The FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6, Raspberry Pi 5, and Radxa X4 each offer unique strengths tailored toward specific computing needs, distinguishing themselves primarily through their processor architectures, connectivity, and expansion capabilities. The NanoPC-T6, powered by Rockchip's RK3588 SoC, presents an impressive 8-core ARM architecture with advanced GPU capabilities (Mali-G610 MP4), positioning it as a robust option for multimedia applications, AI/ML workloads, and advanced embedded projects. It notably supports dual 2.5 GbE ports, an HDMI input (rare among SBCs), and high-speed NVMe storage through an M.2 PCIe interface, setting it apart for use cases involving networking or real-time video processing.
In comparison, the Raspberry Pi 5 maintains its strong appeal through broad ecosystem support, compact design, and balanced performance. Featuring the Broadcom BCM2712 quad-core Cortex-A76 processor and VideoCore VII GPU, the Raspberry Pi 5 delivers substantial improvements in CPU and graphics performance compared to its predecessors. It emphasizes versatility through native support for dual 4K displays, extensive community-backed Linux distributions (primarily Raspberry Pi OS and Ubuntu), and integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. However, the absence of onboard high-speed NVMe storage (without an adapter) and limited Ethernet speed (Gigabit Ethernet only) may be constraints when compared directly to boards like the NanoPC-T6.
The Radxa X4 differentiates itself significantly through its use of an Intel Processor N100 (Alder Lake-N architecture), bringing the full power of x86-64 compatibility to the SBC form factor. This allows for direct support of mainstream desktop Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and even Windows 10/11, offering extensive software compatibility and versatility for desktop-like applications. Additionally, it provides modern connectivity options, including a 2.5 GbE Ethernet port and built-in Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 modules (configuration-dependent), making it well-suited for networking applications, desktop replacements, and edge-computing tasks. It also features a PCIe 3.0 M.2 NVMe storage interface, enhancing its appeal as a powerful yet compact computing platform.
Ultimately, the choice between these single-board computers hinges on specific project requirements and software compatibility. The NanoPC-T6 excels in multimedia-heavy, networking, and embedded AI applications; the Raspberry Pi 5 offers unparalleled community support, ecosystem maturity, and balanced versatility; while the Radxa X4 uniquely combines desktop-class x86-64 compatibility, modern connectivity, and robust performance for tasks traditionally reserved for larger computing solutions.
Technical Comparison of FriendlyElec NanoPC‑T6, Raspberry Pi 5, and Radxa X4
Below we compare the FriendlyElec NanoPC‑T6, Raspberry Pi 5, and Radxa X4 single-board computers. Each table lists the key specifications and features for one board, allowing easy side-by-side comparison of processor, GPU, memory, storage, connectivity, display/camera interfaces, USB, power, dimensions, and supported Linux distributions.
FriendlyElec NanoPC‑T6
| Feature | FriendlyElec NanoPC‑T6 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Rockchip RK3588 SoC – 8-core (4× Arm Cortex-A76 @ up to 2.4 GHz + 4× Cortex-A55 @ up to 1.8 GHz) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi |
| GPU | Arm Mali-G610 MP4 (supports OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.2, Vulkan 1.2) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB, 8 GB, or 16 GB LPDDR4X @ 2133 MHz (64-bit bus) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi |
| Storage Interfaces | Onboard eMMC flash (optional 32 GB, 64 GB, or 256 GB) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi; microSD slot (UHS-I, SDR104 mode) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi; M.2 M-key slot (PCIe 3.0 ×4) for NVMe SSDs NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi. (Also includes 32 MB SPI NOR flash) |
| Connectivity (Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, BT) | 2 × 2.5 GbE (RJ45) Ethernet ports NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi; Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth not on-board (supported via M.2 E-key module – PCIe 2.1 ×1 + USB 2.0) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi. |
| Display & Camera Interfaces | 2 × HDMI 2.1 outputs (one up to 8K@60 Hz, one up to 4K@60 Hz) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi; 1 × HDMI input (up to 4K@60 Hz) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi; 2 × MIPI-DSI (4-lane each) for displays NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi; 2 × MIPI-CSI camera connectors (4-lane each) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi. |
| USB Ports | 1 × USB 3.0 Type-A, 2 × USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 × USB Type-C (USB 3.0 data + DisplayPort ALT mode for video) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi. |
| Power Supply | 12 V DC input (5.5 mm × 2.1 mm barrel jack or 2-pin connector), ~4 A adapter recommended NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi. |
| Physical Dimensions | 110 mm × 80 mm (PCB size) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi (8-layer PCB; optional metal case available). |
| Compatible Linux OS | FriendlyWrt (OpenWrt-based) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi; Debian/Ubuntu-based FriendlyCore & FriendlyDesktop (Ubuntu 20.04/22.04) NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi; OpenMediaVault NAS OS NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi; also Android 12 (Tablet/TV) support. |
Raspberry Pi 5
| Feature | Raspberry Pi 5 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Broadcom BCM2712 – 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz (512 KB L2 cache per core, 2 MB shared L3) . |
| GPU | Broadcom VideoCore VII (operates at ~800 MHz [Raspberry Pi 5 Review: A New Standard for Makers (Updated) |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, or 16 GB LPDDR4X-4267 SDRAM (various models) . |
| Storage Interfaces | microSD card slot (supports UHS-I SDR104 mode, ~104 MB/s) ; PCIe 2.0 ×1 interface (exposed via GPIO expansion bus, requires an adapter/HAT for M.2 NVMe) . (No onboard eMMC storage.) |
| Connectivity (Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, BT) | 1 × Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps, PoE+ via add-on HAT) ; On-board dual-band 802.11ac Wi‑Fi (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.0 BLE wireless connectivity . |
| Display & Camera Interfaces | 2 × Micro-HDMI outputs (each up to 4K@60 Hz with HDR support) ; 2 × 4-lane MIPI connectors that can be used for camera (CSI-2) or display (DSI) interfaces (supporting up to two cameras or displays in any combination) . (No analog AV jack on Pi 5.) |
| USB Ports | 2 × USB 3.0 Type-A (5 Gbps) and 2 × USB 2.0 Type-A ports . |
| Power Supply | 5 V DC via USB-C (up to 5 A with USB-C Power Delivery support) . |
| Physical Dimensions | ~85 mm × 56 mm (standard Raspberry Pi Model B footprint) [Raspberry Pi 5 Review: A New Standard for Makers (Updated) |
| Compatible Linux OS | Raspberry Pi OS (official Debian-based distro) Raspberry Pi - Wikipedia; also supports Ubuntu (official image) Raspberry Pi - Wikipedia, LibreELEC (media center), and many other Linux distributions optimized for Raspberry Pi Raspberry Pi - Wikipedia. |
Radxa X4
| Feature | Radxa X4 |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Processor N100 (Alder Lake-N, 4 cores/4 threads @ up to 3.4 GHz, 6 MB cache) Radxa X4. (x86_64 architecture) |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics (integrated GPU, up to 750 MHz max frequency Radxa X4; supports DirectX 12.1, OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 3.0) Radxa X4. |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB, 8 GB, 12 GB, or 16 GB LPDDR5 @ 4800 MT/s Radxa Docs Radxa X4 Review. |
| Storage Interfaces | M.2 M-key slot (PCIe 3.0 ×4, 2230 form factor) for NVMe SSD storage Radxa Docs Radxa X4 Review; optional onboard eMMC module (configuration-dependent) Radxa Docs. (No microSD slot.) |
| Connectivity (Ethernet, Wi‑Fi, BT) | 1 × 2.5 GbE Ethernet (RJ45, with PoE support via optional HAT) Radxa Docs; On-board Wi‑Fi (varies by model: either Wi-Fi 5 + BT 5.0, or Wi-Fi 6 + BT 5.2 module) Radxa Docs Radxa X4 Review. |
| Display & Camera Interfaces | 2 × Micro-HDMI outputs (up to 4K@60 Hz each) Radxa Docs. (No native MIPI CSI camera interface on the X4 — external USB camera support only.) |
| USB Ports | 3 × USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A (5 Gbps) and 1 × USB 2.0 Type-A ports Radxa Docs Radxa X4 Review. |
| Power Supply | USB Type-C PD input (supports 12 V @ ≥2.5 A, i.e. ~30 W) Radxa Docs Radxa X4 Review. |
| Physical Dimensions | 85 mm × 56 mm (credit-card size, same footprint as Raspberry Pi) Radxa Docs Radxa X4 Review. |
| Compatible Linux OS | Supports standard x86-64 operating systems: e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora Linux, etc. (as well as Windows 10/11 and *BSD) [Installing the Operating System |
Sources: Official product documentation and specifications from FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi, Raspberry Pi Ltd , and Radxa Radxa Docs Radxa Docs, as well as community and vendor resources for confirmation of details NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi Radxa X4 Review. Each board supports multiple Linux distributions as noted, with Raspberry Pi 5 focusing on Raspberry Pi OS and Ubuntu, the NanoPC-T6 offering custom FriendlyElec images (Ubuntu/Debian based, OpenWrt, etc.), and the Radxa X4 able to run mainstream PC Linux distros (thanks to its x86_64 Intel CPU). All three boards provide high-performance CPUs and a range of expansion interfaces, but they differ in architecture (Arm vs x86), GPU capabilities, and I/O (e.g. NanoPC-T6 offers 8K display and an HDMI input, Radxa X4 includes an onboard RP2040 microcontroller for GPIO, and Raspberry Pi 5 introduces PCIe and an improved camera/display interface). NanoPC-T6 - FriendlyELEC WiKi Each is suitable for different use cases, and their robust OS support ensures flexibility for various applications.