The Raspberry Pi has been the go-to single-board computer (SBC) for hobbyists, students, and developers. But with supply shortages, rising prices, and ever-expanding needs, many people are now looking for Raspberry Pi alternatives. Luckily, there are several powerful and affordable boards that can replace (or even outperform) a Raspberry Pi.
In this article, I’ll walk you through 15 of the latest Raspberry Pi alternatives you should know in 2025. Whether you’re into DIY projects, media servers, robotics, or AI development, there’s something here for you.
1. ODROID-N2+
The ODROID-N2+ from Hardkernel is one of the most powerful single-board computers (SBCs) available today.
- CPU: Amlogic S922X (quad-core Cortex-A73 + dual-core Cortex-A53)
- RAM: 2GB / 4GB DDR4
- Storage: microSD or eMMC module
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet
- Pros: Excellent performance, great for multimedia and emulation
- Cons: Smaller community compared to Raspberry Pi
- Best For: Heavy computing tasks, retro gaming, 4K video playback
2. Rock Pi 4 Model C+
Rock Pi boards are designed as direct Raspberry Pi competitors, but with more raw power.
- CPU: Rockchip RK3399 (dual Cortex-A72 + quad Cortex-A53)
- RAM: 4GB / 8GB LPDDR4
- Storage: microSD, eMMC, NVMe SSD (M.2 slot)
- Connectivity: USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- Pros: NVMe SSD support, strong processing power
- Cons: Limited beginner tutorials
- Best For: AI projects, robotics, and data-heavy workloads
3. Asus Tinker Board 2S
Asus brings its PC expertise into the SBC world with the Tinker Board series.
- CPU: Rockchip RK3399
- RAM: 2GB / 4GB LPDDR4
- Storage: 16GB eMMC + microSD slot
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB 3.2, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
- Pros: Excellent multimedia support, reliable hardware
- Cons: Slightly more expensive
- Best For: Home automation, media projects, and makers
4. Banana Pi M5
Banana Pi boards have been around for years and are known as cost-effective SBCs.
- CPU: Amlogic S905X3 quad-core Cortex-A55
- RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
- Storage: microSD, eMMC, SATA support
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.1, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet
- Pros: Affordable and good expansion support
- Cons: Community support is not as large
- Best For: IoT projects, small servers, general Linux use
5. NanoPi M4V2
FriendlyELEC’s NanoPi series is compact yet powerful.
- CPU: Rockchip RK3399
- RAM: 4GB / 8GB DDR4
- Storage: microSD, NVMe SSD
- Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, GPIO pins
- Pros: Excellent for NAS and server projects
- Cons: Not widely available in all regions
- Best For: DIY servers, networking projects
6. BeagleBone Black
One of the earliest SBCs still actively used today, especially in industrial projects.
- CPU: AM335x 1GHz ARM Cortex-A8
- RAM: 512MB DDR3
- Storage: 4GB eMMC + microSD slot
- Connectivity: USB, HDMI, Ethernet, GPIO
- Pros: Reliable, great documentation for hardware projects
- Cons: Limited power compared to modern boards
- Best For: Robotics, hardware prototyping, embedded systems
7. Libre Computer Board (Le Potato)
Known as “Le Potato,” this board is built for affordability and Linux support.
- CPU: Amlogic S905X quad-core Cortex-A53
- RAM: 1GB / 2GB
- Storage: microSD
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.0, USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet
- Pros: Budget-friendly, supports Ubuntu, Debian, and more
- Cons: Lower RAM options
- Best For: Media streaming, lightweight Linux setups
8. Khadas VIM4
A premium SBC designed for high-end projects.
- CPU: Amlogic A311D2 (quad Cortex-A73 + dual Cortex-A53)
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: 32GB eMMC + microSD + NVMe SSD
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.1, USB-C, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
- Pros: Cutting-edge specs, 4K/8K video support
- Cons: Expensive
- Best For: AI development, 4K/8K multimedia, smart devices
9. PINE64 Quartz64 Model A
A strong open-source SBC alternative.
- CPU: Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Cortex-A55
- RAM: 2GB / 4GB / 8GB
- Storage: microSD, eMMC, SATA
- Connectivity: HDMI 2.0, USB 3.0, PCIe expansion
- Pros: Great open-source support, expandable storage
- Cons: Not as polished for beginners
- Best For: Developers, IoT, NAS systems
10. Orange Pi 5
One of the most powerful SBCs currently available.
- CPU: Rockchip RK3588S, octa-core
- RAM: 4GB / 8GB / 16GB / 32GB
- Storage: NVMe SSD, microSD
- Connectivity: USB 3.0, HDMI, Ethernet, Wi-Fi
- Pros: Desktop-level performance, excellent for AI and gaming
- Cons: Higher power consumption
- Best For: Gaming, AI development, desktop replacement
11. LattePanda 3 Delta
Different from ARM-based boards, this one uses an Intel CPU.
- CPU: Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4
- Storage: 64GB eMMC + M.2 SSD support
- Connectivity: USB-C, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6
- Pros: Can run Windows 10/11 as well as Linux
- Cons: Higher price than ARM-based SBCs
- Best For: Robotics, Windows/Linux hybrid projects
12. Udoo Bolt Gear
A beast in the SBC world—closer to a mini PC.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen Embedded V1605B (quad-core, 8 threads)
- RAM: Up to 32GB DDR4
- Storage: M.2 SSDs
- Connectivity: HDMI, USB 3.0, Ethernet
- Pros: Extremely powerful for professional use
- Cons: Very expensive
- Best For: Multimedia production, developers needing power
13. NVIDIA Jetson Nano Developer Kit
Focused on AI and machine learning projects.
- CPU: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A57
- GPU: 128-core Maxwell GPU
- RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
- Storage: microSD
- Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet, GPIO
- Pros: AI acceleration with GPU
- Cons: Not ideal for general desktop use
- Best For: AI, robotics, deep learning
14. Seeed Studio reComputer J2021
Built on NVIDIA Jetson Xavier NX, designed for edge AI.
- CPU: 6-core ARM v8.2 64-bit
- GPU: 384-core Volta GPU with 48 Tensor Cores
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4
- Storage: 16GB eMMC + NVMe SSD support
- Pros: Designed for advanced AI and robotics
- Cons: Expensive, niche use
- Best For: Smart cities, robotics, industrial AI projects
15. Intel NUC 11 Performance Kit
Not a typical SBC, but a small form factor PC often compared to Pi alternatives.
- CPU: Intel Core i3 / i5 / i7 options
- RAM: Up to 64GB DDR4
- Storage: NVMe SSDs
- Connectivity: HDMI, Thunderbolt, Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet
- Pros: Extremely powerful, runs Windows/Linux easily
- Cons: Expensive, bigger than SBCs
- Best For: Power users, home servers, virtualization
How to Choose the Right Raspberry Pi Alternative
Before picking a board, think about:
- Purpose → Is it for IoT, AI, or general computing?
- Budget → Some boards cost as low as $30, while others go over $300.
- Community Support → Raspberry Pi has the biggest community, so alternatives should have active forums.
- Performance Needs → For heavy projects like AI, go for Orange Pi 5 or Jetson boards.
Conclusion
Raspberry Pi is still an amazing board, but it’s not your only choice anymore. With so many alternatives like ODROID-N2+, Orange Pi 5, NVIDIA Jetson Nano, and LattePanda 3 Delta, you can pick one that perfectly matches your project’s needs.
Whether you want something affordable for DIY tinkering or a powerhouse for AI development, these 15 Raspberry Pi alternatives give you plenty of options in 2025.
