You’ve likely heard of Raspberry Pi, and maybe even Banana Pi, but what about Orange Pi?
Orange Pi is a series of single-board computers (SBCs), produced by Shenzhen Xunlong Software, that are designed for a variety of applications like the popular Raspberry Pi. These SBCs are compact, affordable, and feature-rich, making them suitable for DIY projects, development, and various computing tasks. So what exactly sets them apart for the rest of the Pi?
The differences
Whilst fundamentally the Pi range are similar, Orange Pi is notably different in certain areas:
- Hardware variations: Orange Pi offers a diverse range of models, each with different hardware specifications, catering to various needs and budgets. Some models may have more powerful processors, more RAM, or additional features compared to the Raspberry Pi. This diversity can be an advantage if you have specific hardware requirements.
- Processor architecture: Both Orange Pi and Raspberry Pi use ARM-based processors, but the specific processor models and capabilities can vary. Orange Pi boards may use Allwinner, Rockchip, or other ARM chipsets, while Raspberry Pi primarily uses Broadcom processors.
- Operating system support: Both Orange Pi and Raspberry Pi can run various Linux distributions, Android, and other operating systems. However, software compatibility and community support may differ between the two platforms. Raspberry Pi often benefits from a larger and more active user and developer community.
- GPIO pin compatibility: Orange Pi boards generally have GPIO (General-Purpose Input/Output) pins for hardware interfacing, similar to the Raspberry Pi. However, the pin layouts and numbering schemes may differ between the two platforms, making it necessary to adapt or modify hardware projects when switching between them.
- Price and availability: Orange Pi boards are often competitively priced, which can make them an attractive option for cost-conscious users. However, Raspberry Pi models are widely available and have a strong global presence, which can make them more accessible in terms of availability and support.
- Software ecosystem: Raspberry Pi has a well-established and extensive software ecosystem, including a wide range of officially supported accessories, add-ons, and third-party software packages. The Orange Pi ecosystem may not be as mature or extensive, which can affect software and hardware compatibility, but that isn’t to say it is stagnant or limited.
How does it stack up to the Raspberry Pi range?
The Raspberry Pi is always the benchmark for SBCs and with the upcoming release of the Raspberry Pi 5 on the horizon, how does the Orange Pi hold up? The short answer is quite well!
The Orange Pi 5 is something of a beast statistically and even when compared to early tests of the upcoming Raspberry Pi 5 model it stands out as one of the most powerful and efficient SBCs on the market. All of this in a product that is very reasonably priced.
However, there are some alternative considerations to be made, as things stand currently there is far more support and a larger community around the Raspberry Pi – especially in regard to its open ecosystem and open source support as well as seeing heavier sponsorship from within the industry.
Despite this, with the somewhat lacklustre specifications of the ‘cutting-edge’ of Raspberry Pi, it can be expected that the growth of alternatives will only continue, especially including the likes of Orange Pi.
As it stands, Orange Pi looks to be a great option for those currently looking for a board to tinker with and work on projects, but always do research into which boards are best suited to your need case. With the rise of AI, and Orange Pi being well-suited for demanding AI applications, it is continuing to become a great option with a significant level of futureproofing about it. The Orange Pi 5 is also in a class of its own when it comes to running graphics-intensive tasks, something other SBCs can be found to struggle with – even being able to playback 8K video content. New expanded memory models are also on the horizon for even larger projects out there, albeit with a larger price tag attached.
