The Raspberry Pi has become a powerful force in the DIY world thanks to its relatively low cost and the huge commitment of its community, but it is far from being the only option among mini computers. Over the years, several alternatives to Raspberry Pi have emerged that definitely deserve our attention, beyond some growing pains in terms of software and general availability. Would you like to know them?
Now, why ignore the Raspberry Pi? After all, it is easy-to-find hardware and the current support is gigantic. But beyond those advantages, the Raspberry Pi is not perfect. There are projects that require performance superior to what we find in the mini computer, or on the contrary, need a solution so compact that even the Raspberry Pi Zero is not suitable (let's say, IoT). While it is true that many companies decided to apply the 'me too' strategy and launched products just to steal a piece of the pie, at the same time we must recognize that some alternatives to Raspberry Pi are very attractive.
The best alternatives to Raspberry Pi
If the first thing that comes to mind is Arduino, well... you are not wrong. The Arduino ecosystem in general can take on roles that the Raspberry Pi did not fully adapt to, but it is too obvious a shortcut. What we will see next is a list of platforms that move away from the microcontroller concept, fitting much better into the mini computer category:
Banana Pi M64
Four cores at 1.2 GHz, 2 GB of DDR3 RAM, 8 GB solid state storage, WiFi, Bluetooth, gigabit Ethernet, physical reset and power buttons, camera and display connectors, HDMI output, and a standard power connector make up the Banana Pi M64, one of the most striking alternatives to Raspberry Pi. The number of available operating systems is limited, but anything meant for the Allwinner A64 should work.
ROCK64
The Pine64 series is one of the most popular on the market, and within it we must highlight the ROCK64. Presented as a 'mini media computer', the ROCK64 is available in 1, 2, and 4 GB of RAM, uses a quad-core RK3328 SoC at 1.5 GHz, and includes a USB 3.0 port ideal for connecting external storage drives. It supports 4K playback, comes with an infrared sensor, and three physical buttons (Power, Reset, Recovery). It requires a 3A power supply.
Orange Pi Zero
If your project doesn't demand that much RAM and one or two USB ports are enough, you can opt for the Orange Pi Zero. An advantage it has over the rest is its antenna, which we can disconnect and replace easily. The official page published several compatible images, with copies of Ubuntu Core and Android 7.0. If you need to expand the natural capabilities of the Orange Pi Zero, there is a small module with additional USB ports and analog audio-video output.
VoCore2
A Linux micro computer as small as a coin. That is how the VoCore2 was presented, which begs for a chance to fulfill all your IoT projects. Its processor runs at 580 MHz, RAM amounts to 128 megabytes of DDR2, and internal storage does not exceed 16 MB, but a small header adds USB connectivity and a card reader. We also find integrated WiFi, and pins to solder an Ethernet port.
Asus Tinker Board
Mini computers from major brands tend to be ignored because you never really see a deep commitment, but if we have to think of an exception to the rule, it is the Asus Tinker Board. This mini computer is special due to the high quality of its audio output (a frequent weak point in other mini computers) , with support for 24-bit/192 kHz playback (96 kHz recording). Its quad-core chip at 1.8 GHz and 2 GB of RAM seal the deal.
ODROID XU4Q
A true beast among mini computers, the ODROID XU4 adopts a Samsung Exynos 5422 SoC, which translates into a total of eight cores at 2.0 and 1.5 GHz in a big.LITTLE configuration. The Q in its name symbolizes 'Quiet', and replaces the classic fan with a passive heatsink. It comes with 2 GB of LPDDR3 and two USB 3.0 ports. The only major demand of the ODROID XU4Q is its power supply. Those eight cores are hungry, and they need a minimum of 4A at 5V.
Omega2 Plus
Using the Omega2 Plus on its own is very complicated, and I immediately recommend purchasing the compatible Power Dock to avoid headaches. Once that is out of the way, the mini computer opens up a whole range of possibilities with its 580 MHz processor, 128 megabytes of RAM, and 32 megabytes of storage. WiFi reduces remote administration to a couple of clicks, and at just 20 grams, we can install it almost anywhere.
Intel NUC
'Lisandro, the NUC is not like the Raspberry Pi'. Granted, it has no GPIO or anything like that, but at the end of the day both are mini computers, and if you need pure performance plus access to the x86 architecture, honestly it's hard to go against an Intel NUC. Remember you must add both RAM and internal storage. This edition based on the quad-core Celeron J3455 accepts 2.5-inch drives, whether SSDs or mechanical disks.
And that's it for today. Do you have another mini computer to add to this list of alternatives to Raspberry Pi? Don't hesitate to leave a comment. Good luck!
