Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Orange Pi VS Raspberry Pi

Compare Orange Pi VS Raspberry Pi and see what are their differences

Orange Pi logo Orange Pi

It’s an open-source single-board computer. It can run Android 4.

Raspberry Pi logo Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi is a tiny and affordable computer that you can use to learn programming through fun, practical projects. Join the global Raspberry Pi community.
  • Orange Pi Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-15
  • Raspberry Pi Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-28

Orange Pi features and specs

  • Affordability
    Orange Pi boards are generally less expensive than many other single-board computers, making them an economical choice for budget-conscious projects.
  • Variety of Models
    Orange Pi offers a wide range of models with various specifications and features, allowing users to choose a board that best suits their specific needs and performance requirements.
  • Open Source
    The Orange Pi platform embraces open-source principles, providing access to source code and schematics, which benefits developers looking to customize or understand their hardware deeply.
  • Decent Performance
    Many Orange Pi models come equipped with robust processors and adequate memory, offering reasonable computational power for different applications, such as media centers and home automation projects.
  • Connectivity Options
    Orange Pi boards often include a variety of I/O options, such as USB, HDMI, Ethernet, and GPIO pins, enabling versatile connectivity for peripherals and external components.

Possible disadvantages of Orange Pi

  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi has a smaller user community, which can result in less communal support, fewer tutorials, and limited third-party resources.
  • Software Compatibility
    Orange Pi boards may face issues with software compatibility, including less polished operating systems and drivers, which can lead to challenges in running some applications smoothly.
  • Inconsistent Documentation
    The documentation for Orange Pi can sometimes be incomplete or not well-maintained, making it difficult for users to find answers or troubleshoot problems effectively.
  • Overheating Concerns
    Certain Orange Pi models are prone to overheating under heavy load, necessitating additional cooling solutions to maintain optimal performance and prevent damage.
  • Build Quality Variability
    There can be variations in the build quality of Orange Pi boards compared to more established brands, which might affect the longevity and reliability of the hardware.

Raspberry Pi features and specs

  • Affordability
    Raspberry Pi devices are very cost-effective, typically priced between $5 to $75, making them accessible for a wide range of users.
  • Size and Portability
    The compact size of a Raspberry Pi makes it easy to integrate into various projects and conducive to portable applications.
  • Versatility
    Raspberry Pi can be used for a multitude of applications ranging from educational purposes to complex IoT projects, media centers, and more.
  • Community Support
    With a large and active community, extensive documentation, and numerous tutorials available, support is readily accessible for troubleshooting and project ideas.
  • Educational Tool
    Raspberry Pi is widely used in education for teaching programming, electronics, and computer science concepts in a hands-on manner.
  • Energy Efficiency
    The Raspberry Pi consumes relatively low power, which makes it an excellent choice for always-on applications and energy-conscious users.

Possible disadvantages of Raspberry Pi

  • Limited Performance
    Despite improvements in newer models, Raspberry Pi devices still have limitations in processing power compared to full-fledged computers, which can be a bottleneck for intensive applications.
  • Storage Constraints
    The usage of micro SD cards for storage can be a limitation in terms of both speed and capacity, compared to traditional hard drives or SSDs.
  • Peripheral Dependency
    To fully utilize a Raspberry Pi, additional peripherals like keyboards, mice, monitors, and power supplies are needed, which can complicate setups and add to the overall cost.
  • Connectivity Limitations
    Though equipped with various connectivity options, the number of USB ports and network interfaces may be limited, imposing restrictions on connected devices.
  • No Built-in Real-Time Clock
    Raspberry Pi lacks a built-in real-time clock (RTC), requiring an additional RTC module for applications that need to keep track of time when powered off.
  • Software Compatibility
    Certain software and applications are not optimized for the ARM architecture of the Raspberry Pi, potentially limiting the available software and compatibility with x86 applications.

Orange Pi videos

Orange Pi 3

More videos:

  • Review - #080 Orange Pi Zero: Better than the Raspberry Pi Zero? // Review
  • Review - Raspberry Pi 2 VS Orange Pi 2 VS BPi-M2

Raspberry Pi videos

Can a Raspberry Pi 4 be used as a Desktop PC - Full test and review

More videos:

  • Review - Raspberry Pi 4 8GB Review: Should you buy it?
  • Review - The Raspberry Pi 4 Is A Gaming Beast

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Orange Pi and Raspberry Pi)
Electronics
37 37%
63% 63
Operating Systems
50 50%
50% 50
Single Board Computer
100 100%
0% 0
Tech
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Raspberry Pi should be more popular than Orange Pi. It has been mentiond 23 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Orange Pi mentions (7)

  • Official Opi 5+ Ubuntu Jammy does bootloops on my desktop.
    Install a fresh copy of Ubuntu Jammy 1.0.8 from the official listing of downloads on the orangepi.org website. Source: over 1 year ago
  • thoughts on Orangepi 3B as a music player (feeding a dac)
    - how's the quality of the debian images offered by orangepi.org? Source: over 1 year ago
  • Orange Pi Zero 2 doesn't boot from SD card anymore.
    Is there a way to force the OPi Zero 2 to boot from a SD? Now it is only booting to the emmc:s crappy android that is worthless. I used to have Armbian for Octoprint on this board on a SD card but it kept shutting down without logging any reason and destroying the prints so I just put it in a drawer. Now after half a year I decided to see if I could run it with a Linux like Armbian, Ubuntu or Debian (tried them... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Request for "Orange Pi OS (Droid) Beta" (Chinese) Img File for NVMe on OP5
    I am asking that a kind soul who has a copy of the referenced file to please upload it (or multiple different revisions) and provide a link for me. The current version of the (English) beta img file for NVMe located on GDrive from orangepi.org is corrupted and I have tried 3 or 4 different methods to flash the img file onto an NVMe SSD, in either Ubuntu or Windows, but to no avail. I would greatly appreciate the... Source: over 2 years ago
  • OrangePi4 LTS in text only mode
    - Download boot image from orangepi.org. Source: over 2 years ago
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Raspberry Pi mentions (23)

  • INFJ wanting to gift an INTP for his birthday
    INTPs are often very good at tinkering and programming so anything from http://raspberrypi.org will be a winner! They’ve got every budget covered from tiny computers for $5 all the way up to the accessories which can be bought on the websites linked on there that’ll turn your pi into a robot or sensor kit or anything really. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Help getting my image working?
    The only thing I can get to boot on any of the 3 boards is the newest pi4 OS image on raspberrypi.org. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Help with 12 year old girl who would like to learn coding.
    Https://raspberrypi.org lots of FOSS tools and fun projects for beginners. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Please report scalpers and price-gougers
    Sure. Do what Adafruit, Sparkfun, Pihut, and the others linked from raspberrypi.org do. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton says that he expects the inventory situation to improve over time and to be completely resolved within 12 months.
    It seems disgusting when you open raspberrypi.org and be presented with slogans like "teach, learn, make" and pictures of kids learning and playing around with the boards when it was obvious what the priority was for the company (spoiler: not those kids in the pictures). Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Orange Pi and Raspberry Pi, you can also consider the following products

Odroid - The Odroid is a series of single-board computers and tablet computers created by Hardkernel Co.

MikroTik RouterOS - The main product of MikroTik is a Linux-based operating system known as MikroTik RouterOS.

Banana Pi - Banana Pi is a single-board computer made in China. It can run Android, Ubuntu and Debian.

Kano - The educational computer and coding kit for all ages

OLinuXino - Open Source Software and Open Source Hardware, low cost Linux Industrial grade single board...

esp32 - A very cheap small chip, compatible with Arduino.