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ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board vs FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S: Comparison
What is the difference between ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board and FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S?
They are built to different briefs, and cpu architecture shows it, ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board x86 against FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S ARM. They differ on has ai accelerator / npu too, No on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board versus Yes on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S. There is a split on wireless as well, WiFi 6 on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board versus None on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S. There is a split on use case as well, x86 Compatible on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board versus NAS / Server on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S.
Which should you buy, ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board or FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S?
The ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board is the one to take for 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 R6S suits combined router and Docker home-server duty and frigate-style NVR with local AI detection, though it is not built for simple single-purpose routing (R5S is cheaper) and builds needing built-in wireless. 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 R6S (8.5/10): the best combination of router throughput and general compute in this size class, if the router+server dual role fits your setup.
Which is cheaper, ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board or FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S?
Cost splits them too. FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S sits at $105, ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board at $549, 423% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board and FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S differ on gpu model?
Yes. GPU Model reads Intel Iris Xe Graphics on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board versus Mali-G610 MP4 on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S.
Is the GPIO Header the same on the ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board and FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S?
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 R6S
- FriendlyElec
CPU Architecture
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- x86
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- ARM
Model Number
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- NUC 13 Pro Board (NUC13ANBi7)
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- NanoPi R6S
Memory
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- Up to 64GB DDR5 SODIMM (dual channel)Best
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4X
Storage Type
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- NVMe/M.2
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- eMMC
SoC Model
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- 4 Performance-cores + 8 Efficient-cores (12C/16T) up to 5.0GHz
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- Quad Cortex-A76 2.4GHz + Quad Cortex-A55 1.8GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- No
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- Yes
Wireless
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- WiFi 6
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- None (Ethernet only)
GPIO Header
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- No
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- No
Price
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- 549 USD
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- 105 USD
Use Case
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- x86 Compatible
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- NAS / Server
GPU Model
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- Mali-G610 MP4
Onboard Storage
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- 2 GB
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- eMMC module slot + microSD
Official OS
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- Windows 11, Linux
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- OpenWrt, Ubuntu, Debian, Armbian
Connectivity
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board
- 2x Thunderbolt 4, 2.5GbE, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort via USB-C
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S
- 2x 2.5GbE, USB 3.0, USB-C power/data
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 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4X).
Choose FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board | FriendlyElec NanoPi R6S |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $549.00 View on Consumercarts listing | |
| Amazon | $105.00 View on Amazon |
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 R6S
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The best combination of router throughput and general compute in this size class, if the router+server dual role fits your setup.