The Raspberry Pi is currently the most popular single-board computer. You can use it in your DIY projects, or as a cost-effective system to learn programming, or for your convenience, run a streaming software on it as a streaming device.

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

Whatever the case, there are plenty of reasons to seek alternatives to the Raspberry Pi. So, in this article, we will discuss the top 12 single-board computers that we believe can replace the Raspberry Pi.

Alternatives to Raspberry Pi that satisfy your DIY cravings

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

1. Onion Omega2+

At just $13, the Omega2+ is the cheapest IoT single-board computer 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 on Amazon or directly from their website, which may incur additional shipping fees.

Key Specifications:

Check official website

2. NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit

This is a very unique and interesting alternative to Raspberry Pi from NVIDIA at 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 using the following use case:

The 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 consumes only 5 watts of power.

nvidia

So basically, if you are working on AI or deep learning, you can take full advantage of this development device. If you’re curious, the product computing module for this device will arrive in July 2019.

Key Specifications:

Check official website

3. ASUS Tinker Board S

ASUS Tinker Board S is not an affordable replacement for most people (at $82, on Amazon), but it is a powerful alternative. It features a 40-pin connector that you usually find with the standard Raspberry Pi 3, but offers a more powerful processor and GPU. Similarly, the size of the Tinker Board S is just about the same as the standard Raspberry Pi 3.

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

Key Specifications:

Check official website

4. ClockworkPi

If you are trying to assemble a modular retro gaming console, Clockwork Pi might be what you need, which 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 choice for many aspects.

Key Specifications:

Check official website

5. Arduino Mega 2560

If you are working on robotics projects or need a 3D printer — Arduino Mega 2560 will be a convenient alternative to Raspberry Pi. Unlike the 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:

Check 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 to Raspberry Pi, costing only $10.

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

Key Specifications:

Check official website

7. Odroid-XU4

Odroid-XU4 is a perfect alternative to Raspberry Pi if you have a little room to stretch 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 to work.

Key Specifications:

Check official website

8. PocketBeagle

It is an incredibly small single-board computer — almost similar to Raspberry Pi Zero. However, its price is equivalent to 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:

Check official website

9. Le Potato

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

If you spend a bit more than a Raspberry Pi, you can get double the memory and an HDMI 2.0 interface, which could be a perfect choice. However, you still won’t find embedded wireless connectivity.

Key Specifications:

Check official website

10. Banana Pi M64

It comes with 8GB of eMMC — this is the main highlight of the Raspberry Pi alternative. Therefore, it costs $60.

The presence of an 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:

Check 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 better configurations, like the Orange Pi 3.

Key Specifications:

Check 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. It ranges from $99 for the base version to $140 for the upper limit.

The base version 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:

Summary

We know there are many different types of single-board computers. Some are better than Raspberry Pi — some of its smaller versions are available at cheaper prices. Similarly, single-board computers like Jetson Nano have been tailored for specific uses. Therefore, depending on what you need — you should check the configurations of the single-board computer.

If you know of something better than what has been mentioned above, feel free to comment below to let us know.

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

Author: Ankush Das Edited by: lujun9972 Translator: warmfrog Proofreader: wxy

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