Table of Contents
- Discover the top-notch Raspberry Pi alternatives for 2024 (Top recommended brands).
- Maybe you missed it? Orange Pi 4 LTS
Exploring the Latest Low-Cost Raspberry Pi Alternatives 2024
As technology continues to evolve, so do the options available for those looking for the latest Raspberry Pi alternatives. In 2023/2024 and beyond, the market for single-board computers is expected to be more competitive than ever, with various new and improved models available.
For those unfamiliar with single-board computers, they are small, low-cost computers that are designed to be used for a variety of tasks, such as programming, robotics, and media streaming. The Raspberry Pi is the most popular single-board computer on the market, but some other options are available.
The market for single-board computers is projected to become incredibly diverse in 2024, with a wide array of new models featuring unique and exciting capabilities set to hit the shelves. The BeagleBone Black, Odroid-C2, and LattePanda Alpha are just a few of the highly anticipated models that have already made their debut in 2023 and are expected to gain even more popularity.
The BeagleBone Black is a powerful single-board computer designed for advanced users. It features a 1GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of onboard storage. It also has a variety of ports, including HDMI, USB, and Ethernet.
The Odroid-C2 is a powerful single-board computer that is designed for developers. It features a 1.5GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of onboard storage. It also has a variety of ports, including HDMI, USB, and Ethernet.
The LattePanda Alpha is a powerful single-board computer that is designed for makers. It features a 1.8GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of onboard storage. It also has a variety of ports, including HDMI, USB, and Ethernet.
In addition to these models, many other single-board computers are available on the market. These include the ASUS Tinker Board, the Orange Pi, and the Banana Pi. Each of these models has unique features and capabilities, so it is essential to research before making a purchase.
No matter which single-board computer you choose, you can expect to find a powerful and versatile device that can be used for various tasks. With the increasing competition in the market, you can also expect to see more affordable options in 2024.
Comparing the Pros and Cons of the Top Raspberry Pi Alternatives for 2024
2019 was an exciting year for the world of single-board computers. With the release of the Raspberry Pi 4, the Raspberry Pi has become the go-to choice for many users. However, several other single-board computers on the market offer their unique advantages and disadvantages. This article will compare the pros and cons of the top Raspberry Pi alternatives for 2024.
The first alternative to consider is the BeagleBone Black. This single-board computer is powered by an AM335x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor and comes with 512MB of DDR3 RAM. It also has 4GB of onboard storage and a Micro SD card slot for additional storage. The BeagleBone Black is an excellent choice for users who need a powerful board with plenty of storage. The main downside is that it is more expensive than the Raspberry Pi.
The second alternative is the Odroid XU4. This single-board computer is powered by an Exynos5422 Cortex-A15 2GHz and Cortex-A7 Octa-core processor and comes with 2GB of DDR3 RAM. It also has 16GB of onboard storage and a microSD card slot for additional storage. The Odroid XU4 is a great choice for users who need a powerful board with plenty of storage. The main downside is that it is more expensive than the Raspberry Pi.
The third alternative is the ASUS Tinker Board. This single-board computer is powered by a Rockchip RK3288 Cortex-A17 1.8GHz quad-core processor and comes with 2GB of DDR3 RAM. It also has 16GB of onboard storage and a Micro SD card slot for additional storage. The ASUS Tinker Board is an excellent choice for users who need a powerful board with plenty of storage. The main downside is that it is more expensive than the Raspberry Pi.
Finally, the fourth alternative is the Orange Pi PC Plus. This single-board computer is powered by an Allwinner H3 Cortex-A7 quad-core processor and comes with 1GB of DDR3 RAM. It also has 8GB of onboard storage and a Micro SD card slot for additional storage. The Orange Pi PC Plus is an excellent choice for users who need a powerful board with plenty of storage. The main downside is that it is more expensive than the Raspberry Pi.
Ultimately, the decision of which single-board computer to choose will rely on the user’s requirements and budget as each Raspberry Pi alternative presents unique advantages and disadvantages. The BeagleBone Black, Odroid XU4, ASUS Tinker Board, and Orange Pi PC Plus all offer power and storage, but at a higher price point compared to the Raspberry Pi.
How to Choose the Right Raspberry Pi Alternative for Your Needs in 2024
As technology continues to evolve, so do the options for Raspberry Pi alternatives. In 2024, a variety of options will be available for those looking for a Raspberry Pi alternative. When choosing the right Raspberry Pi alternative for your needs, there are several factors to consider.
Computing Power Considerations
First, consider the type of project you are working on. Different Raspberry Pi alternatives are designed for different kinds of projects. For example, if you are working on a project that requires a lot of computing power, you may want to consider a more powerful Raspberry Pi alternative, such as the Odroid XU4 or the RockPro64. If your project requires less computing power, you might want to explore alternative options to Raspberry Pi, like the Raspberry Pi Zero, Orange Pi Zero, or Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero.
The Price
Second, consider the cost of the Raspberry Pi alternative. Different Raspberry Pi alternatives have different price points, so it is important to consider your budget when making your decision. Some Raspberry Pi alternatives are more expensive than others, so it is essential to consider your budget when making your decision.
Connectivity
Third, consider the features of the Raspberry Pi alternative. Different Raspberry Pi alternatives have additional features, so you must consider which features are essential when deciding. For example, some Raspberry Pi alternatives have built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, while others do not.
Community support
Finally, consider the support available for the Raspberry Pi alternative. Different Raspberry Pi alternatives have different levels of support available, so it is essential to evaluate the level of support you need when making your decision. Some Raspberry Pi alternatives have extensive support, while others may have limited support.
By considering the type of project you are working on, the cost of the Raspberry Pi alternative, the features of the Raspberry Pi alternative, and the support available for the Raspberry Pi alternative, you can make an informed decision when choosing the right Raspberry Pi alternative for your needs in 2024.
Raspberry Pi Zero Alternatives: Starting at $10.49 and beyond
The popular Raspberry Pi Zero W board based on the Broadcom BCM2835 ARM11 Architecture sold at $14. In this comparison overview, we will be comparing known Chinese Brands. Orange Pi, Banana Pi, ROCK PI, and FriendlyElec offer low power, tiny sizes, and cheap SBCs. This comparison is based on hardware specifications, including prices.
Brand | Mango | Geniatech | Raspberry | Banana Pi | Banana Pi | FriendlyElec | FriendlyElec | Orange Pi | Orange Pi | Rock Pi |
Model | MangoPi MQ-Pro D1 | XPI-3566-ZERO | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W | Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO | Banana Pi BPI-CanMV K230D Zero | NanoPi NEO LTS | NanoPi Zero2 | Pi Zero LTS | Orange Pi Zero 2W | ROCK PI S |
Product photo |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
CPU | Allwinner XuanTie C906 RISC-V Up to 1GHz | Rockchip RK3566 with Quad-core Cortex-A55 up to 1.8GHz | Broadcom BCM2835 1 GHz ARM1176JZF-S single-core | H2+ Quad-core Cortex-A7 | XuanTie C908 dual-core RISC-V CPU | Allwinner H3 | Rockchip EK3528A | H2+ Quad-core Cortex-A7 Up to 1.2GHz | Allwinner H618 Quad-core Cortex-A53 Up to 1.5GHz | Rockchip RK3308 Quad A35 64bit |
GPU |  | ARM G52 2EE | VideoCore IV | Mali400MP2 GPU @600MHz,Supports OpenGL ES 2.0 | | Mali400MP2 GPU @600MHz,Supports OpenGL ES 2.0 | ARM Mali-450 | Mali400MP2 GPU @600MHz,Supports OpenGL ES 2.0 | Mali G31 MP2 | |
Memory (SDRAM) | 512MB or 1GB DDR3/DDR3L | 512MB / 1GB / 2GB / 4GB / 8GB LPDDR4 RAM (Optional) | 512 MB DDR2 | 512M DDR3 (shared with GPU) | 128MB LPDDR4@2666Mbps | 256MB/512MB DDR3 SDRAM (Share with GPU) | 1G/2G LLPDDR4/LPDDR4X | 256MB/512MB DDR3 SDRAM (Share with GPU) | 1GB /1.5GB / 2GB /4GB LPDDR4 | 256MB/512MB DDR3 SDRAM (Share with GPU) |
Onboard Storage | TF card (Max. 64GB) | | TF card (Max. 64GB) | TF card (Max. 64GB) | TF card (Max. 1TB) | TF card (Max. 64GB) | TF card (Max. 128GB) | TF card (Max. 32GB) | TF card (Max. 128GB) | TF card (Max. 64GB) |
Onboard Ethernet | | | | | | 10/100M Ethernet | 1000M Ethernet | 10/100M Ethernet | | 10/100M Ethernet |
PoE power | | | | | | | | Optional PoE(additional HAT requried | | Optional PoE(additional HAT requried |
Onboard flash | | 8GB ~ 128GB eMMC Flash optional | | | | | eMMC Module Socket (Optional) | 2MB SPI Flash | 16MB SPI Flash | |
Onboard WIFI | 2.4Ghz 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.2 | 2.4Ghz 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 5.0 | 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth 4.1 | SDIO AP6212（option AP6181、AP6335） | 2.4G Wi-Fi onboard. | | M.2 E-key 2230 Socket (Optional) | 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi5.0+BT 5.0 | |
Video Decoding | 1920x 080@60fps | 4K (Max) | 1080p30 H.264/MPEG-4 AVC high-profile decoder and encoder | 1080p@60fps,H.264 Video encoding 1080p@30fps,H.264 | - | 1080p@60fps,H.264 Video encoding 1080p@30fps,H.264 | 4K@60fps,H.26 encoding. 1080p@30fps,H.264 | 1080p@60fps,H.264 Video encoding 1080p@30fps,H.264 | 1080p@60fps,H.264 Video encoding 1080p@30fps,H.264 | |
Camera Interface | 24Pin DVP/RGMII connector |  | | | | | | | | |
Video Output(s) | Mini HDMI Interface up to 4K@30fps --------------- CVBS OUT interface, supporting NTSC and PAL format MIPI DSI | Mini HDMI and USB On-The-Go ports | Mini HDMI and USB On-The-Go ports | Mini HDMI 1.4,1080P@30fps, DHCP | Mini HDMI 1.4,1080P@30fps, DHCP | 2.54mm pitch 36pin. It includes UART, SPI, I2C, IO etc | | Through the | Mini HDMI Interface up to 4K@30fps | HDMI ARC Through the 26 pin header |
Audio Output | Mini HDMI | Mini HDMI | Mini HDMI | Mini HDMI | Mini HDMI | | | Through the 13 Pins voice/audio Header | Mini HDMI | Through the 26 pin voice/audio header |
Power Source | Type-C USB with 5V/2A | Type-C USB with 5V/2A | Micro USB with 5V/2A | Micro USB with 5V/2A | Micro USB with 5V/2A | Micro USB with 5V/2A | Type-C USB with 5V/2A | Micro USB with 5V/2A | Type-C USB with 5V/2A | Type-C USB with 5V/2A |
USB Ports | 1x USB OTG Type-C port | 1x USB OTG Type-C port | 1x USB 2.0 OTG | 1x USB 2.0 OTG | | 1x USB v2.0 | 1x USB v2.0 | 1x USB 2.0 OTG | 2x Type-C USB v2.0 | 1x USB Type C OTG |
Buttons | | | Composite video and reset headers | Power Button | Power Button | | Power Button | Power Button | x1 power button. x2 user-defined buttons. | Reset Buttom |
Low-level peripherals | 40 Pins | 40 Pins | 40 Pins | 40 Pins | 40 Pins | 36 pins Header. includes UART, SPI, I2C, IO etc | | 26 Pins Header | 40 Pins | 26 pin header |
uart GPIO(1x3) pin | | | | | | | | | | |
LED | Power led & Status led | Power led & Status led | Power led & Status led | Power led & Status led | Power led & Status led | Power led & Status led | Power led & Status led | Power led & Status led | Power led & Status led | Power led & Status led |
IR | | | | | | | | Through the | | |
Software | Tina-Linux Debian | Debian 11, Rasberry Pi OS emulater,
| OSMC | Arch Linux | RTOS Debian | Ubuntu Core 16.04 | Debian | Android 4.4 | Android 12 TV Debian，Ubuntu UOrange Pi OS（Arch） | Debian |
PCB Size | 65x30mm | 65x30mm | 65x30mm | 65×30mm | 65x30mm | 40x40mm | 45x45mm | 46x28mm | 30x65mm | 38.1x38.1mm |
Weight | ? | ? | 9g | 15g | ? | unknown | 16.1g | 26g | 12.5g | ? |
Price | $28 | $69 | $92 | $21.06 | ? | $16.00 | $18.00 | $10.49 | $18.00 | $15.99 |
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The Winner!
The Orange Pi Zero LTS SBC is a clear winner in the specifications’ arena. Powered by the H2 Plus Allwinner SoC, this board is currently the cheapest amongst the boards covered in this overview, with a price tag of $10 (Excluding the shipping fee). While other SBCs only offer Wi-Fi or Ethernet connectivity, this SBC offers both worlds with an external IPX socket for connecting an external antenna and a built-in 10/100 MB/s Ethernet LAN interface.