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ARM Single-Board Computers

Discover, compare, and save the best arm single-board computers alternatives.

ARM Single-Board Computers (SBCs) are compact, low-power devices that integrate a processor, memory, and interfaces onto a single board. They're ideal for hobbyists, makers, and developers who want to create innovative projects, from robotics and IoT devices to media centers and retro game consoles. When choosing an ARM SBC, consider factors like processing power, memory, storage, and connectivity options. Alternatives to popular boards like the Raspberry Pi 5 may offer different operating system support, GPIO configurations, or power consumption profiles. Compare features and specs to find the best fit for your project's requirements.

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Orange Pi 5 Plus

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.

✦ Best for edge‑ai or media‑server projects needing dual 2.5 gb ethernet

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersRK3588 ProcessorDual 2.5Gb LANM.2 Storage Slot

Rock Pi 4

The Rock Pi 4 is a compact single-board computer featuring a hexa‑core Rockchip RK3399 processor, up to 4 GB LPDDR4 RAM, and dual‑channel M.2 NVMe support. It offers a rich I/O set including dual HDMI 4K, USB‑C 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth for versatile connectivity. Designed for developers, makers, and edge‑AI projects, the board runs Linux, Android, and various open‑source OSes, providing a flexible platform for everything from media servers to AI inference workloads.

✦ Best for ai developers

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersAI-ReadyDual HDMIM.2 NVMe

Radxa Rock 3A

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.

✦ Best for developers needing fast nvme storage and dual 4k displays.

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersQuad-Core ProcessorM.2 NVMe SupportGigabit Ethernet

Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B represents a major leap forward in the popular single-board computer range, offering desktop-class performance that rivals entry-level x86 PC systems. Equipped with a high-performance quad-core processor and flexible memory options, it empowers users to build everything from smart home automation hubs to media centers and edge AI devices. Featuring true dual-monitor support at resolutions up to 4K, upgraded USB 3.0 ports, and genuine Gigabit Ethernet, this iteration provides the robust I/O capabilities required for demanding projects. Its active developer community and vast ecosystem of compatible HATs and accessories make it the definitive platform for learning to code and prototyping hardware inventions.

✦ Best for makers and iot developers needing desktop-class performance and dual 4k displays.

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersQuad-Core ProcessorDual 4K DisplayTrue Gigabit Ethernet

ODROID-C4

The ODROID-C4 is a compact single-board computer powered by an Amlogic S905X3 quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor running at up to 2.0 GHz. Designed for developers, hobbyists, and tech enthusiasts, it offers significant performance improvements and lower power consumption compared to its predecessors, making it an ideal choice for home servers, retro gaming consoles, and embedded projects. Featuring 4GB of DDR4 RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, and four USB 3.0 host ports, the ODROID-C4 provides reliable connectivity and data transfer speeds. It supports up to 4K UHD video output via an HDMI 2.0 interface and utilizes an eMMC socket along with a MicroSD slot for flexible operating system storage options.

✦ Best for makers wanting high-performance, low-power arm linux computing on a budget.

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersQuad-Core ARM Cortex-A554GB DDR4 MemoryGigabit Ethernet

Pine64 PinePhone

The Pine64 PinePhone is a unique mobile device designed specifically for Linux enthusiasts, developers, and privacy advocates who want complete control over their mobile hardware and software. Unlike mainstream smartphones, it runs various native mainline Linux distributions rather than Android or iOS, empowering users with open-source transparency. Equipped with practical hardware privacy switches, replaceable components, and standard ARM-based architecture, the PinePhone serves as both a functional daily driver for the technically adventurous and a versatile development platform for alternative mobile operating systems.

✦ Best for linux enthusiasts, developers, and privacy advocates wanting complete hardware and software control.

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersHardware privacy switchesReplaceable batteryMainline Linux support

BeagleBone Black

The BeagleBone Black is a low-cost, community-supported development platform featuring an AM335x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor. It runs full-featured Linux distributions and offers extensive expansion capabilities through dual 46-pin headers. Designed for hobbyists, educators, and embedded developers, the board integrates 512MB of DDR3 RAM and 4GB of on-board eMMC flash storage preloaded with Debian. Its unique Programmable Real-Time Unit (PRU) subsystems allow for deterministic, low-latency real-time I/O operations.

✦ Best for embedded developers needing real-time operations via dual pru coprocessors.

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersARM Cortex-A8 ProcessorOn-Board eMMCPRU Real-Time Cores

Banana Pi

Banana Pi is an open-source hardware project providing a diverse series of single-board computers and development boards powered by ARM and MCU architectures. Designed to support flexible integration of voice, data, and video systems, it serves as a robust platform for developers, educators, and hobbyists building custom hardware solutions. With comprehensive community support and various form factors ranging from media-focused boards to networking routers, Banana Pi hardware enables rapid prototyping and deployment across numerous embedded applications. Its open design philosophy ensures users have access to fundamental software and hardware development resources.

✦ Best for budget-conscious developers and educators seeking open-source arm single-board computers.

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersOpen Source HardwareARM ArchitectureIoT Development

NVIDIA Jetson Nano

The NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit delivers the compute performance to run modern AI workloads in a small, power-efficient form factor. It brings the power of modern artificial intelligence to edge devices, empowering developers to build autonomous machines and smart devices. Equipped with a 128-core Maxwell GPU and a quad-core ARM CPU, it supports high-resolution sensors and processes multiple neural networks concurrently. Backed by the comprehensive Jetson software stack, it streamlines the development and deployment of advanced robotics and IoT applications.

✦ Best for hobbyists and students building affordable edge ai and robotics projects.

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersAI-PoweredCompact SizeGPU Accelerated

Raspberry Pi 5

The Raspberry Pi 5 is the latest generation of the popular single-board computer, offering a significant performance jump over previous models thanks to its new quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor. It remains credit-card sized while supporting dual 4K display output, faster networking, and PCIe expansion. It is widely used for home automation, retro gaming emulation, media centers, robotics, and as an affordable Linux desktop, backed by a large community and the official Raspberry Pi OS. With GPIO pins for hardware projects and a mature software ecosystem, it remains the default choice for hobbyist electronics and educational computing.

✦ Best for diy electronics and robotics enthusiasts

Paid (One-time)ProprietaryARM Single-Board ComputersQuad-core CPUDual 4K OutputPCIe Expansion

Frequently asked questions

What is the main advantage of using an ARM Single-Board Computer?

ARM SBCs offer a great balance between processing power, low power consumption, and affordability, making them perfect for a wide range of applications, from prototyping to production.

Can I use an ARM SBC for machine learning and AI projects?

Yes, many ARM SBCs, including the Raspberry Pi 5, support machine learning and AI frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, making them suitable for AI-powered projects.

What operating systems can I run on an ARM SBC?

Most ARM SBCs support popular operating systems like Linux, Android, and Windows IoT, while some may also support other OS options like FreeBSD or OpenBSD.

Are ARM SBCs suitable for industrial or commercial applications?

Yes, many ARM SBCs are designed for industrial or commercial use, offering features like ruggedized designs, extended temperature ranges, and long-term availability.