM5 or new AI HATs.
Conclusion
These are not toy projects-each of these ten categories can scale into real, maintainable systems. The Raspberry Pi platform is bridging the gap between prototyping and productization. Whatever your interest-smart homes, gaming, AI, robotics, IoT, or servers-the key is to pick the right board, design the power and interfaces wisely, build on sound engineering practices, and prepare for scale. The future of Pi-based electronics is not just for hobbyists-it's professional.
FAQ
Q1: What are the main performance improvements of the Raspberry Pi 5 over the Pi 4? A1: The Raspberry Pi 5 offers 2-3 times the CPU performance of the Pi 4, along with significantly faster memory speed and I/O. Its most critical new feature is the PCIe 2.0 lane, which allows for high-speed peripherals like NVMe SSDs and AI accelerators, vastly expanding its potential applications.
Q2: I'm a beginner. Which project should I start with? A2: For beginners, the IoT Environmental Monitoring Station or the Smart Home Automation Hub are excellent starting points. You can begin with simple sensors and software and gradually increase complexity. Both project types are supported by large communities and have plenty of tutorials available.
Q3: What is the most important factor when designing a custom PCB for a Raspberry Pi? A3: Power management and grounding strategy are the most critical factors. A stable, clean power supply is the foundation for a reliable system. For projects involving high-speed signals (like PCIe or HDMI), signal integrity (controlled impedance, matched traces) is equally important. Finally, don't overlook serviceability-always include debug headers.
Q4: Why is it not recommended to use a microSD card for long-term projects? A4: MicroSD cards have limited read/write speeds and a finite lifespan. They are prone to corruption and failure, especially in applications with frequent data logging or writing. For projects requiring high reliability and performance, like a NAS or an AI application, using an NVMe SSD connected via PCIe is strongly recommended.