CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 8GB Extreme Kit - 128GB Edition (8GB RAM)

The Raspberry Pi 5 may be the newer and more powerful board, but this CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 8GB Extreme Kit is still a really good device and can do a lot more than people realize. If you want a small computer that is flexible, dependable, and useful for all kinds of projects, this is still a great buy. What makes this kit so nice is that it comes with what you actually need to get started. You are not just getting the board. You are getting the 8GB Raspberry Pi 4, a 128GB preloaded microSD card, the power supply, case, cooling, cables, and accessories that make the setup feel complete instead of half-finished. CanaKit specifically includes the 128GB card, fan, heatsinks, 3.5A USB-C power supply, PiSwitch, and dual micro-HDMI cables in this bundle, which is a big part of why it feels like such a convenient package. Even though it is not the Pi 5, the Pi 4 8GB is still very capable. It has plenty of RAM for a wide range of tasks, and with features like Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, wireless connectivity, and dual 4K display support, it can still serve as a mini PC, media box, emulator machine, smart home controller, light server, or project platform without feeling outdated. Raspberry Pi’s official specs list those exact strengths, and CanaKit describes the Pi 4 as offering desktop-class performance compared to entry-level x86 systems. I also like that this kit feels practical for everyday use. The included cooling and proper power supply matter, especially if you are running it for longer periods or using it for more than just simple experiments. CanaKit says the fan-and-heatsink setup is part of the Extreme Kit design, and that extra stability makes a difference. Overall, this is still an excellent Raspberry Pi kit. No, it is not as powerful as the Pi 5, but it is still a very capable little machine that can do a ton of useful things. If you want a complete Raspberry Pi setup with solid performance, lots of flexibility, and plenty of room for learning and projects, this is a great choice.

The SD card comes loaded with 32-bit OS options as they are stable out-of-box. Calling ‘uname-m’ will indeed return ARMv7l which is a 32-bit proc. This is due to the capabilities of the OS. Same scenario if one downloads and calls ‘lshw.’ While the 32-bit OS cannot recognize 64-bit architecture, please rest assured these ARE 64-bit procs. Downloading a 64-bit OS like Ubuntu Mate or Twister allows one to unlock the potential of the 64-bit architecture. The kit is very well made and easy to assemble. There are no screws to hassle with; everything is designed with precision, allowing the enclosure to fasten via friction for a resilient assembly. Passive heatsinks attach via an adhesive thermal pad while a small fan easily attaches to the enclosure. Lending to the intuitive design of the case, the fan actively extricates heat through the raspberry-stamped top, while drawing in cool air from the opposite side of the case. I definitely recommend the kit as it includes everything needed for a turnkey system (minus I/O peripherals of course). I anticipate ordering additional units very soon!

I was in need of a cheap computer for simple document creation, website use for job applications, and similar. I considered used devices through online market places. This has resolved any concerns I would have and serves my needs and then some. The platform works very similar to windows. The free libre word processing, spreadsheets, and so on match Microsoft office. No subscription fees for libre and free updates. The same goes for the operating system platform. The SD card I selected is only at 1/3 capacity. I have installed several programs. I haven’t found a drawback or some thing that I cannot do and need windows. The instructions are quite simple and it is easy to get started. I found if I had any questions a simple Google search took me to the right direction. I have never used a device that wasn’t Windows based or Apple. This is meant for pretty much anyone to easily use.

The kit fully met my expectations, went together easily, and runs like a champ. I plan to use it for getting my Linux skills back up, learning Python programming, and doing some electronics experimentation. My longer term goal is to get into robotics as a hobby, after all, a retired old fart needs a hobby. I bought the 8 GB version and I doubt Linux will need that much memory, but the extra memory is good for future proofing. All of the cables take up more room than the computer - LOL. I would recommend this kit for anyone wishing to build their own system, In case is shows up, there's a rating category for a touch screen, but this kit does not include a screen.

This machine marks the first actual desktop computer I've had in ages, and it's an interesting little piece of work. Instructions were simple and straightforward, and worked quite well right out of the box. Not superfast, but still very useful overall. All that's needed to use it is a monitor, mouse, and keyboard. And it works quite well with my wireless mouse and keyboard. Perhaps the only downside with mine at least is getting the Bluetooth to work. And given the 8GB version is now hard to come by, getting the more advanced version is a plus. Great little project item.

I have to be honest, my primary goal here was getting the 8GB RAM model of the Pi 4, as they've been hard to find. However, looking at the kit, it is exactly what someone new to working with singleboard computers needs to have a good time getting started. The case is incredibly well made, being entirely screwless while still fitting together perfectly. The power supply has passed some rigorous testing standards to be UL C/USA certified, so it's not just some generic phone charger, the power button relay cable makes for a much easier time turning it on and off than just unplugging it, and the manual is well written with documentation on simple projects included. Additionally, it's nice to see it bundled with a UHS-3 MicroSD card by a big name brand, which gives it relatively fast I/O and hopefully a pretty long lifespan as a boot medium. I am definitely not the target audience for this kit, but after getting it I really do appreciate the lengths this company went to in order to make a very nice product.

I bought this one after I bought the 4GB RAM version, once I found out there was a version with 8GB RAM. I would highly recommend as a first computer for kids. If all you do is surf the web and do simple tasks, this is all you need. For me, I use it as a tertiary computer. Very important that you don't lose the microSD card that comes with it. I lost it at first, then tried downloading the operating system from their website, but it's not the same thing. You cannot download NOOBS, just an imager which doesn't boot. Well, I found my card, and all the files that you can't download. *Please integrate 512GB and higher storage capacities for compatibility with future models. I really love my storage spaces.

CanaKit always does a top notch job on their Pi kits. Unfortunately it’s not their fault that the pi4 is junk. It doesn’t compare to the previous models. For the supposed boost in specs it’s performance is abysmal. Compatibility with past software packages is terrible—especially with regard to graphics related software (just research MPV on the pi4 for example.). I am happy with the kit but after 2 years and 2 separate tries on 2 revisions of the pi4 l, I’ve given up on the rPi series. It’s just garbage now. CanaKit thumbs up—rPi Foundation thumbs down. My advice is that if you can still find a rPi 3b+ you’ll be far better off. If you don’t believe me read around. Desktop performance on Pi4 is horribly disappointing. If you insist on a pi4 make sure it’s only as a headless / console based install where graphics are not needed.

The kit works well. I could set it up easily. Nit-pick: it would be nice to have a slot on the top cover to place the raspberry pi camera. At the moment, it is EITHER using the top cover + fan installed OR using the slot in the middle part for the camera and not both. The USB-c Pi switch is extremely useful!

Superb and matching my expectations

Complete set to get you going with the Rasberry Pi in no time. The only downside is that it comes with an American power adapter. For use in the UK, you must get a converter

High quality product worth the asking price

Na