The rise and rise of the Raspberry Pi’s popularity – as a home server, media box, emulation machine, or maker platform – has led to a host of imitators, and in some cases, successors.
Finding the right single-board computer for your project will make development easier- so here’s a summary of some of the single-board computers getting about in 2021.
8 Best Alternatives to the Raspberry Pi
We’ll only include boards with built-in memory and video out – all in one single board computers and limit to boards with GPIO for sensors and controlling motors and building things – true Pi replacements.
Need a single-board computer and want something other than a Pi? Below are the best 8 alternatives to the Raspberry Pi:
Banana Pi M4
http://www.banana-pi.org/m4.html
The Banana Pi M4 is an affordable rival for the Raspberry Pi 4. It has a similar form factor to the Pi 4 but with a full-sized HDMI port and a lower price – which some would consider an advantage over the latest Raspberry Pi, though it does have weaker video playback.
| HardWare Specification of Banana pi BPI-M4 | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Realtek RTD1395 ARM Cortex-A53 Quad-Core 64 Bit |
| GPU | Mali 470 MP4 GPU OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0 |
| Memory | 1 GB DDR4 (option 2 GB) |
| Storage | MicroSD slot with support for up to 256GB expansion and 8GB eMMC flash with support for up to 64GB. |
| Network | 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet + Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/AC + Bluetooth 4.2 |
| Video Output(s) | 1080p capable HDMI port and multi-channel audio output (NO H./X.265 capabilities) |
| Audio Output(s) | 3.5mm jack and HDMI |
| PCIe | M.2 Key E slot PCIe 2.0 and USB 2.0 |
| USB ports | USB 2.0 PORT (x4), USB 2.0 TYPE C(x1) |
| GPIO | 40 Pin Header: GPIO (x28) and Power (+5V, +3.3V, and GND). GPIO pins can be used for UART, I2C, SPI, or PWM |
| Switches | Reset, Power and U-boot |
| LED | Power Status and Activity status |
| Power Source | 5 volt @2A via Micro USB (TYPE C) or PoE support |
| Size & Weight | 92x60mm, 48g |
| OS | Android and Linux |
Orange Pi 4
http://www.orangepi.org/Orange Pi 4/
The Orange Pi series of single-board computers offer similar features to the Raspberry Pi in various form factors. An advantage they have over other maker boards is their popularity, making finding resources for them easier.
| Hardware Specification For Orange Pi 4 | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Rockchip RK3399 (28nm HKMG process) 6-core ARM® 64-bit processor, main frequency speeds up to 2.0GHz Based on the large and small size core architecture of big.LITTLE: Dual-core Cortex-A72 (large core) + Quad-core Cortex-A53 (small core) |
| GPU | Mali-T864 GPU Supports OpenGL ES1.1/2.0/3.0/3.1, OpenVG1.1,OpenCL, DX11, support for AFBC |
| PMU | RK808 PMU |
| Memory+Onboard Storage | Dual 4GB LPDDR4 + 16GB EMMC Flash Dual 4GB LPDDR4 +EMMC Flash(Default Empty) |
| On-board WIFI+Bluetooth | AP6256, IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, BT5.0 |
| Network | 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet( Realtek RTL8211E ) |
| Audio | Output: 3.5mm Jack and HDMI2.0a Input: MIC |
| Video Outputs | 1 x HDMI 2.0 ( Type-A ), Supports 4K@60fps output 1 x DP 1.2 (Display Port), Supports 4K@60fps output Supports Dual MIPI-DSI ? 4 lines per channel? |
| Camera | 2 x MIPI-CSI Camera connector (MIPI_RX0?MIPI_TX1/RX1) |
| USB | 2 x USB2.0 HOST?1x USB3.0 HOST, 1 x USB3.0 Type-C |
| RTC | Support RTC, on-board battery backup interface |
| Debug UART | 3 pins Debug UART |
| GPIO | GPIO1 40 pins?1 x I2S?2 x I2C?1 x SPI/UART?8 x GPIO? GPIO2 24pin PCIE port |
| Key | Upgrade Key & Reset Key |
| Power Source | DC 5V/3A TYPE-C 5V/3A |
| LED | Power led & Status led |
| OS Support | Android 8.1 Ubuntu 16.04 Ubuntu 18.04 Debian 9 |
| PCB | 8 Layer |
| Dimension | 91mm*55.7mm |
NanoPi NE04
https://www.friendlyarm.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=241
The NanoPi NE04 is a compact alternative to a full-sized Raspberry Pi. It supports many of the same features at a similar price point, with native Android OS support.
| Hardware Specification For NanoPi NEO4 | |
|---|---|
| CPU: | Model: Rockchip RK3399? Number of Cores: big.LITTLE, 64-bit Dual Core Cortex-A72 + Quad Core Cortex-A53? Frequency: Cortex-A72(up to 2.0GHz), Cortex-A53(up to 1.5GHz) |
| GPU: | Mali-T864 GPU? supports OpenGL® ES1.1/2.0/3.0/3.1, OpenCL™, DX11, and AFBC |
| VPU | 4K VP9 and 4K 10bits H265/H264 60fps decoding, Dual VOP, etc |
| DDR3 RAM: | 1GB DDR3-1866 |
| Storage: | eMMC: no Onboard eMMC, but has a eMMC socket |
| USB Host: | USB 3.0 x1: USB 3.0 Type-A ports? USB Type-C x1: Supports USB2.0 OTG and Power input? USB 2.0 x2: USB 2.0 Host, one is Type-A, the other is 2.54mm header |
| WiFi: | 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 combo module |
| Antenna Interface: | Antenna x1: IPX Connector |
| Audio input/output Port | Video Input: one 4-Lane MIPI-CSI, up to 13MPix/s? Video Output: HDMI*1: HDMI 2.0a, supports 4K@60Hz?HDCP 1.4/2. |
| microSD Slot: | MicroSD x1 for external storage up to 128GB |
| LED: | Power LED(Red) x1 GPIO Controlled LED(Green) x1 |
| PCB Dimension: | 8 Layer? 60 x 45mm |
| Power: | DC 5V/3A |
UDOO Bolt V8
https://shop.udoo.org/udoo-bolt-v8.html
The Rolls Royce of single-board computers, comparing this to the Raspberry Pi, is almost an insult to the Bolt. This is a full desktop machine crammed onto a tiny board, powerful enough for gaming. It’s expensive, it’s overkill, but it has built-in Arduino and GPIO headers, so it also falls into the Raspberry Pi category.
| Hardware Specification For UDOO Bolt V8 | |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen™ Embedded V1605B Quad Core/eight Thread @ 2.0ghz (3.6ghz Boost) |
| Cores | 4 |
| Memory | 2x Ddr4 Dual-channel 64-bit So-DIMM Sockets With Ecc Support Up To 32GB 2400 Mt/s |
| Graphics | Amd Radeon™ Vega 8 Graphics (8 Gpu Cu) |
| Video Interfaces | 2 X Hdmi 1.4 / 2.0a (Cec). 2 X Dp Alternate Mode On USB Type-c |
| Mass Storage | 32GB Emmc 5.0 High-Speed Drive SSD SATA Module Slot M.2 Socket Key B 2260 (Featured Also Pci-e X2) Nvme Module Slot M.2 Socket Key M 2280 (PCI-e X4 Gen 3 Interface) Sata 3.0 6 Gbit/s Standard Connector |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet (Rj-45) Realtek Rtl8111g Wifi/bt Combo Module Slot M.2 Socket 1 Key E 2230 |
| USB | 2x Usb 3.0 Type-A
2x Usb Type-C: |
| Multimedia | Directx® 12, Opencl™, Opengl®, The Vulkan® API H.265 Decode & Encode (8-bit), Vp9 Decode |
| Audio | Hd Audio Codec Realtek Alc888 3.5“ Combo Connector: Headphone + Microphone 3.5” Combo Connector: S/pdif Optical + Stereo Pre-amplified Stereo Speaker Connectors |
| Other Interfaces | Front Panel Header, Consumer-ir Receiver, Fan Controller, Rtc Battery Included |
| Power Supply | DC IN Jack 19V 65W USB Type-C Power Delivery |
| Operating Systems | Windows 10, 8.1 Any Linux Distribution for X86 64bit platform |
| Dimensions | 12CM X 12CM – 4.72” X 4.72” |
| Microcontroller | ATmega32U4 |
| Arduino Pinout | Arduino Leonardo-compatible |
| Digital I/O Pins | Arduino Leonardo-compatible I/O: – 12x Analog Inputs – Up To 23x Digital I/o (7 PWM) – 1x Uart, 1x I2c, 1x Spi3x Grove Connectors: – 1x Analog Input, 1x Uart Or Digital I/o, 1x I2c Or Digital I/OEmbedded Controller I/o: – 2x UART, 2x I2c, 1x Spi, 1x Keyboard Scan, 1x Fan Controller, 10x Gpio |
UDOO X86 II ADVANCED PLUS
https://shop.udoo.org/catalog/product/view/id/92/s/udoo-x86-ii-advanced-plus/category/3/
If the Udoo Bolt V8 is too pricey, but you still want a single board computer that leaves 99% of the others in the dust specs-wise, the X86 II Advanced Plus is for you
| Hardware Specification For UDOO X86 II ADVANCED PLUS | |
|---|---|
| Processor | CPU Intel Celeron N3160 2.24 GHz |
| Cores | 4 |
| Memory | 4 GB DDR3L Dual Channel |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 400 Up to 640 MHz 12 execution units |
| Video Interfaces | 1x HDMI 2x miniDP++ connectors |
| Mass Storage | 32GB eMMC storage Standard SATA connector M.2 Key B SSD slot Micro SD card slot |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet connector M.2 Key E slot for optional Wireless modules |
| USB | 3 x USB 3.0 type-A sockets |
| Multimedia | HW Video decode H.265/HEVC, H264, MPEG2, MVC, VC-1, WMV9, JPEG, VP8; HW Video encode: H.264, MVC, JPEG |
| Audio | HD audio codec ALC 283CG Microphone + Headphone combo connector Preamplified speaker output S/PDIF output |
| Other Interfaces | IR interface LPC – 2 x I2C – GPIOs – Touch Screen Management signals on the expansion connector RTC Battery + Connector Included |
| Power Supply | DC IN Jack 12V 3A |
| Operating Systems | Windows 10, 8.1, 7 Any Linux Distribution for X86 platform Android |
| Dimensions | 120 mm x 85 mm – 4.72 inch x 3.35 inch |
| Microcontroller | ATmega32U4 |
| Arduino Other Interfaces | 1 UART 1 x i2C 1 x SPI |
| Arduino Pinout | Arduino Leonardo-compatible and compatible with most Arduino shields 5V compliant |
| Digital I/O Pins | Up to 23 x digital I/O (7 PWM) |
| Analog I/O Pins | 12 x Analog input |
| Note | The communication between the Braswell SoC and the ATmega32U4 Microcontroller goes through an internal USB interface just like Arduino Leonardo boards connect to external PCs. |
RockPi 4
https://www.pine64.org/devices/single-board-computers/rock64/
The RockPi 4 is another low-cost Raspberry Pi clone with a similar form-factor and feature set. Its main advantage seems to be its lower cost
| Hardware Specification For RockPi 4 | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Rockchip RK3328 Quad-Core SOC with Mali 450MP2 |
| Memory | LPDDR3 RAM (up to 4GB) |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Storage Expansion | Micro SD Slot |
| Storage Interface | eMMC Module Slot |
| Video Connectivity | 4K Digital Video Out |
| USB Connectivity | 2x USB 2.0 Host,1x USB 3.0 Host |
| Other Features | PI-2 Bus, PI-P5+ BUS, IR R/X Port, Real-Time Clock Port (RTC) |
| Power Over Ethernet (POE) (when using optional HAT module) | |
| SPI Flash 128Mbit | |
| Ports | A/V Jack, Power, Reset and Recovery buttons, 3.5mm Barrel Power (5V 3A) Port |
Le Potato
https://libre.computer/products/boards/aml-s905x-cc/
The humorously named ‘Le Potato’ is a compact single-board computer with Linux and Android support and a Raspberry pi 2/3 compatible layout.
| Hardware Specification For Le Potato | |
|---|---|
| Series | AML-S905X-CC-2GB |
| Hardware Platform | Linux |
| Operating System | Linux, Android |
| Item Weight | 1.94 ounces |
| Package Dimensions | 4.8 x 3.03 x 1.06 inches |
| Processor Brand | ARM |
| Processor Core Count | 4 |
| Computer Memory Type | DDR3 SDRAM |
| Flash Memory Size | 2 GB |
| Hard Drive Interface | USB 2.0 |
| Power Source | DC |
| Voltage | 5 Volts |
LattePanda
https://www.lattepanda.com/products/3.html
The LattePanda can run a full copy of Windows 10 in a super-compact form factor. Blasphemy on a Linux-centric site, but sometimes when you need to use Windows, you need to use Windows.
Hardware Specification for LattePanda 4G
Conclusion
There are various variants and sub-variants of these boards from the same manufacturers with slightly varying specs – you’ll need to consider the cost of the alternatives, and of course, how much power you’ll need. A home media server will need some processing grunt, but if you’re just flashing LEDs or monitoring the weather, a lower power board might be in order (and cheaper!).
