Raspberry Pi is undoubtedly at the top of the list regarding single-board computers. Raspberry Pi is adaptable, dependable, and simple to operate with little power. Nevertheless, even though the Raspberry Pi provides a variety of capabilities in a single package, there are a few inexpensive Raspberry Pi alternatives with distinctive and special capabilities that some people might find more appealing.
This post will take you through the top 10 cheap Raspberry Pi alternatives. Let’s get started.
Cheap Raspberry Pi Alternatives
The following are the 10 Cheap Raspberry Pi Alternatives that this post will look at.
- Odroid XU4
- NanoPi NEO4
- ASUS Tinker Board S
- PocketBeagle
- Orange Pi Zero
- Onion Omega2+
- Banana Pi M3
- Libre Computer Board.
- Rock Pi 4 Plus Model C
- NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit.
1. Odroid XU4
Among the cheap Raspberry Pi alternatives are the Odroid XU4, whose board is built around a Samsung Exynos5422 SoC. The Odroid XU4 is compatible with all Linux-based operating systems, including Ubuntu and the Android OS.
Odroid XU4
These specific single-board computers feature a microSD card slot for any kind of SD card needs, a flash module with a capacity of 16, 32, or 64 GB for backing up data plus storage to avoid data loss, and 2 GB of onboard RAM.
Odroid XU4 also features three USB ports which can be utilized for data transfer, charging devices, or copying data. The presence of Gigabit Ethernet and a 30-pin GPIO header also helps in performing different tinkering tasks.
Due to its high speed, which is made possible by rapid data transfer rates through the eMMC, USB 3.0 port for better network connectivity, and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, is particularly beneficial for gamers.
With a debugging board, source code, and schematics to make the device easy to understand, this single-board computer is suitable for both novice and advanced developers to create software, games, or other content they may want to carry out.
2. NanoPi NEO4
NanoPi NEO4
NanoPi NEO4 is also another cheap alternative for Raspberry Pi. Due to its low cost and compact size, this single-board computer is simple to integrate into hardware projects. The NanoPi NEO4 is also compatible with various operating systems, including Armbian, Ubuntu, Android, Lubuntu, FriendlyCore, and Friendly Desktop.
Additionally, the NanoPi NEO4 has an eMMC socket for easy booting and a board that supports microSD cards up to 128 GB in size, making it simple to store data and perform backups with zero chance of data loss.
The NanoPi NEO4 is a compact device that is incredibly powerful for tasks like machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), robots, industrial cameras, games, and blockchain, among others.
3. ASUS Tinker Board S
ASUS Tinker Board S
ASUS Tinker Board S is also among the cheap Raspberry Pi alternative.
ASUS introduced a single-board computer called the ASUS Tinker Board at the beginning of 2017. This single-board computer provides a better overall user experience, stability, and durability.
Its Rockchip RK3288 quad-core ARM-based processor offers faster performance than other similar boards. The board is powerful and quick thanks to adding 2GB RAM, 16GB eMMC storage, and a 1 Gigabit Ethernet. It also supports CSI MIPI connections, which connect to compatible cameras and enable computer vision and other functions as needed.
A 40-pin GPIO color-coded header block on the ASUS Tinker Board S makes it a viable alternative to the Raspberry Pi.
It has 4 USB ports for transferring files and charging other devices, an HDMI port, and Bluetooth for audio and video output.
The ASUS Tinker Board S’s rugged and energy-efficient design, which supports next-generation graphics, makes it ideal for gaming, computer vision, high-quality media playback, gesture recognition, and image stabilization and processing.
4. PocketBeagle
PocketBeagle
PocketBeagle is a cheap raspberry Pi alternative. It is also compatible with Debian-based distribution systems.
This compact USB detachable computer called the PocketBeagle was created using the Octavo Systems OSD3358 SoC. Its sleek design makes it portable and secure to move around. It is also simple to use, making it perfect for both beginners and experts.
Depending on your level of expertise, you can use this Raspberry Pi substitute to build robots, drones, a DIY Alexa, built-in speakers, arcade machines, automatic irrigation systems, and much more. It is straightforward for anyone to use because all you need to do to get started is download it and move it to a microSD card.
5. Orange Pi Zero
Orange Pi Zero
Orange Pi Zero is a good Raspberry Pi alternative, especially for people whose interest is working on (Internet of Things)IoT projects. It is compatible with Armbian, a Debian and Ubuntu-based computer operating system The Orange Pi Zero is the device to consider if your interest is also acquiring a less expensive Raspberry Pi substitute.
The Orange Pi Zero is a less expensive version of the Raspberry Pi. Still, it is more powerful, comes with a full-sized Ethernet port (limited to 100 MB/s), and has a WiFi module with an external antenna connector. It also has a slot for a microSD card for data storage, ensuring no data is lost, as well as 26 expansion pins, 13 functions, and interface pins.
6. Onion Omega2+
Onion Omega2+
Onion Omega2+ is another alternative if you are looking for a cheap Raspberry Pi alternative. It is suitable for making web applications or new programming languages.
It is an IoT (Internet of Things) single-board computer that supports Linux operating systems and is based on an MT7688 SoC with a 580MHz MIPS CPU. Users of all skill levels, novices or experts, can quickly build hardware applications using Onion Omega2+.
With a 3.3V operating voltage, 128 MB DDR2 RAM, 32 MB of onboard flash storage, a MicroSD card slot, USB 2.0, and 12 GPIO pins, the Onion Omega2+ supports 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n WiFi as well as 10M/100M wired Ethernet network connectivity.
7. Banana Pi M3
Banana Pi M3
Another cheap Raspberry Pi alternative for those looking to learn and develop projects using developer technology is the Banana Pi M3.
For the user’s convenience at any time, this Raspberry Pi substitute has a built-in microphone, an IR receiver, a power button, and reset buttons.
Android, Lubuntu, Ubuntu, Debian, and Raspbian are just a few operating systems on which the Banana Pi M3 can run. Anyone who wants to experiment and create with developer technology will find it a good catch. It also has a 40-pin GPIO header.
8. Libre Computer Board
Libre Computer Board
The Libre Computer Board is a single-board computer (SBC) similar to the Raspberry Pi in terms of form factor and capabilities. It is designed to be a low-cost alternative to the Raspberry Pi while providing similar performance and features.
The Libre Computer Board comes in several different models, which vary in terms of processor and memory. Some models are based on the Amlogic S905X, S905X3, or S922X processors, similar to the Raspberry Pi’s. These models come with 2 or 4GB of LPDDR4 memory and feature Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, and HDMI ports, similar to the Raspberry Pi.
The Libre Computer Board is also compatible with many of the same operating systems and software as the Raspberry Pi, such as Linux and Android, and software development tools like Python and Scratch.
However, it is essential to note that the Libre Computer Board is not as popular as the Raspberry Pi, so the community and software support may be more limited. Overall, the Libre Computer Board is an excellent cheap alternative to the Raspberry Pi; it offers similar performance and features that get your projects done.
9. Rock Pi 4 Plus- Model C
Rock Pi 4 Plus- Model C
Rock Pi 4 Plus is another Raspberry alternative you need. There are three available; A, B, and C, with C being the best of them all. The M.2 connector on the Rock Pi 4 supports M.2 NVMe SSDs, giving you one more way to expand storage if you choose.
This Raspberry Pi alternative features a microSD card, an external NVMe SSD, and an optional eMMC module for maximum storage. It also features wireless connectivity with 2.4/5GHz WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0.
It includes two external displays and micro HDMI and mini DisplayPort ports. In addition, a 40-pin GPIO interface, 802.11AC WiFi, quick USB ports, and a full-size HDMI 2.0 port that can output 4K video at 60 frames per second are additional connectivity options for this device.
10. NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit.
NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit.
Another alternative to the Raspberry Pi for those interested in artificial intelligence is the NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit. The Jetson Nano is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A57 CPU and comes with 4 GB of LPDDR4 memory and a 128-core NVIDIA Maxwell GPU. It also has several other features, such as Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, and HDMI, that make it well-suited for running machine learning and AI workloads. It is affordable and a good choice for those looking for a powerful, small computer running machine learning and AI workloads.
With this single-board computer, you can test neural networks for object recognition or speech recognition without unnecessarily raising your electricity bill.
Conclusion
There are different reasons why some people may prefer using the Raspberry Pi substitutes mentioned in this post rather than the Raspberry Pi itself. Some reasons include cost or the tasks that need to be carried out. This post has discussed just a few cheap Raspberry Pi substitutes. Feel free to tell us in the comment section any Raspberry Pi substitutes that you know and are not included in our post.