- Maybe you missed it? Review of the Banana Pi R4.
- Banana Pi BPI-R4 Lite Announcement: Overview and Key Features.
Banana Pi BPI-R4 Lite now available
The Banana Pi BPI-R4 Lite is the latest addition to the Banana Pi router board family, offering a more affordable alternative to the previous BPI-R4 model. Designed as a cost-effective solution for home networking, small offices, and educational projects, the BPI-R4 Lite packs a punch with its impressive features and capabilities. This single-board computer is powered by a MediaTek MT7987A quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, from basic computing tasks to network infrastructure setups.
Banana Pi BPI-R4 Lite
Main Specs:
- MediaTek MT7987A quad-core Arm Cortex-A53
- 2 GB DDR4 (SoC supports up to 4 GB)
- 8GB eMMC flash
- 256 MB SPI NAND Flash
- 32 MB SPI-NOR Flash
- 1x Micro SD card slot
- 1 x 2.5G SFP
- 1x 2.5G RJ45 WAN port (supports PoE with a PoE module)
- 4 x 1G RJ-45 LAN
- 1 x USB 3.0 slot
- 1x M.2 Key-B slot with USB 3.0 for 5G module
- 1x miniPCIe slot with a PCIe 3.0 x2 lane interface for a Wi-Fi 7 NIC (Option: 2x miniPCIe slots with PCIe 3.0 x1 lanes)
- 1x mini PCIe slot with a USB 2.0 interface
- 1x USB Type-C Debug Console
- Applications: 2 x 8-pin MikroBUS headers for expanding applications
Key Takeaways
- The MikroBUS headers are also included, akin to those found on the OpenWrt One router board.
- The Banana Pi BPI-R4 Lite is a more affordable variant of the BPI-R4, offering a budget-friendly option for users.
- The BPI-R4 Lite, akin to the R4 model, features support for Wi-Fi 7 connectivity through an expansion card equipped with a Wi-Fi 7 NIC.
- Key features of the BPI-R4 Lite include a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, and multiple connectivity options.
- Setting up the BPI-R4 Lite is made easy with a step-by-step guide, allowing users to quickly get started with the device.
Hardware: Banana Pi R4 vs Banana Pi R4 Lite
Banana Pi BPI-R4 Lite vs. Banana Pi BPI-R4 | ||
Parameters | Banana Pi BPI-R4 Lite | Banana Pi BPI-R4 |
– | |  |
CPU | MediaTek MT7987A | MediaTek MT7988 (Filogic 880) |
RAM Configurations | 2G / 4GB (DDR4) | 4 GB / 8GB (DDR4) |
CPU architecture | Cortex-A53 (64-bit SoC) | Cortex-A73 (64-bit SoC) |
Core number | 4 | 4 |
CPU Frequency (Max) | 4×2.00 GHz | 4×1.80 GHz |
26 PIN GPIO Header |  | |
Other Interfaces | 1x M.2 KEY-B slot with USB3.0 for 5G Module. ——————————————— 1x miniPCIe slot with PCIe3.0 2lane interface for Wi-Fi 7 NIC (Option: 2x miniPCIe slots with PCIe3.0 1lane). ——————————————— 1x miniPCIe slot with USB2.0 interface | 1x M.2 KEY-B slot with USB3.2 interface for 5G. ——————————————— 1x M.2 KEY-M slot with PCIe3.0 1lane interface for NVME SSD. ——————————————— 2x miniPCIe slots with PCIe3.0 2lane interface for Wi-Fi 7 NIC (Network Interface Card). |
Micro SD (TF) Card Slot | | |
8GB eMMC onboard storage | | |
128MB SPI-NAND Flash | | |
32MB SPI NOR Flash | |  |
Boot switch | | |
USB port | USB V3.0 | USB V3.2 |
Integrated WiFi 7 Support | Optional via expension board | Optional via expension board |
Antennas | ? | External Antennas + DFS Antenna (Using WiFi7 iPA NIC Module) |
3 Pin debug serial port (UART) | | |
Buttons | 1x Boot switch 1x Reset | 1x Boot switch 1x Reset |
Ethernet | 4x 1GbE RJ45 Ethernet 1x 2.5GbE (WAN) RJ45 Ethernet 1x SFP 2.5GbE port | 4x 1GbE RJ45 Ethernet 2x SFP 10GbE port |
SIM Support | x3 Nano SIM | x3 Nano SIM |
Integrated PoE support | Optional | Optional |
PCB size | 100.5x148mm | |
Weight | ? | 250g |
Power Interface | Type-C PD 20V | Type-C PD 20V |
RTC Battery Interface | | |
OS | Ubuntu/Debian/OpenWrt | |
Astimate Price | N/A | $109 |
Key Findings and Reflections: The Good and the less Good
While some design compromises have been made, this board does not include the two 10G SFP+ ports offered in the pricier R4 model, which retails for about $109. Furthermore, it lacks an M.2 NVMe slot. However, for those utilizing a 2.5 Gbps fiber optic infrastructure, this board presents a solid choice.
In simple terms, the BPI-R4 Lite is like a downgraded or slimmed-down version of its predecessor. It still does all the important stuff, but at a lower price. It’s a little router board that’s small and gets the job done. With its strong performance and convenient size, the BPI-R4 Lite presents an excellent choice for individuals who value open-source technology and are in the market for an affordable router that run on OpenWrt OS.
Price and Availability
Stay tuned, as we will be releasing new information shortly including prices.
