Raspberry Pi is currently the most popular single-board computer. You can use it in your DIY projects or as a cost-effective system for learning coding, or utilize it as a streaming device for your convenience.

You can do a lot with Raspberry Pi, but it is not the ultimate solution for every geek. Some may be looking for cheaper development boards, while others may be seeking more powerful options.

In either case, there are many reasons to seek alternatives to Raspberry Pi. Thus, in this article, we will discuss the top 12 single-board computers that we believe can replace Raspberry Pi.

Alternatives to Raspberry Pi that satisfy your DIY cravings

This list is not ranked in any specific order. Some of the links are sponsored. Please read our sponsorship policy.

1. Onion Omega2+

At just $13, Omega2+ is the cheapest IoT single-board computer device you can find here. It runs LEDE (Linux Embedded Development Environment) Linux system – a distribution based on OpenWRT.

Due to running a custom Linux system, its components, cost, and flexibility make it perfect for nearly all types of IoT applications.

You can order the Onion Omega kit from Amazon or directly from their website, which may incur additional shipping fees.

Key Specifications:

View official website

2. NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit

This is a very unique and interesting Raspberry Pi alternative from NVIDIA that costs just $99. Yes, it is not a device that everyone can fully utilize – it is designed for a specific group of geeks or developers.

NVIDIA explains it with the following use case:

NVIDIA® Jetson Nano™ Developer Kit is a small, powerful computer that lets you run multiple neural network applications in parallel, such as image classification, object detection, image segmentation, and speech processing. All on an easy-to-use platform that runs at only 5 watts of power.

nvidia

So basically, if you are researching AI or deep learning, you can fully utilize this development device. If you are curious, the product computing module will arrive in July 2019.

Key Specifications:

View official website

3. ASUS Tinker Board S

ASUS Tinker Board S is not an affordable Raspberry Pi replacement for most people ($82, Amazon), but it is a powerful alternative. It features a 40-pin connector that you typically find with standard Raspberry Pi 3, but offers powerful processors and GPUs. Likewise, Tinker Board S is the same size as the standard Raspberry Pi 3.

The main highlight of this board is the presence of 16 GB eMMC (in layman’s terms, it has an SSD-like storage unit on board that makes it run faster).

Key Specifications:

View website

4. ClockworkPi

If you are trying to assemble a modular retro gaming console, Clockwork Pi might be what you need; it is typically part of the GameShell Kit. However, you can purchase the board separately for $49.

Its compact size, WiFi connectivity, and the presence of a micro HDMI port make it a versatile option.

Key Specifications:

View official website

5. Arduino Mega 2560

If you are working on robotics projects or want a 3D printer – Arduino Mega 2560 will be a convenient alternative to Raspberry Pi. Unlike Raspberry Pi, it is based on a microcontroller rather than a microprocessor.

You will need to spend $38.50 on their official website, or $33 on Amazon.

Key Specifications:

View official website

6. Rock64 Media Board

For the same price as the Raspberry Pi 3 B+, you will get a faster processor and double the memory on the Rock64 Media Board. Additionally, if you want the 1 GB RAM version, it offers a cheaper alternative than Raspberry Pi, costing only $10.

Unlike Raspberry Pi, it does not have wireless connection support, but the presence of USB 3.0 and HDMI 2.0 makes it stand out if that is important to you.

Key Specifications:

View official website

7. Odroid-XU4

Odroid-XU4 is a perfect alternative to Raspberry Pi if you have some room to slightly increase your budget ($80-$100 or even lower, depending on storage capacity).

It is indeed a powerful alternative and smaller in size. Support for eMMC and USB 3.0 makes it faster.

Key Specifications:

View official website

8. PocketBeagle

It is an incredibly small single-board computer – almost similar to Raspberry Pi Zero. However, its price is equivalent to that of a full-sized Raspberry Pi 3. The main highlight is that you can use it as a USB portable information terminal and work in the Linux command line.

Key Specifications:

View official website

9. Le Potato

Le Potato, produced by Libre Computer, model AML-S905X-CC, will cost you $45.

If you spend more than Raspberry Pi, you can get double the memory and HDMI 2.0 interface, which might be a perfect choice. However, you still cannot find embedded wireless connectivity.

Key Specifications:

View official website

10. Banana Pi M64

It comes with 8G eMMC – this is the main highlight of replacing Raspberry Pi. Therefore, it will cost $60.

The presence of HDMI interface makes it capable of 4K. Additionally, Banana Pi offers a wider variety of open-source single-board computers as alternatives to Raspberry Pi.

Key Specifications:

View official website

11. Orange Pi Zero

Orange Pi Zero is incredibly cheap compared to Raspberry Pi. You can get it on Aliexpress or Amazon for up to $10. If you spend a little more, you can get 512 MB RAM.

If that’s not enough, you can spend around $25 for a better configuration, such as Orange Pi 3.

Key Specifications:

View official website

12. VIM 2 SBC by Khadas

VIM 2 by Khadas is the latest single-board computer, so you can get Bluetooth 5.0 support on board. Its price ranges from $99 for the base model to a maximum of $140.

The base model includes 2 GB RAM, 16 GB eMMC, and Bluetooth 4.1. However, the Pro/Max version includes Bluetooth 5.0, more memory, and more eMMC storage.

Key Specifications:

Conclusion

We know there are many different types of single-board computers. Some are better than Raspberry Pi – some of its smaller spec versions come at a lower price. Similarly, single-board computers like Jetson Nano have been tailored for specific purposes. Therefore, depending on what you need – you should check the specifications of the single-board computer.

If you know of any better options than those mentioned above, feel free to let us know in the comments below.

via: https://itsfoss.com/raspberry-pi-alternatives/

Author: Ankush Das, Editor: lujun9972, Translator: warmfrog, Proofreader: wxy

This article is originally translated by LCTT and proudly presented by Linux China