Raspberry Pi alternatives: The most recent boards available to buy

La Frite

What it offers

The $15 La Frite comes close to matching the $35 Pi 3 B+ in some key respects, using the same underlying Arm-based CPU and even offering faster DDR4 memory.

On paper, the La Frite also promises comparable video playback performance to the Pi 3 B+, can output to 1080p displays via HDMI 1.4, and offers two USB 2.0 ports.

As you'd expect there are various cutbacks. The board is missing the Pi 3 B+'s Wi-Fi support, offers a slightly slower wired Ethernet connection, and has a slightly slower processor.

Specs

CPU: Quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex A53 CPU @ 1.2GHz

GPU: Mali-450

Memory: 512MB / 1GB DDR4 @ 2400MHz

Display: HDMI 1.4 with 1080P output

Connectivity: 100MB Ethernet

Ports: USB 2.0 host, USB 2.0 OTG

Misc: IR sensor, 128Mb SPI NOR

Where to buy

The board is available to buy here for $15.

SEE: Inside the Raspberry Pi: The story of the $35 computer that changed the world (TechRepublic cover story)

Image: Libre Computer Project

NanoPi NEO4

What it offers

The cheapest six-core single-board computer to be released, boasting relatively modern features like USB 3.0 and support for 4K displays.

But there's a catch, the board may only cost $45, only $10 more than the Raspberry Pi 3 B+, but it only comes with 1GB of memory, has slower Wi-Fi, and fewer Type-A USB ports.

If you can work within limitations of the memory, the board also supports reasonably fast data transfer via its USB 3.0 and Gigabit Ethernet ports, as well as one USB 2.0 Type-C port. Additionally, there's potential for adding fast SSD storage via a PCIe x2 interface and 4K video out via HDMI 2.0.

Specs

Where to buy

Available here for $45.

Image: FriendlyElec

NanoPi M4

What it offers

The NanoPi M4 is almost double the price the $35 Raspberry Pi but ups its specs across the board.

Notable features include four USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C port, 2GB DDR3 memory, a six-core processor, support for 4K displays and hardware-accelerated 4K video playback, and 64 general-purpose input-output (GPIO) pins for hooking up hardware. It also includes an interface that supports two 13-megapixel cameras.

While the Pi supports a far wider range of operating systems, the NanoPi M4 is listed as supporting Android 7.1, alongside Ubuntu 18.04 Desktop and Ubuntu Core.

It's worth noting that some users of recent NanoPi boards have also encountered driver problems and system setup issues, so this board and the NEO4 may be for the more technically proficient.

Specs

Where to buy

Available to buy here for $65.

Image: FriendlyElec

LattePanda Alpha

What it offers

Not a Pi competitor, but the $358 LattePanda Alpha does use the same class of Intel processor as found in the $1,200 12-inch MacBook.

The board's high price buys you PC-like specs, including 8GB of DDR3 memory and 64GB of fast eMMC v5.0 Flash storage, alongside Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C port, 4K video out and dual M.2 connectors that could be used for hooking up fast NVMe SSD storage.

The board is available with Windows 10 Pro, which pushes the price up to $398, as well as being compatible with a broad range of Linux-based operating systems. The Alpha also has 2 x 50-pin headers for hooking up hardware, as well as an Arduino Leonardo co-processor.

Specs

CPU：Intel 7th Gen Core m3-7y30

Core：1.6-2.6GHz Dual-Core，Four-Thread

Graphics：Intel HD Graphics 615, 300-900MHz

RAM：8GB LPDDR3 1866MHz Dual-Channel

Connectors: 1x M.2 M Key, PCIe 4x, supports NVMe SSD and SATA SSD. 1x M.2 E Key, PCIe 2x，supports USB2.0, UART, PCM

Connectivity： WIFI 802.11 AC, 2.4G & 5G Dual Band. Bluetooth 4.2. Gigabyte Ethernet

USB Ports： 3x USB 3.0 Type A. 1x USB Type C, supports PD, DP, USB 3.0

Display： HDMI Output Type-C DP Support Extendable eDP touch displays

Co-processor：Arduino Leonardo

GPIO & other features：2x 50 GPIOs including I2C, I2S, USB, RS232, UART, RTC. Power Management. Extendable power button

OS：Windows 10 Pro, various Linux

Where to buy

Available here from $358.

Image: LattePanda

Odroid-H2

What it offers

With specs more akin to a low-end PC, the Odroid-H2 will almost certainly cost more than the $35 Raspberry Pi 3 B+.

As an x86 Intel Celeron based board it can run a wider range of Linux-based operating systems than a typical Arm-based, single-board computer.

Its specs stand out from the crowd too, with the ability to add fast SSD storage via its 4 x PCIe 2.0 NMVe interface and SATA 3.0 ports, and support for up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM. Additionally, there is fast network connectivity via the two gigabit Ethernet ports, although no mention of Wi-Fi support. However, while Odroid boards have a good reputation for software support, this board doesn't appear to be targeting hardware hackers, with only a 20-pin expansion header.

The board's 2.3GHz Intel J4105 processor -- a "Gemini Lake" system-on-a-chip dating from 2017 -- is also faster than the Arm Cortex A53 / A72-based CPUs found in recent SBCs.

Specs

CPU: 2.3Ghz Quad-core processor J4105 (14nm) with 4MiB cache.

Memory: Dual-channel Memory DDR4-PC19200 (2400MT/s), support for up to 32GB RAM with two SO-DIMM slots.

Expansion: 4 x PCIe 2.0 for one NVMe storage, 2 x gigabit Ethernet ports, 2 x SATA 3.0.

GPU: Intel UHD Graphics (Gen9.5) 600 (GT1) 700Mhz. Support for SSE4.2 accelerator (SMM, FPU, NX, MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, AES).

Display: HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.2 multiple video output.

Where to buy

Hardkernel says the H2 will ship from late November for an unannounced price.

Image: Hardkernel