Three generations can run ScreenlyOS, and each is selectable when you write the image. Two of them are what we would put a new screen on.
Boards
| Board | Status | Wi-Fi | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 5 | Supported | 2.4 and 5 GHz | The most capable of the three, and the one to pick for a new build. |
| Raspberry Pi 4 | Supported | 2.4 and 5 GHz | The common choice, and what our own standard player is built on. |
| Raspberry Pi 3 | End of life | 3B+ dual band, 3B 2.4 GHz only | Pi 3 based players reached end of life in December 2025. They keep running, but they no longer receive updates or support. |
All three show content at up to 1080p. That ceiling comes from what we support on this hardware rather than from the board you pick, so a newer board does not raise it. For 4K you need a Screenly Player Max.
Memory
Use a board with 2 GB or more. More memory is better, and it is the specification most worth paying for on a self-build.
Which to pick
For a new screen, buy a Pi 5. It has the most headroom, and it is the generation that will stay current longest.
A Pi 4 is the safe choice if you already have one, or if you are buying second-hand.
Do not build a new screen on a Pi 3, and plan to move the ones you have to a Pi 4, a Pi 5, or a Screenly Player Max.
A Pi 3 keeps playing after its end-of-life date, which is what makes this easy to leave alone. What stops is the updates. See Lifecycle and support for what end of life means in practice and when each generation reaches it.
Power
Use the official power supply for your board. Undervoltage on a Pi shows up as a screen that reboots or freezes at random, which looks like a software fault and is not one.
Next
The card matters as much as the board. See SD cards.
The board’s own indicator lights are the same whether you supplied the Pi or bought a player built on one. See Indicator lights.