Banana, Orange and Raspberry Pi: Best single board computers of 2024

Yes, there's a more recent version of the iconic Raspberry Pi, but we've chosen the 4 Model B as the best overall single board computer. Why? Well, we think that for the average hobbyist or professional anything more powerful than this is just overkill. It features a robust quad-core Cortex-A72 processor and 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM. Gigabit Ethernet and dual USB 3.0 ports mean you have lots of options for connectivity, too. One feature we really like on this SBC is the dual micro-HDMI outputs So, if you're looking to power dual 4K displays for any audio-visual project, it's ideal.

You'll also find an ample 40-pin GPIO header and a microSD card slot, so you can really customise this for various projects. The Broadcom VideoCore VI GPU is also better than most, so it could be used as a compact but capable media centre. One downside to mention is that all that power can come at a cost with thermals – so, if you're going to push it hard, we recommend some active cooling such as fitting a fan to those GPIO pins. That aside, for us the Raspberry Pi 4 offers the ideal balance of power, functionality and price.

There are certainly more affordable SBCs than this, but we've chosen the Raspberry Pi Model A+ because it's great value for those on a budget, or those who want to dip a toe into the world of SBCs. Being an older full-sized Pi, you're getting more power and connectivity than you would get from a cheaper, smaller option like the Pico 2. It's not for intensive tasks of course, but the Broadcom BCM2835 processor and 512MB of SDRAM make it perfect for simpler projects like IoT applications and basic coding. Even better, you still get a full GPIO header with 40 pins, so you can connect all kinds of extras to it.

One aspect we really appreciate is the ultra-low power consumption. If your project needs to run for days on battery power, this will do the trick. It does only have one USB 2.0 port and a single HDMI output, though – but that's fine for anyone who needs a basic, practical SBC to tinker with.

We think that starter kits for beginners don't get much better than this. There's no Raspberry Pi on the table here, as the GeeekPi Basic Starter Kit for BBC Micro is aimed at SBC beginners who want to learn coding and electronics. That said, the board is highly accessible and the ARM Cortex-M0 processor and 16KB of RAM is great for simple projects and learning purposes. Its 25-pin edge connector allows for external components, too. This really is a one-stop-shop for beginners, as it includes the Micro board, a battery pack, and various components to go alongside a brilliant range of tutorials.

However, as you move into more complex projects, don't expect this kit to grow alongside you – the board's limited processing power means it’s suitable for learning electronics and programming, but you should expect to outgrow it's capabilities. For us, this is one of the best kits out there for anyone who wants to explore the possibilities of SBCs.

When you need something smaller than standard but still need great connectivity, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W is a powerful little board. If you're planning a project that needs wireless connectivity you might be amazed to know that both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities have been crammed onto this SBC; super-impressive, considering it's the size of a stick of chewing gum. Powered by a quad-core Cortex-A53 processor and sporting 512MB of RAM, it's no power PC. However, it is ideal for lightweight small-to-medium form factor tasks such as Internet of Things and home automation uses. We're really impressed with the physical connectivity here as, despite its size, it still has a 40-pin GPIO header.

Being small, it's not going to compete with its larger and more capable cousins, but that also leads to low power consumption – again making it ideal for small battery-operated projects. The mini HDMI and micro-USB ports really are the cherry on the SBC cake here, offering alternatives to the wireless functionality and making it ideal for small projects that need an attached display.

Did you know that Pi comes in different flavours? Well, the Orange Pi 5 Plus isn't made by Raspberry Pi Ltd, but the Chinese Shenzhen Xunlong Software company. It offers a slightly different approach, focussing on computing power. Featuring an octa-core Rockchip RK3588S processor paired with 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM, this will eat complex computing tasks for breakfast. We're particularly impressed with the GPU and its staggeringly good 8K video output. But it's not all about processors, as it also has multiple USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and NVMe storage support. That's amazing, and much more like the spec we see on mini PCs.

Clearly designed for those who need serious computing muscle in a compact form factor, it's still a traditional SBC in other ways; from the 40-pin GPIO header that's compatible with existing peripherals to it's compact size. It does eat up the electricity, though – so it may not be ideal for battery-powered applications. But, if you need power and flexibility for more advanced projects, we think the Orange Pi 5 Plus is the one to go for.

Sometimes your project can be, well, on the tiny side. The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 is our top choice for anyone who really needs to cram a workable computer into the smallest projects. Amazingly, it has a dual-core Cortex M0+ processor and 264KB of RAM onboard. That makes it perfect for simple applications such as sensor data collection, basic automation, and enhancing the features of props and models, or replacing the broken functionality of basic equipment.

We had to double-take the weight and size, as its only 51mm in length and 3g in weight. Being so feather-light and thin, it'll fit into small enclosures and more. We love the fact that it still manages to have GPIO pins, and its low power requirements make it ideal for embedded systems that might otherwise be difficult to have wired up to the mains. However, it does have limited processing power, so if you need to tackle more demanding tasks you might need to go for something a little larger. That said, it's surprisingly powerful at times. And yes, you can run DOOM on a Pico.

A great option for playing all of the best retro games from your childhood and more, the Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB) is our top pick for anyone looking to emulate the classics. The main feature here is the powerful quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 processor and VideoCore VII GPU. Together they provide the power you need to smoothly emulate various classic gaming systems like the Sega Mega Drive, PS1, SNES and more. We're huge fans of having more RAM than you might need when it comes to retro gaming, so the 8GB on offer here is a welcome feature. Two micro-HDMI ports support dual display setups as well, which is ideal for anyone looking to fit this inside an arcade cabinet with two screen gameplay.

However, much like it's previous iteration – the 4 Model B – it'll get hot if used as a gaming system for hours on end, So, you'll need to plan for some active cooling. Lastly, the M.2 NVMe support is brilliant for anyone with a massive game collection – allowing you to slot in a new SSD as your collection grows. The Raspberry Pi 5 might be the company's flagship SBC right now, but it really has the makings of a small but powerful retro gaming console.

AI is the epicentre of a computing revolution, with developers and hobbyists getting in on the act. Whether you want an AI-based home assistant with voice control or a standalone AI image generator, the Banana Pi BPI-M6 is tailored for fans of AI. Its quad-core ARM Cortex-A73 processor is designed for machine learning tasks, able to achieve 6.75 tops (Tera Operations Per Second), all while the PowerVR GE9920 GPU uses its power to boost those AI-based computations.

We're especially happy to see that the CPU and GPU aren't left to handle all that number crunching without decent storage, as there's a solid 16GB eMMC for quicker boot times, and even a PCIe slot that allows more boards to be added. We do wish that the 4GB of RAM was at least doubled, though. It's fine for AI, but heavy duty applications and tasks might make it creak a little. That said, this board can handle cool AI applications that people enjoy – like image recognition, AI voice assistants and more. It's a great choice for anyone working on an AI-driven project.

While you can buy a mini PC, they're normally larger and costlier than this offering from iRasptek. The Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Starter Kit is a brilliant application of the latest Pi, making the most if its quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 CPU and generous 8GB of RAM. Some users have even managed to run Windows 11 on it. We think It’s well-suited for everyday computing tasks, from web browsing to YouTube, socials and more. We particularly like the included microSD card and cooling fan module, which means you really do have everything you need right out of the box. Even better, you can expand the storage with an SSD thanks to M.2 NVMe support. However, if you're not looking to expand it right away you might find the upper limit of storage available on microSD a little limiting – especially if you have large files to store.

Our favourite thing about this package is the small footprint. Although it can slot into almost any available space, it still has multiple USB ports for all of your peripherals. Overall, we think this is a fantastic option for anyone who needs a compact and efficient desktop computer on a budget.

Strictly speaking this isn’t a single board computer, as it uses a microcontroller rather than a microprocessor. What does that mean? Well, an SBC’s components (RAM, I/O and so on) live on the printed circuit board, with the microprocessor dependent on them to function. Here, the Arduino Mega 2560 packs that functionality into a single chip. For that reason, this isn’t a multitasking computing workhorse – it is, though, ideal for simpler projects that need to control hardware.

The board itself is a dead giveaway here, as it features more digital I/O pins than a normal SBC – 54 digital I/O pins and 16 analogue inputs. That means you could use this for home automation (with sensors, switches and so on) and for robotics and more. Arduino is another open-source hardware brand with a large loyal following, so you’ll find plenty of support online.