The Raspberry Pi is one of the most popular Single-Board Computers. These small, pocket-sized computers are built for learning programming languages and are a favorite among enthusiasts. The Raspberry Pi is a small, low-cost computer that is a great tool for learning to program for all ages. It can be used by beginners, hackers, and artists for small-scale projects and can even be used as a desktop computer. You can browse the internet, watch high-definition videos, play games, create AI assistants, or record videos with it. The Raspberry Pi is the best-known single-board computer, but many alternatives can do the same job or create even bigger projects. Some boards have machine learning capabilities, and those with the lowest specs are perfect for beginners and DIY projects. Here are some of the competitive Raspberry Alternatives.
1. Banana Pi M3
Banana Pi is a renowned alternative to Raspberry Pi SBC. It offers a more powerful processor and features, making it a great choice for projects that require more performance. Furthermore, the system can support up to 4GB of RAM and has a 64-bit quad-core processor. There are many different versions of Banana Pi, with the M3 being the most affordable. The M3 offers a 1.6GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 processor, 1GB of DDR3L system memory, and the ability to run 64-bit Linux-based operating systems. In addition, the Banana Pi M3 has a microSD card slot to add an extra storage device for your operating system, documents, and photos.
2. Onion Omega2+
Onion Omega2+ is one of the cheapest SBCs with a Linux Operating System and built-in wifi. It is a product of the French company Onion. The Omega2+ is around 20 Euros and has a dual-core processor with 512 MB RAM, 4 GB flash memory, Gigabit Ethernet, and three USB interfaces (two for USB 2.0 and one for 3.0). One of the advantages of the Omega2+ compared to other SBCs is that you can connect it to a TV/Monitor via an HDMI cable. The Banana Pi M3 can also connect to a monitor via HDMI, but the cable will be sold separately. As shown on the Onion website, the Omega2+ has full support for Android. It can also run several other Linux distributions.
3. NanoPi NEO4
The NanoPi NEO4 is a single-board computer designed by FriendlyElec for developers and makers. It has an Allwinner H5 SoC, a hexa-core Cortex-A53 CPU, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of eMMC storage. The board has a 40-pin GPIO header, a Raspberry Pi compatible connector, an HDMI port, three USB ports, and a DC jack. It also has two Ethernet ports, a Mini-USB port, and an audio jack. Unfortunately, there is no power button or microSD slot on the NEO4. Instead, you need to power it via the MicroUSB connector. The NEO4 has a 1GHz CPU and runs Linux Kernel 3.10. There is a “Kernel Linux” project on the FriendlyElec website for this board. In addition to Linux, the NEO4 has Android 4.4 (KitKat) and Debian Linux.
4. Odroid XU4
The Odroid XU4 is powerful and energy-efficient hardware with an Octa-core ARM CPU and 2GB of high-speed RAM. This hardware is perfect for gaming, streaming, and general computing tasks. The XU4 can be powered by four AAA batteries and has two extra USB ports that connect to the OTG port. There is also a MicroSD slot, an audio jack, and a MicroUSB port. You can install the Raspbian operating system and run Kodi from this little computer. The XU4 allows you to play games, stream videos, and run various home-automation projects with ease. It’s important to note that the Odroid XU4 is completely silent, unlike most PC cases, which are noisy due to the fans. The XU4 includes a heatsink that eliminates fan noise. Unfortunately, there is no power button on the board, but it has a reset switch.
5. PocketBeagle
With the release of PocketBeagle’s latest board, several new features were introduced to the product. The first thing to notice is how much better this device looks now. The old, outdated colors and textures; now, the button is even more aesthetically pleasing. The new board also can update the app automatically through an internet connection.PocketBeagle operates on Debian OS and has 512 MD Ram with additional SC Card support. The product’s simplicity is also improved greatly by the new design, now making things a lot easier. The PocketBeagle is the smallest board globally based on Texas Instruments’ Sitara System-on-Chip processor series. This includes 1-4 ARM Cortex-A cores. The PocketBeagle is also compatible with common serial interface protocols like UART, SPI, I2C, and CAN.
6. RockPi 4 Model C
The RockPI 4 Model C is a powerful SBC with a quad-core processor and 4GB of RAM, making it perfect for gaming, web browsing, and office work. It is powered by an Allwinner A13 processor and has 8GB of flash memory with eMMC support. It features two gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 2.0 port, a micro-USB OTG port, a microSD slot, an audio jack, a reset switch, etc. The rock 4 Model C has a flat ribbon-style design, making it easy to use for projects that require straight lines and simple mounting. In addition, it is compatible with a wide range of Raspberry Pi hardware and all of the accessories required to get it running.
7. NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit
The NVIDIA Jetson Nano is a new AI-focused system board designed for makers and developers. It is intended to simplify the development of AI-related projects by allowing makers to use their existing computer software packages and run neural network training and inference on systems using as little as 2GB of memory. The Jetson Nano is made possible by NVIDIA’s new autonomous computing platform, AI Boost, which combines with the advanced processing power of the Tegra X1 processor to perform computing tasks quickly and efficiently.
8. ASUS Tinker Board S
The ASUS Tinker Board S is a single-board computer perfect for hobbyists, makers, and students. It has a Rockchip RK3288C processor and 2GB of RAM, making it powerful enough to run Linux or Android. There is 32GB of onboard storage and a microSD card slot. The Tinker Board S also comes with a Pi-like shape, making it easy to attach and hold. ASUS provides several ports on the board, including Gigabit Ethernet, dual USB 2.0, micro-HDMI, and a micro-USB 3.0 port for power. Like the Raspberry Pi, there is no HDMI or composite video outputs on the Tinker Board S. The ASUS Tinker Board S comes with a Linux distribution pre-installed, making it simple to start building projects.
9. LattePanda
LattePanda is a single-board computer about the size of a credit card. It runs Windows 10 and has an Intel Atom processor. The LattePanda board has 4GB of RAM, 64GB of onboard storage, and an eMMC module. It has two micro-USB ports for power and data transfer, an HDMI port, and a mini-DisplayPort for video output. LattePanda’s OS can be upgraded from Windows 10 to Ubuntu, Debian, etc. It comes with a USB keyboard and mouse. At $68, the LattePanda is a great choice for students who want to try out Linux. In addition, this is a powerful and versatile platform for older teens and adults interested in creating their applications.
10. Le Potato
Le Potato is a single-board computer perfect for anyone looking for an affordable and powerful alternative to the Raspberry Pi. This computer is packed with features, including high-performance design, advanced low power technology, compatibility, extensibility, and support for Android. So whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, Le Potato is a great choice for your next project as it comes NXP i.MX6 Dual Core (Cortex A9) 1.2GHz Processor, a Vivante GC880 Graphic Card, and 1GB DDR3 RAM. Le Potato also features Gigabit Ethernet, USB2.0 OTG, USB2.0 Host, Micro SD slot, HDMI, IR Remote Control, 40-pin GPIO, Camera interface (CSI), MIPI CSI, MIPI DSI, and SD/MMC slot.