The Orange Pi 5B is a mini PC with Linux that mounts an 8-core Rockchip RK3588S (4x @2.4Ghz + 4x 1.8Ghz), and incorporates WiFi 6 and BLE 5.0 connectivity.
Orange Pi is known for, traditionally, providing development boards and mini PCs with Linux, as lower-cost alternatives to a Raspberry Pi 4. Although in recent times the price has increased, comparatively it has increased much less than the Raspberry Pi.
The Orange Pi 5B debuts as a successor to the Orange Pi 5 model, incorporating eMMC flash storage and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. The eMMC storage seems to be a very appreciated feature, as the robustness and speed compared to a micro SD is highly desirable.
It mounts a Rockchip RK3588S Octa Core processor, which is currently one of the best price-quality processors. This processor has 4 Cortex-A76 cores at 2.4 GHz + 4 Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. This configuration allows for high performance, combined with low power consumption.
In terms of memory, the Orange Pi 5B is available in different versions, which differ precisely in the available memory. We find models with 4/8/16GB of RAM and eMMC storage of 32/64/128/256GB.
As we can see, we are entering a range of specifications where talking about “micro pcs” starts to be incorrect. In reality, it is a fabulous machine.
Some of its features are as follows:
- CPU Rockchip RK3588S Octa Core with 4x Cortex-A76 at 2.4 GHz + 4x Cortex-A55 at 1.8 GHz.
- GPU Arm Mali-G610 MP4
- IA Accelerator 6 TOPS
- RAM 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB LPDDR4
- Storage – 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB eMMC flash, 16MB QSPI NOR Flash, MicroSD card slot, M.2 2242 socket for NVMe SSD
- HDMI 2.1 8Kp60, DisplayPort 1.4 8Kp30 through the USB-C port, and 2x 4-lane MIPI DSI 4Kp60
- Up to 3 cameras (1x 4-lane MIPI CSI, 2x MIPI DCPHY)
- ES8388 audio codec with 3.5mm jack for speaker and microphone
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ45
- Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
- 1x USB 3.0, 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Type-C, 2x USB 2.0
- 26-pin header expansion port with 17x GPIO, 3x UART, 6x PWM, 2x I2C, 2x CAN
- Power supply: 5V/4A through the USB-C port
- Dimensions: 100 x 62 mm
- Weight: 52 grams
In terms of performance, the Orange Pi 5B is capable of performing simple and complex tasks without issues. For comparison, the estimated performance is 3 to 4 times higher than that of a Raspberry Pi 4. In other words, it is a truly powerful machine.
Regarding software, we have images for Orange Pi OS (Android), Debian 11, Ubuntu 22.04, Ubuntu 20.04, and Android 12.
The price of the Orange Pi 5B:
- €89.90 for the 4GB RAM and 32GB eMMC flash model
- €115.00 for the 8GB RAM and 64GB eMMC flash model
- €149.00 for the 16GB RAM and 128GB eMMC flash model
- €169.00 for the 16GB RAM and 256GB eMMC flash model
When comparing it with the current price of Raspberry Pi and the specifications it has, it is quite interesting. Especially, in my opinion, the €115 model, if we are really able to find it at that price.
Finally, it is worth noting that, as is usually the case with these boards, the use is not as simple and “ready to use” as in the case of Raspberry Pi. In general, if you opt for one of these boards, it is advisable to have previous experience in the use of Linux, search for images, read forums, etc.