Single Board Computers, or SBCs, have been around for quite some time now, and they keep on getting smaller and more powerful each year. They can be used for everything, whether it be workstations, portable PCs, or even science projects!
In this article, we’ll be focusing on a board on the smaller end of the spectrum: The Radxa Zero. But don’t be fooled by its size! The Radxa Zero is a powerful single-board computer with the same form factor as the Raspberry Pi Zero.
Despite its small size and low price point, the board is feature-packed with several options to choose from! Whether you’re using it for home automation, media streaming, or even as a mini desktop computer, the Radxa Zero is a great choice for those looking for a compact and affordable SBC. Now, let’s zero in on what makes this SBC such an interesting little machine!
Features
The Radxa Zero comes with a lot of amazing features that are hard to believe for its tiny size!
Amlogic 64-bit Quad-core Processor
The Amlogic S905Y2 64-bit quad-core processor is an exceptional feature of the Radxa Zero. The S905Y2 includes support for hardware acceleration of video decoding, which allows it to handle high-definition video playback with low power consumption – perfect for an SBC. It’s not common to see a processor of this tier on a board this small, which opens up a lot of project possibilities with this board.
Customization
A great advantage of the Radxa Zero is its customization. Before ordering the board, there’s a host of options to choose from, like storage, eMMC capacity, and more. This means it’s easy to order a board that’s just right for your projects without breaking the bank. The variations range from 512 MB of RAM with no eMMC to 4 GB of RAM with 128-GB eMMC.
Connectivity
The Radxa Zero offers a range of connectivity options, including two USB 2.0 Type-C ports, a USB 3.0 Type-C port, and an HDMI port that can support resolutions up to 4K60. The USB Type-C port is a great modern future-proof addition to this board, as it will become more of the norm in the next few years. For those that have more technical aspirations for their projects, the GPIO pins will allow you to connect a wide range of motors and sensors.
eMMC
One of the main advantages of the eMMC on the Radxa Zero is its high storage density. It allows the board to pack a large amount of data into a small space, which is important when space is at a premium. The eMMC on the Radxa Zero is also relatively fast, with data transfer speeds of up to 400 Mbps. This is perfectly suited for use in applications such as running an operating system or streaming video.
Reviews
The Radxa Zero was launched on October 11, 2021, and has been highly praised by the SBC community for its amazing value ever since. For the same size as other boards with small form factors such as the Raspberry Pi Zero, it puts a lot more on the table.
Its customizability has scored the Radxa Zero some brownie points with hobbyists using the boards for niche projects. For instance, some have utilized the board for retro gaming, as it’s small enough to fit in a handheld device but can still run some pretty demanding games!
However, the Radxa Zero isn’t without its flaws. While the board does fit an impressive amount of specs on such a tiny form factor, individuals such as ExplainingComputers and many others have reported issues with software support. Downloading operating systems and images to boot from Radxa’s website has proved to be an irritating and difficult challenge for many.
While the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W is more popular than the Radxa Zero, it’s a lot harder to come by, which is what makes the Radxa a great alternative. However, less popularity comes with a cost, as you may have trouble finding help for issues you may be facing with the Radxa Zero. There’s an unofficial Reddit page that may be of use if you run into any problems.
Specs
So what are these impressive specs that we’ve been going on about? Take a look for yourself!
- Main processor: Amlogic S905Y2
- CPU: ARM Cortex-A53 CPU with unified L2 cache
- Memory: MicroSD card (MicroSD slot supports up to 128-GB MicroSD card)
- Built-in storage:
- On-board 8-GB eMMC (2-GB RAM model) or 16-GB/32-GB/64-GB/128-GB eMMC (4-GB RAM model)
- MicroSD card (MicroSD slot supports up to 128-GB card)
- Wireless connectivity: Standard 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0
- Ports and slots: 2 x USB 2.0 Type-C (OTG + Power Combo), USB 3.0 Type-C, HDMI 2.0 (4K60), GPIO pins
- Size: 66 mm x 30.5 mm
- Input voltage: 5 V
- Price: Varies between $15-85 depending on hardware options
Price
The price of the Radxa Zero will fluctuate based on the hardware options you pick. In this way, you can buy a board that fits your need and doesn’t break your wallet. You’ll be able to customize the storage and eMMC capacity, and after all is said and done, you’ll end up paying somewhere between $15 and $85.
As we mentioned earlier, the cheapest option is 512-MB of RAM with no eMMC. From there, the prices climb as you add more RAM and memory – all the way to 4 GB of RAM with 128-GB eMMC. All boards come with the same quad-core processor and connectivity, though.
Similar Devices
There are a few other SBCs similar in nature to the Radxa Zero. The following options all share the same form factor, but their uses and capabilities differ.
Raspberry Pi Zero 2W
The first and most well-known alternative is the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W. The Pi Zero boosted the popularity of tiny SBCs a few years ago, and its successor, the 2W, is over five times as powerful! It shares a lot of features with the Radxa Zero, like the quad-core processor and low price, but there’s less choice when it comes to options for RAM and other storage. Other than that, its use cases are similar to those of the Radxa, but it’s worth noting that the Pi boards have the largest SBC community out there. So, if you’re just starting off, this might be your best bet!
Banana Pi BPI M2 Zero
The Banana Pi BPI M2 Zero is a popular SBC that launched in 2019. It’s great for projects that require a decent amount of processing power but still need to be confined to a small area. An advantage that the Banana Pi has over the Radxa Zero is a CSI connector for compatible cameras, which is convenient if your project requires one.
MangoPi MQ Pro
The MangoPi MQ Pro is yet another SBC named after a fruit! It has a different processor, storage, and connectivity than the Raspberry Pi Zero and Radxa Zero. Instead of a quad-core CPU, the MQ Pro has a 1-GhZ single-core instead, which is appropriate for simple projects. Although it’s sub-par to the Radxa Zero and Raspberry Pi Zero series, it has become a popular alternative due to its more widespread availability.
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