Orange Pi 5 Plus vs Radxa Rock 3A
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
The Orange Pi 5 Plus is a single‑board computer built around the Rockchip RK3588 SoC, delivering up to 8 CPU cores and a Mali‑G610 GPU for demanding workloads. It supports a full desktop Linux experience and can run AI inference, media transcoding, and edge‑computing tasks. Equipped with dual 2.5 Gb Ethernet ports and an M.2 slot for NVMe SSDs, the board offers high‑speed networking and fast local storage, making it ideal for network‑attached storage, media servers, and industrial gateways.
The Radxa Rock 3A is a versatile single-board computer designed for developers, IoT enthusiasts, and makers seeking robust computing power in a compact form factor. Equipped with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor and up to 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM, it delivers reliable performance for edge computing, media streaming, and home automation projects. Featuring comprehensive connectivity options including M.2 NVMe SSD support, Gigabit Ethernet, and multiple USB ports, the board bridges the gap between desktop-class utility and embedded hardware flexibility. It supports various Linux distributions and Android, making it an adaptable platform for prototyping and custom industrial deployments.
- High‑performance RK3588 SoC
- Dual 2.5 Gb Ethernet for fast networking
- M.2 NVMe slot for rapid storage
- Rich I/O including HDMI 2.1 and USB‑C
- High-speed NVMe SSD support via M.2 slot
- Reliable quad-core ARM performance
- Dual display capabilities up to 4K
- Extensive operating system support
- Limited official Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth options
- Higher power consumption than lower‑end SBCs
- Software support still maturing for some peripherals
- Requires separate purchase of power supply and storage
- Limited community documentation compared to older Raspberry Pi models
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth require an optional module
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Orange Pi 5 Plus
View all →
Alternatives to Radxa Rock 3A
View all →
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataOrange Pi 5 Plus offers higher raw performance and faster networking/storage, while Radxa Rock 3A is smaller, cheaper, and lighter with adequate performance for most edge tasks.
Key differences
- •CPU: Orange Pi 5 Plus uses an octa‑core RK3588 (up to 2.4 GHz) vs. Radxa Rock 3A’s quad‑core RK3568 (up to ~2 GHz).
- •Network: Orange Pi 5 Plus has dual 2.5 GbE ports; Radxa Rock 3A provides a single Gigabit Ethernet with optional PoE.
- •Form factor & weight: Orange Pi 5 Plus is larger (100 × 75 mm, 86.5 g); Radxa Rock 3A is more compact (85 × 56 mm, 45 g).
- •Price range: Orange Pi 5 Plus price not listed (paid); Radxa Rock 3A MSRP $35‑$75 depending on RAM.
- •Storage slot type: Both have M.2 NVMe, but Orange Pi 5 Plus mentions an M.2 slot without specifying key; Radxa Rock 3A specifies M.2 M‑Key for NVMe.
Performance
Octa‑core RK3588 up to 2.4 GHz gives higher compute power than RK3568 quad‑core ~2 GHz.
Build quality
Both are closed‑source SBCs; no data on chassis material or durability.
Connectivity
Dual 2.5 GbE + USB‑C on Orange Pi beats single GigE (with optional PoE) on Radxa.
Power & efficiency
Radxa is lighter (45 g) and smaller, implying lower power draw; Orange Pi noted higher consumption.
Compatibility
Radxa lists broader OS support (Debian, Ubuntu, Android) while Orange Pi only mentions Linux.
Price & value
Radxa Rock 3A has explicit MSRP $35‑$75; Orange Pi 5 Plus price not provided.
Warranty & support
Radxa specifies 1‑year warranty; Orange Pi provides no warranty info.
Choose Orange Pi 5 Plus if…
Developers needing maximum CPU power, dual high‑speed Ethernet, and fast NVMe storage for media or AI workloads.
Choose Radxa Rock 3A if…
IoT or hobby projects where size, cost, and lower power matter more than top‑end performance.
Common questions
Which board offers faster network throughput?
Orange Pi 5 Plus with dual 2.5 GbE ports; Radxa Rock 3A has only a single Gigabit Ethernet.
Is there a clear price advantage?
Radxa Rock 3A lists an MSRP of $35‑$75; Orange Pi 5 Plus price is not specified.
Can I run the same OS on both?
Both run Linux; Radxa explicitly supports Debian, Ubuntu, and Android, while Orange Pi only mentions Linux.