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The Orange Pi 5 series of boards brings a lot of high performance. While the Orange Pi 5 Plus is the big brother with huge amount of features, the Orange Pi 5 Pro is the Raspberry Pi like board that brings a lot of that performance, adds integrated wireless connectivity but removes the second M.2 that was used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Hardware
- Processor: Rockchip RK3588 8- core with 4 ARM Cortex-A55 and 4 ARM Cortex-A76 up to 2.4GHz
- Memory: 4GB/8GB/16GB LPDDR4/4x
- Storage: SD card slot, M.2 M-Key NVME PCIE x4
- Graphics: ARM Mali-G610
- Connectivity: 1Gb Ethernet with PoE+ support, Wi-Fi 5 with Bluetooth 5.0
- Wireless Connectivity: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac 1T1R
- Neural Processing: 6TOPS
- USB Ports: 1x USB 3.0 Ports and 3x USB 2.0, HDMI In and 2x HDMI Out, 1x USB 3.0 Type-C
- Power Input: USB-C
- GPIO: Standard 40-pin GPIO header
Software
Software is a critical part of building a solution, and finding the right OS to run on the Orange Pi will be the next step after you purchase one. Orange Pi OS is the officially supported open source operating system for the Orange Pi 5 Pro. Our experience with Orange Pi OS is hit and miss – it can work well, but it can also be quite dated.
Armbian is a popular choice for many SBCs, including the Orange Pi 5 Plus. It provides a user-friendly environment with extensive support for various Orange Pi models. Its stability and performance make it an excellent choice for both desktop and server applications. Armbian’s active community ensures regular updates and comprehensive documentation, making it an accessible option for newcomers and experienced users alike.
Ubuntu, a widely-used Linux distribution, also offers official support for the Orange Pi 5 Plus. Ubuntu is ideal for those seeking a familiar desktop experience even when running an embedded system.
The Orange Pi 5 Pro also supports Android, transforming the SBC into a powerful multimedia device. Android on the Orange Pi 5 Pro allows users to enjoy a wide range of applications, from streaming services to games. With its rich ecosystem of apps and intuitive interface, Android is a great option for creating smart TVs, gaming consoles, and interactive kiosks.
Price
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Our Take
The Orange Pi 5 Plus is a really good offering. From a hardware perspective it’s a high end processor with multiple cores, integrates wireless connectivity (albeit a bit dated), and includes an NPU with 6TOPS of performance, avoiding the need to include an external NPU/TPU and even an M.2 slot.
The only thing that somewhat holds the Orange Pi 5 Plus back is its software which can sometimes be a hit or miss. If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, then it can be an excellent choice