Introduction
In 2023, the Raspberry Pi is still facing shortages and high prices due to its immense popularity. This is primarily because the demand for these single-board computers has far outstripped the supply, leading to a low stock that’s being snapped up by eager buyers around the world. The strong demand has only been compounded by its extensive use in recent projects ranging from robotics, industrial automation and even IoT.
As such, in 2023, you’ll want to consider some of the best Raspberry Pi alternatives available on the market.
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Libre AML-S905X-CC (Le Potato) 64-bit Mini
Libre AML-S905X-CC (Le Potato) is a great alternative to Raspberry Pi for budget conscious users, thanks to its unbeatable combination of features. It offers incredibly fast performance with ARM Cortex-A53 processors and Mali-450 GPU clocked at 1.5GHz and 750MHz respectively; double the memory of Raspberry Pi with 2GB of High Bandwidth DDR3; and hardware accelerated 4K video playback and 3D graphics. Additionally, users can use systems such as Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and Raspbian 11, thanks to Libre Computer's open source commitment and upstream infrastructure. With its unbeatable performance, low power consumption and price point, it is clear why this powerful mini board computer is one the best Raspberry Pi alternatives in 2023.
Pros:
- Compact size that is almost identical to the Raspberry Pi, including GPIO location and pinouts.
- Lower heat production compared to a Raspberry Pi 3.
- Affordable and widely available.
Cons:
- Does not come with built-in WiFi, but Ethernet connectivity is still possible.
Orange Pi 3 LTS
The Orange Pi 3 LTS open source board is a powerful and budget-friendly single-board computer that offers an unbeatable combination of features. This mini computer comes with an Allwinner quad core 64 bit A53 high-performance processor, 2GB LPDDR3 RAM, 8G EMMC Flash storage, onboard WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a host of interfaces including USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and HDMI2.0a. Furthermore, it supports popular operating systems such as Android 9.0, Ubuntu and Debian making it an ideal device for home use or industrial applications that require fast performance with low power consumption. The Orange Pi 3 LTS is the perfect Raspberry Pi alternative in 2023, offering a wide range of features at an affordable price point.
Pros:
- Low power consumption with excellent performance.
- Supports multiple operating systems out of the box.
- Comes with onboard WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.
- Includes USB 3.0, HDMI2.0a output, and other interfaces.
Cons:
- Limited availability.
- Can be difficult to set up for novice users.
ODROID C4
In my opinion, this is Odroid's attempt to replicate the Raspberry Pi 4. It's is the latest in single board computer technology and offers far better energy efficiency and faster performance than its predecessor, the ODROID-C2. This ARM 64bit computer was released more than four years ago, but it's still considered one of the best in the world.
The main CPU at the heart of the ODROID-C4 is powered by a quad-core Cortex-A55 cluster with a new generation Mali-G31 GPU. The A55 cores are capable of running at an impressive 2.0Ghz without thermal throttling due to a stock cooling system that allows for quiet operation. Additionally, this CPU provides users with 40% higher multi-core performance and 50% faster system DRAM performance than the ODROID-C2's specs.
Pros:
- More energy efficient
- Faster performance
- Robust and quiet CPU
- 40% higher multi-core performance
- 50% faster system DRAM performance
Cons:
- No built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- More difficult to set up than Raspberry Pi 4
- More difficult to find compatible accessories
Khadas VIM4 8GB
The Khadas VIM4 8GB computer is a powerful single-board computer system that provides superior performance and more memory than most of its competitors. It has 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM which allows for 4K60 video decoding, playback, and encoding capabilities as well as USB 3.0 connectivity. With these features, the Khadas VIM4 8GB computer is sure to be an appealing choice for those who need high performance hardware in a small form factor.
Pros:
- 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM compared to the Raspberry Pi 4's 2/4GB RAM
- USB 3.0 connection compared to the Raspberry Pi 4's USB2.0 ports
- 4K60 video decoding, playback and encoding compared to the Raspberry Pi 4's 1080p video support
Cons:
- More expensive than the Raspberry Pi
- More complex hardware design compared to the Raspberry Pi's simpler design
- Requires additional components such as a power supply, case, and cooling solution for optimal performance, whereas the Raspberry Pi does not require any additional components
Rock Pi Model 4
The Rock pi 4 Model B is a powerful, single board computer powered by the new Rockchip RK3399 SOC. It features (2GB/4GB) of RAM, (16GB/32GB/64GB) of eMMC storage, Gigabit Ethernet port, USB 3.0 and HDMI 2.0a ports, and Bluetooth 5.0 support. Its high-performance and low-cost make it a great option for DIY projects or as a media center. With its wide array of features and options for customization, the Rock Pi 4 Model B provides a versatile platform for developers to create amazing projects.
Pros:
- PoE HAT allowing it to be powered via an Ethernet cable
- Faster Gigabit Ethernet port compared to the 100Mbit/s Ethernet of the Raspberry Pi 4
- USB 3.0 and HDMI 2.0a ports, compared to the USB 2.0 and HDMI 1.4 ports offered by the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
- Bluetooth 5.0 support while the Raspberry Pi only has Bluetooth 4.2
NVIDIA Jetson Nano
The NVIDIA Jetson Nano is a powerful, single-board computer designed for DIY projects and AI development. It delivers the performance of a GPU in a low-power embedded system. Perfect for makers, students, educators, and developers looking to explore Artificial Intelligence, the NVIDIA Jetson Nano features an extensive set of ports and connectors allowing users to easily expand their projects using peripherals such as cameras, displays, additional sensors and more.
Pros:
- Supports 4K video and 12MP images with its integrated Roswell GPU
- 4GB of RAM, providing enough memory to run multiple AI models simultaneously
- Capable of running numerous AI models at once such as YOLOv3 and Mask R-CNN for object detection and segmentation
- Supports multiple frameworks such as TensorFlow, Pytorch and Caffe2
- Compatible with the Raspberry Pi camera module v2 or any other suitable cameras which can be used with it.
- Low power consumption and excellent performance due to the latest generation of Tegra processor.
Cons:
- More expensive than the Raspberry Pi 4
- Requires additional components such as a power supply, case, and cooling solution for optimal performance
- Not compatible with all peripherals supported by the Raspberry Pi
- No integrated Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities compared to the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B
- May require technical expertise in order to fully take advantage of the powerful features offered by the Jetson Nano.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Raspberry Pi 4 is a great choice for those on a budget, there are many alternatives out there that offer more features and higher performance. If you’re looking to step up your DIY project or get into AI development, then consider one of the powerful and feature-packed alternatives such as the Khadas VIM3, Rock Pi 4 Model B or the NVIDIA Jetson Nano discussed here. However, keep in mind that these alternatives require additional components such as a power supply, case and cooling solution for optimal performance. They may also require more technical expertise to take full advantage of their features. Ultimately, the best Raspberry Pi alternative will depend on your project requirements and budget.
Happy DIYing!