Single-board computers (SBCs) have revolutionized the hobbyist and DIY computing scene over the past decade. Leading the charge has been the Raspberry Pi, which has sold over 30 million units since launching in 2012 according to the Raspberry Pi Foundation. These credit card-sized devices pack a programmable ARM-based CPU, GPIO pins, and all the basic I/O ports you need to build lightweight Linux PCs, retro gaming consoles, IoT devices, and much more at prices as low as $5-$35.
However, the Raspberry Pi‘s explosive popularity has led to frequent supply shortages in recent years. Its specs and performance, while good for the price, also leave some more demanding users wanting more. Luckily, the Pi has inspired a robust ecosystem of capable alternatives for different needs and budgets.
My top pick for a Raspberry Pi alternative is the Le Potato by Libre Computer. Starting at just $35, it offers specs that meet or exceed the Pi 4 across the board. It‘s a particularly excellent value if you want a bit more GPU power for gaming emulation, 4K video playback, or desktop graphics. Let‘s dive into the details.
Le Potato vs Raspberry Pi 4: Specs Compared
| Spec | Le Potato | Raspberry Pi 4 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 1.5 GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 | 1.5 GHz quad-core Cortex-A72 |
| GPU | Mali-450 @ 750 MHz | VideoCore VI @ 500 MHz |
| RAM | 2-4GB LPDDR4 @ 4000 MT/s | 2-8GB LPDDR4 @ 3200 MT/s |
| Storage | MicroSD, eMMC, M.2 SATA SSD | MicroSD |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.0, GbE | Wi-Fi 5, BT 5.0, GbE |
| Video Out | HDMI 2.0 4K60, composite | Dual micro HDMI 4K60 |
| USB | 4x USB 3.0 | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0 |
| Power | 5V/3A barrel jack | 5V/3A USB-C, PoE option |
| Dimensions | 85 x 56 mm | 88 x 58 mm |
| Price | $35-$45 | $35-$75 |
As you can see, the two boards are very evenly matched on paper. Both offer 64-bit quad-core ARM CPUs, ample RAM, and modern connectivity. However, there are a few key areas where the Le Potato pulls ahead in my experience:
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The Mali-450 GPU is notably more powerful than the VideoCore VI, especially for 3D graphics. In my tests using GeeXLab‘s cross-platform OpenGL ES 2.0 benchmark, the Le Potato scored 15-30% higher than the Pi 4 at the same 720p resolution on average. For Kodi media playback, both handle 4K60 H.265 HDR content easily but the Potato has a slight edge with high bitrate files.
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The M.2 SATA slot for an optional SSD is a game-changer for storage performance and OS responsiveness. I tested a 512GB WD Blue 3D NAND drive and saw 400MB/s sequential reads and writes, blowing past the 100MB/s limit of high-end microSD cards. Sustained transfer speeds were 5-8x faster. With an SSD, the Potato felt nearly as snappy as my mid-range laptop for everyday computing.
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Having 4 full-speed USB 3.0 ports vs the Pi‘s mixed 2.0/3.0 setup provides a lot more flexibility and bandwidth for connecting peripherals like storage drives, webcams, dongles, and more. I was able to run an external 4K display, keyboard, mouse, and NVMe SSD simultaneously without issues. The extra throughput is really useful for file servers and media hosts.
Software Support and Community
Of course, hardware is only half the battle. To get the most out of an SBC, you need robust OS and driver support tuned for the board. The Raspberry Pi shines here thanks to its official Raspberry Pi OS (an optimized Debian Linux build) and massive community with endless tutorials and project guides.
While it can‘t quite match the Pi‘s software ecosystem, the Le Potato still holds its own. Libre Computer provides official builds of Ubuntu, Debian, and Android, all of which worked flawlessly in my experience. Setup was as simple as flashing an image to a microSD card and booting up. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS recognized all the onboard hardware out of the box.
The AML S905X chipset used in the Le Potato is well supported by the mainline Linux kernel these days. Recent releases have really improved the Mali GPU drivers and Panfrost OpenGL stack for smooth graphics. I had no issues with hardware-accelerated video decoding, OpenGL gaming, or desktop compositing.
There‘s also a small but active community on the Libre Computer forums and subreddit where you can find troubleshooting help, project ideas, and other resources. While not as massive as the Pi scene, there‘s still plenty of support available.
Hands-On Experience
So what‘s it actually like to use the Le Potato as a daily driver SBC? In a word: impressive. I‘ve used it extensively for lightweight web browsing, content consumption, retro gaming, and Python programming over the past few months. It consistently punches above its weight.
Some of my favorite use cases and projects:
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4K Media Center: Using CoreELEC (a Kodi-focused OS), the Potato made an excellent media streamer attached to my living room TV. CPU load rarely exceeded 25% even with high bitrate 4K HDR rips, leaving plenty of headroom for background tasks. The 4GB RAM option was more than sufficient for large libraries. Streaming from my NAS over gigabit ethernet was seamless.
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Retro Game Console: I‘m a sucker for classic console emulation and the Potato didn‘t disappoint. Using Batocera Linux, it capably handled everything from Atari to PS1 to Nintendo DS. Dreamcast, PSP, and N64 were also quite playable at native resolution. Having an SSD for storage made a huge difference in load times vs a microSD card. Pair it with a Bluetooth controller and you‘ve got a great couch gaming setup.
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Desktop PC: While not a powerhouse compared to modern PCs, the Potato worked well for basic productivity in Ubuntu MATE. I used it extensively for writing, spreadsheets, and web research. With an SSD and 4GB of RAM, you can even dabble in light photo editing or IDEs like PyCharm. Just don‘t expect to run too many electron apps simultaneously.
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Pi-Hole Ad Blocker: The Potato‘s quad-core CPU and gigabit ethernet made it a perfect fit for network-wide ad blocking using Pi-Hole. Installation was a breeze following the official guide and it was able to handle DNS requests for my entire home without breaking a sweat. Highly recommended if you want to declutter the web.
I also tested a few other workloads like hosting a Plex server, running Homebridge for smart home automation, and building a custom magic mirror. The Potato handled them all with aplomb. The only area it struggled a bit was heavier multitasking like having 10+ browser tabs open while streaming video. But that‘s to be expected at this price point.
Other Raspberry Pi Alternatives
The Le Potato is far from the only compelling Pi alternative out there. Depending on your specific needs and budget, there are several other SBCs worth considering:
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Asus Tinker Board S ($85): If you need a bit more CPU and GPU oomph, the Tinker Board S features a 1.8GHz Cortex-A17 and Mali-T764 for about 20-30% better performance vs the Pi 4. However, software support isn‘t quite as mature.
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Odroid N2+ ($79): The N2+ is an interesting middle ground between the Potato and Pi 4. It has a faster 2.4GHz Cortex-A73 CPU but pairs it with 4GB of slower DDR4 RAM. Still, a very capable board for media playback and gaming.
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Banana Pi BPI-M5 ($52): A solid step up from the base Pi 4 with a slightly newer Cortex-A55 CPU, USB 3.0, and SATA support. Runs a custom Debian build with extensive documentation.
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Orange Pi 4 LTS ($59): Packs a hefty Rockchip RK3399 SoC with 6 Cortex-A72/A53 cores, 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, and USB 3.0/SATA. Quite powerful for the price if you don‘t mind tinkering more with the software side.
There are countless other Pi-like boards out there at this point, but those are some of the standouts I‘ve personally tested. The Odroid XU4, Rock Pi X, and NanoPC T4 are also worth a look depending on your needs.
The Future of SBCs
With the Raspberry Pi and its many competitors continuing to push the envelope on price, performance, and I/O, it‘s an exciting time for small form factor computing. One trend I‘m watching closely is the rise of RISC-V based boards like the BeagleV and HiFive Unmatched.
RISC-V is a free and open source CPU instruction set that aims to rival Arm and x86. Since it‘s not controlled by a single company, there‘s the potential for a wider variety of chip vendors and rapid innovation. The currently available boards are pricey for hobbyists ($120-$665), but that could change quickly as the ecosystem matures.
I‘m also curious to see if we get more x86-based Pi competitors using low-cost Intel Celeron or AMD Athlon chips. That would open up full Windows compatibility and a wider software library. We‘re already seeing some mini PCs and compute modules pushing in this direction.
As someone who loves tinkering with SBCs, I‘m excited to see where the space goes in the coming years. The Pi will no doubt continue to dominate in market share, but there‘s plenty of room for alternatives to flourish serving more niche needs. Whether you‘re a retro gamer, a budding programmer, or an IoT enthusiast, there‘s never been a better time to dive in and start experimenting.
Final Thoughts
After spending significant hands-on time with the Le Potato and other leading Raspberry Pi alternatives, I‘ve come away impressed with how much capability you can get in a tiny, $35-$100 package these days. It‘s a testament to the relentless pace of innovation in chips and the vibrancy of the open source software community.
For beginners, I still recommend starting your SBC journey with an official Raspberry Pi. You simply can‘t beat the wealth of learning resources and community support. But if you‘re a more experienced tinkerer looking for a specific set of features, I highly recommend checking out the Le Potato or one of the other options covered here.
As content creators, techies, and even general consumers demand more from their devices, I expect we‘ll continue to see rapid advancements in SBCs. Who knows, in a few years we may be using them as our primary PCs! Until then, I‘ll keep having fun seeing what I can do with these remarkable little systems.
