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ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board vs FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S: Comparison
ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board vs FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S cpu architecture compared
Cpu architecture is the dividing line, ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board x86 against FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S ARM. There is a split on has ai accelerator / npu as well, No on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board versus Yes on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S. There is a split on wireless as well, WiFi 6 on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board versus None on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S. They differ on use case too, x86 Compatible on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board versus NAS / Server on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S.
Which should you buy, ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board or FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S?
The ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board suits OEM digital signage and kiosk systems and custom thin client or medical cart builds, though it is the wrong buy for hobbyist or budget-constrained projects and GPIO-driven hardware projects. The FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S is the one to take for OpenWrt or Linux-based home router/firewall builds and multi-gigabit network segmentation projects, though it is not the pick for GPIO or electronics tinkering (no header) and general-purpose desktop or media-center use. Our rating of the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board (8/10): A serious, laptop-grade embedded x86 platform for OEM integrators, not a hobbyist SBC and priced accordingly. Our rating of the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (7.9/10): the best small-form-factor board in this list specifically for home router or firewall duty -- dual 2.5GbE in something this small is hard to beat.
ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board vs FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S price
At the last price check the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S was $60.00 and the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board $549, a 815% premium.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board and FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S differ on gpu model?
Yes. GPU Model reads Intel Iris Xe Graphics on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board versus Mali-G52 2EE on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S.
Is the GPIO Header the same on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board and FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S?
It is. Both are listed at No, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- ASUS
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- FriendlyElec
CPU Architecture
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- x86
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- ARM
Model Number
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- NUC 13 Pro Board (NUC13ANBi7)
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- NanoPi R5S
Memory
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- Up to 64GB DDR5 SODIMM (dual channel)Best
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- 4 GB
Storage Type
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- NVMe/M.2
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- eMMC
SoC Model
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- 4 Performance-cores + 8 Efficient-cores (12C/16T) up to 5.0GHz
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- Rockchip RK3568, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- No
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- Yes
Wireless
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- WiFi 6
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- None (Ethernet only)
GPIO Header
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- No
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- No
Price
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- 549 USD
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- 60 USD
Use Case
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- x86 Compatible
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- NAS / Server
GPU Model
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- Mali-G52 2EE
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board if you want the higher memory (Up to 64GB DDR5 SODIMM (dual channel) vs 4 GB).
Choose FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board | FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $549.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $60.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A serious, laptop-grade embedded x86 platform for OEM integrators, not a hobbyist SBC and priced accordingly.
FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The best small-form-factor board in this list specifically for home router or firewall duty -- dual 2.5GbE in something this small is hard to beat.