The world of single-board computers (SBCs) has exploded in popularity in recent years, with the Raspberry Pi leading the charge as the most well-known and widely used option. However, competitors like the Orange Pi series have emerged to challenge the Raspberry Pi‘s dominance with impressive specs and features of their own.
With the upcoming release of the highly-anticipated Raspberry Pi 5 and the already available Orange Pi 5, makers and DIY enthusiasts have two very compelling SBC options to choose from for their projects. In this in-depth comparison, we‘ll take a detailed look at how these two boards stack up in terms of performance, features, software support, and overall value to help you decide which one is the best fit for your needs.
Tale of the Tape: Raspberry Pi 5 vs Orange Pi 5 Specs Comparison
First, let‘s see how the Raspberry Pi 5 and Orange Pi 5 compare in terms of their key technical specifications:
| Raspberry Pi 5 | Orange Pi 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 @ 2.0GHz | Octa-core Rockchip RK3588S (4x Cortex-A76 + 4x Cortex-A55) @ up to 2.4GHz |
| GPU | VideoCore VII | Mali G610 |
| Memory | 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB LPDDR4X | 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | MicroSD, USB, PCI-E | eMMC module, MicroSD, 2x SATA 3.0, M.2 NVMe SSD |
| Video Output | 2x micro HDMI 2.0 (up to 4Kp60) | 1x HDMI 2.1 (up to 8Kp60), 1x HDMI 2.0 (up to 4Kp60) |
| Connectivity | 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 | 1x USB 3.1 Gen 2, 1x USB 3.0, 3x USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| GPIO | 40-pin | 26-pin (expandable to 40-pin) |
| Power | 5V/3A via USB-C | 5V/4A via DC jack |
| Dimensions | 88 x 58 x 19.5 mm | 118 x 66 x 14 mm |
| Price | $35-$75 (estimated) | $79-$299 |
As you can see, the Orange Pi 5 boasts a more powerful 8-core processor, higher maximum RAM capacity, faster Wi-Fi 6 and USB 3.1 connectivity, and built-in SATA and NVMe SSD storage options compared to the Raspberry Pi 5‘s specs. However, the Raspberry Pi 5 counters with dual micro HDMI outputs, a standard 40-pin GPIO header, and a more compact form factor.
Performance Showdown
Based on their specs, the Orange Pi 5 should deliver notably higher CPU and graphics performance than the Raspberry Pi 5 thanks to its octa-core Rockchip RK3588S SoC and Mali G610 GPU. The RK3588S has four high-performance ARM Cortex-A76 cores that can reach 2.4GHz speeds along with four efficient Cortex-A55 cores.
In contrast, the Raspberry Pi 5 uses a quad-core Cortex-A76 CPU running at 2.0GHz. While still very capable, it lacks the additional A55 cores and slightly lower maximum clock speed of the Orange Pi‘s chip. The VideoCore VII GPU in the Pi 5 is no slouch, but it likely won‘t match the newer Mali G610 in the Orange Pi 5 for 3D graphics and video encoding tasks.
Real-world benchmarks comparing the two boards are limited since the Pi 5 isn‘t released yet. But if the performance of other RK3588S-powered devices is any indication, the Orange Pi 5 could achieve 30-50%+ higher scores than the Pi 5 in CPU-heavy workloads. Potential GPU performance deltas are harder to estimate without direct comparisons.
The Orange Pi 5 also supports up to 32GB of LPDDR4X RAM while the Raspberry Pi 5 tops out at 8GB. For memory-intensive applications, having 16GB or 32GB could provide a significant speed boost. But for most general use cases and even many demanding maker projects, 8GB should still be plenty and helps keep costs down.
Connectivity and Expansion
Connectivity is critical for interfacing SBCs with sensors, peripherals, add-on boards, and the outside world. The Raspberry Pi 5 and Orange Pi 5 are both well-equipped, just in slightly different ways.
The Pi 5 has a pair of micro HDMI 2.0 ports capable of driving two 4K displays at 60Hz. The Orange Pi 5 splits the difference with a single HDMI 2.1 port for up to 8K60 and a second HDMI 2.0 for 4K60 output. So the Orange Pi can handle higher resolution displays but fewer of them out of the box compared to the Pi.
In terms of USB, the Orange Pi 5 has a faster USB 3.1 Gen 2 port (10Gbps), a USB 3.0 port, and three USB 2.0 ports. The Raspberry Pi 5 instead provides two USB 3.0 ports and two USB 2.0 ports. So the Orange Pi gets the edge for USB speed while the Pi has one extra USB port total.
For network connectivity, both boards feature Gigabit Ethernet. But the Orange Pi 5 supports the newer Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard versus the Raspberry Pi 5‘s Wi-Fi 5 (801.11ac). Wi-Fi 6 allows for faster wireless speeds, lower latency, and better handling of congested environments.
Storage expansion is an area where the two boards diverge. The Raspberry Pi 5 relies on microSD cards, onboard USB ports, or add-on PCI-Express cards for storage. The Orange Pi 5 can also use microSD but additionally integrates an eMMC module socket, dual SATA 3.0 ports, and an M.2 slot for high-speed NVMe SSDs. This opens up more possibilities for higher-capacity and faster storage on the Orange Pi 5.
However, the Raspberry Pi 5 claws back some ground with its standard 40-pin GPIO header which maintains compatibility with the huge existing ecosystem of Raspberry Pi HATs and accessories. The Orange Pi 5 comes with a smaller 26-pin GPIO interface by default, limiting compatibility. But some Orange Pi 5 variants include an expansion board to reach 40 pins. Even then, full compatibility with all Raspberry Pi add-ons isn‘t guaranteed.
Operating System and Software
The Raspberry Pi series is known for its extensive software support, especially when it comes to Linux-based operating systems. The Pi 5 will work with the official Raspberry Pi OS (a Debian Linux derivative) as well as popular distros like Ubuntu, LibreELEC, Manjaro, and more. There‘s also a large library of pre-configured OS images available for specific use cases like media centers or retro game emulation.
The Orange Pi 5 is no slouch when it comes to OS support though. It‘s compatible with the Orange Pi team‘s bespoke Orange Pi OS, a Debian 11-based distro tailored for the board. Android 12 and vanilla Debian 11 are supported as well. There are also third-party efforts to get other OSes like Ubuntu and Manjaro running on the RK3588 platform.
However, the maturity, optimization, and breadth of operating systems, software packages, and documentation still favors the Raspberry Pi ecosystem at this point. The Raspberry Pi has simply been around longer and sold in much higher volumes, leading to a critical mass of software development and community support that the Orange Pi hasn‘t quite caught up to yet.
Ultimately, both the Raspberry Pi 5 and Orange Pi 5 offer solid OS compatibility and customization. But if you want the widest selection and most active development, especially from a single cohesive community, the Raspberry Pi remains the gold standard for now.
Perfect Projects
So which board is better suited for various maker projects and applications? Here are some categories and our picks:
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Home media center / set-top box: Both are very capable, but the Orange Pi 5‘s HDMI 2.1 port, faster CPU, and NVMe SSD support give it an edge for 8K or high bitrate 4K HDR content.
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Retro game emulation: The Raspberry Pi 5 gets the nod here due to superior optimized software packages like RetroPie and Lakka. Performance is good enough for most retro consoles.
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Desktop computer: A toss up depending on needs. The Orange Pi 5‘s higher CPU and memory ceiling are great for demanding multitasking. But the Raspberry Pi 5 has better driver and peripheral support.
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Network attached storage (NAS): The Orange Pi 5 is better thanks to its dual SATA ports and M.2 NVMe connectivity for higher storage bandwidth.
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robotics / IoT: The Raspberry Pi 5‘s standardized GPIO header and deep library of sensors, add-on boards, HATs, and sample projects make it easier to get up and running.
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AI / neural network acceleration: Orange Pi 5 for the win with its integrated Rockchip NPU that can deliver up to 6 TOPS of INT8 performance for AI workloads. The Pi 5 has no discrete AI acceleration.
Value and Verdict
With notably higher performance and connectivity specs, the Orange Pi 5 may seem like the clear choice over the Raspberry Pi 5 on paper. But it‘s not quite that simple.
The Raspberry Pi 5 will likely maintain the stellar affordability the series is known for, with prices estimated to span from $35 for the 1GB model up to $75 for the 8GB variant. The Orange Pi 5 starts at a higher $79 for 4GB and scales up to $299 for the top-end 32GB model.
For budget-constrained users, students, or projects that simply don‘t require cutting-edge horsepower, the Raspberry Pi 5 hits a sweet spot of performance and value. It‘s powerful enough for the vast majority of maker/DIY needs at a very accessible price.
The Orange Pi 5‘s higher costs are justified for users who can take advantage of its performance delta and advanced features like faster networking, SATA/NVMe storage, or the NPU. But not everyone will be able to leverage or even notice those upgrades for common use cases.
Beyond raw specs per dollar, the Raspberry Pi 5 also benefits tremendously from the robust development community and extensive documentation built up over many years. For new makers just starting out or anyone who might need troubleshooting help, having such a massive knowledge base to tap into is incredibly valuable.
Ultimately, the Raspberry Pi 5 gets our overall recommendation for most mainstream users looking for a well-rounded, affordable, and accessible SBC. Its performance is extremely solid and the software/community support is second to none.
However, power users or those with specialized needs in areas like storage, networking, memory, or AI should give the Orange Pi 5 a serious look. It packs premium features and expandability into a very capable package. As the Orange Pi community grows, the software and peripheral ecosystem will likely continue maturing as well.
You really can‘t go wrong with either of these SBC beasts. Consider your specific project requirements, budget, and expertise level to decide which board is the best fit for bringing your creations to life!
