The most effective Raspberry Pi options of 2023

For a lot of tasks, dedicating a whole PC to a undertaking is overkill. That is the place single-board computer systems come in useful.

The most effective-known single-board pc (SBC) is, definitely, the Raspberry Pi. It is identified worldwide for its versatility, low energy consumption, reliability, and ease of use.

When Raspberry Pi was first launched, it was tough to safe one. Now, nevertheless, there’s a huge number of Raspberry Pi choices — in addition to options to the single-board pc (SBC).

Options to the Raspberry Pi can be utilized to customise distinctive tasks, whether or not you need extra efficiency, AI, VR help, a board rated for industrial use, or one appropriate for programming and academic merchandise. Possibly you merely need one thing smaller than the Raspberry Pi! And given there will not be a brand new model of Raspberry Pi launched in 2023, now is a good time to strive one thing new.

We have analyzed single-board computer systems based mostly on processor kind, graphics, RAM, and velocity to seek out the most effective Raspberry Pi options in the marketplace. This information to single-board computer systems may also help you discover the best choice on your price range and desires.

Additionally: The most effective cooler for Raspberry Pi energy customers

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Shade-coded GPIO for ease of use
Filled with options
Nice end

This board has numerous good options that make it very best for hobbyists. We notably admire the color-coded GPIO header, which makes it simple to acknowledge respective pin headers. Plus, the detailed silk-screen print on the face of the board makes it clear the place all the things goes.

The Asus Tinker Board options a wonderful processor, and the 16GB eMMC velocity provides sufficient energy for many tasks. There may be additionally HD & UHD (4K) video help and numerous ports, together with LAN and USB.

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Nice worth
Stable performer
Nicely-made with nice documentation

This Libre Laptop Board is a strong single-board pc at a worth level that will not break the financial institution. In case you’re considering making an attempt out an SBC for the primary and do not wish to make investments too closely, this can be a nice choice for you.

Plus, it provides countless storage enlargement through MicroSD playing cards, which is nice in the event you use it closely. You are not going to be breaking any velocity data, however this board provides an ideal set of options.

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Numerous {hardware} choices
Highly effective
Superior choices corresponding to Petitboot

Cons

Expensive
Extra sophisticated than an everyday SBC

Odroid N2+ tech specs: Processor: Amlogic S922X — 4x Cortex-A73 @ 2.2GHz, 2x Cortex-A53 @ 1.9GHz | Graphics: Mali-G52 GPU | RAM: 2GB or 4GB DDR4 | Interface: eMMC socket with non-compulsory 8GB to 128GB | Options: 8MB SPI flash with boot choose swap and Petitboot app | Ports: Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI 2.1 port for as much as [email protected] | Connectivity: 4x USB 3.0 ports

Highly effective but energy-efficient, the Odriod N2+ could be ZDNET writer Adrian Kingsley-Hughes’ first alternative if he needed to interchange his desktop pc with a single-board pc.

This SBC is nice for superior customers who need extra energy than an everyday SBC. It provides wonderful connectivity, and it is able to operating the Petitboot app. Plus, it could possibly run numerous variations of Linux, together with the most recent Ubuntu, and it is also appropriate with AndroidOS.

Additionally: How you can set up Linux in your Raspberry Pi

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Glorious efficiency
Designed for big workloads
Fast speeds

Cons

Expensive
Overkill for many duties

Udoo Bolt V3 tech specs: Processor: AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202b twin core/quad thread @ 2.3ghz (3.2ghz Enhance) | Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 3 | RAM: 2x DDR4 dual-channel 64-bit SO-DIMM Sockets With ECC Assist as much as 32GB | Pace: 32GB eMMC 5.0 Excessive Pace Drive

There’s not a lot that the Udoo Bolt V3 cannot deal with, regardless of beginning off as a Kickstarter undertaking again within the day (a realm the place many tasks fail). It is extremely quick and nice to be used in VR, AR, and AI tasks, sporting a Ryzen processor and Vega graphics. If you might want to load huge recordsdata shortly and successfully, the Udoo Bolt V3 won’t disappoint.

The 32GB eMMC velocity is unmatched by another board we advocate. However at $437, it is fairly costly.

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Upgradable RAM
Sturdy video processing capabilities

Orange Pi 5 tech specs: Processor: Rockchip RK3588S 8-Core 64-Bit (4xCortex-A76 and 4xCortex-A55) as much as 2.4GHz | Graphics: Arm Mali-G610 MP4 “Odin” | RAM: LPDDR4/4x as much as 32GB | AI accelerator NPU | Video: as much as 8K @60Hz | 3D/2D picture acceleration module | helps open supply

The Orange Pi 5 board is a good Raspberry PI different in the event you’re in search of a board appropriate for media functions.

Whereas costly, the Orange Pi 5 does pack a punch — sporting a Rockchip RK3588S 8-core (64-bit) CPU, an Arm Odin GPU, 8GB RAM (upgradable to 32GB), DisplayPort compatibility, and a video output HDMI connector at as much as 8K with a 60Hz refresh price.

The Asus Tinker Board S R2.0 is ZDNET’s prime choose general. I’ve damaged down every Raspberry Pi different beneath based mostly on processor, storage, and velocity. If one in all these qualities is a precedence for you, this evaluation might allow you to select the most effective single-board pc for you.

Greatest Raspberry Pi different	Processor	Storage	Pace
Asus Tinker Board S R2.0	Rockchip Quad-Core RK3288 1.8GHz	2GB LPDDR3 dual-channel, 16GB eMMC	16GB eMMC high-speed drives, overclocking velocity of as much as 3.6 GHz
Libre Laptop Board AML-S905X-CC (Le Potato)	Amlogic S905X SoC	As much as 2GB DDR3 SDRAM	100Mb Quick Ethernet
Odroid N2+	Amlogic S922X — 4x Cortex-A73 @ 2.2GHz, 2x Cortex-A53 @ 1.9GHz	2GB or 4GB DDR4	2.4Ghz with Gigabit Ethernet Port
Udoo Bolt V3	AMD Ryzen Embedded V1202b twin core/quad thread @ 2.3ghz (3.2ghz Enhance)	2x DDR4 dual-channel 64-bit SO-DIMM Sockets With ECC Assist as much as 32GB	32GB eMMC 5.0 Excessive Pace Drive
Orange Pi 5	Rockchip RK3588S 8-core (4-core A76 and 4-core A55) 64-bit, as much as 2.4GHz	As much as 32GB LPDDR4 RAM, QSPI Nor FLASH 16MB / MicroSD (TF)	10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet

Generally you simply have to get on with a undertaking, so you purchase an inexpensive single-board pc. However if you wish to put money into higher {hardware}, you wish to just be sure you’re not throwing cash away. To seek out the most effective SBC for you, I recommend beginning with a transparent concept of the tasks you may use it for. This may be the onerous half, but it surely’s definitely worth the time. In case you confuse your use function, you could get derailed partway by the undertaking leading to a large setback that prices money and time.

Subsequent, perform some research. How a lot energy and efficiency do you want? What working system do you might want to use? This SBC information provides the most effective Raspberry options, so yow will discover the board that matches your price range and desires.

Select this SBC…	If you need…
Asus Tinker Board S R2.0	The most effective different general. Whereas it has a worth level on the upper aspect, the Asus Tinker Board has all the things you want for a wide range of tasks.
Libre Laptop Board AML-2905X-CC (Le Potato)	A price range choice for hobbyists and lovers. This Libre mannequin is a good Raspberry Pi different for individuals who wish to find out about SBCs with out spending a fortune.
Odroid N2+	A spread of {hardware} choices. The Odroid N2+ is a prime performer that one in all our personal authors would choose as a desktop PC alternative.
Udoo Bolt V3	A high-end SBC with the form of efficiency you’d anticipate from a desktop pc. It is costly, however the velocity and help for VR, AR, and AI tasks might make it value it.
Orange Pi 5	A single board pc arrange for video, media, and AI help. The Orange Pi 5 helps as much as 8K video processing at 60 fps.

The Raspberry Pi is a good piece of {hardware}, but it surely’s been constructed inside particular constraints that allow mass enchantment. These SBCs take what the Raspberry Pi dropped at the desk additional with options that help you customise your expertise.

Our checklist consists of choices personally examined by ZDNET authors and highly-recommended merchandise based mostly on buyer evaluations and suggestions.

The Raspberry Pi remains to be the most effective place to start out if you wish to get expertise with a single-board pc.

Additionally: Struggling to purchase a Raspberry Pi? It might turn out to be rather a lot simpler

These options are an ideal subsequent step if you wish to increase your SBC data. The Raspberry Pi is a good device for familiarizing your self with the setup and GPIO pins. You may work by the fundamentals from there!

There are numerous choices. You’ll find quite a lot of generic circumstances on the market to guard your Raspberry Pi or different SBC, and I like to recommend getting one. In spite of everything, in the event you’re investing in an SBC, it’s best to shield it.

Additionally, in the event you can drive a 3D printer, you then’ll have an countless provide of them!

You may attempt to waterproof the case through the use of seals or silicone grease. You can additionally spray the board with conformal coating to withstand moisture.

However past these steps, there isn’t any method to make them fully waterproof.

We selected a wide range of Raspberry Pi options based mostly on efficiency, {hardware} choices, and pricing. If these do not give you the results you want, listed here are some appropriate options: