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ASUS Tinker Board 2 vs Banana Pi BPI-M5: Comparison
ASUS Tinker Board 2 vs Banana Pi BPI-M5: the gpu model difference
They are built to different briefs, and gpu model shows it, ASUS Tinker Board 2 Mali-T860MP4 against Banana Pi BPI-M5 Mali-G31 MP2. Soc model is not the same on both, Rockchip RK3399, Dual Cortex-A72 @ 2.0GHz + Quad Cortex-A53... on the ASUS Tinker Board 2 versus Amlogic S905X3, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz on the Banana Pi BPI-M5.
Who each one is for
The ASUS Tinker Board 2 is the one to take for kiosk, digital signage, and point-of-sale deployments and small-batch industrial integrators needing supply guarantees, though it is not the pick for budget-conscious hobbyists (Radxa ROCK Pi 4C Plus is cheaper) and anyone needing the largest possible community/tutorial base. Buy the Banana Pi BPI-M5 for 4K media center boxes (Kodi/LibreELEC) and budget GPIO projects needing a Pi 4-style header, though it is not built for projects requiring official Raspberry Pi OS support and AI/ML workloads needing an onboard NPU. Our rating of the ASUS Tinker Board 2 (6.8/10): A capable but pricier RK3399 board whose real selling point is ASUS's industrial supply-chain guarantees rather than anything hobbyists specifically need. Our rating of the Banana Pi BPI-M5 (6.9/10): A solid, GPIO-compatible Pi alternative for media and general tinkering, though the driver ecosystem needs more patience than the official Raspberry Pi line.
ASUS Tinker Board 2 vs Banana Pi BPI-M5 price
Cost splits them too. Banana Pi BPI-M5 sits at $65.00, ASUS Tinker Board 2 at $110, 69% more.
What ASUS Tinker Board 2 and Banana Pi BPI-M5 have in common
The common ground is wider than the gap: cpu architecture, storage type, gpio header, power input and memory are identical here. They match on 3 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Has AI Accelerator / NPU the same on the ASUS Tinker Board 2 and Banana Pi BPI-M5?
It is. Both are listed at No, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- ASUS
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- Banana Pi
CPU Architecture
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- ARM
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- ARM
Model Number
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- Tinker Board 2
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- BPI-M5
Memory
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- 4 GB
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- 4 GB
Storage Type
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- eMMC
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- eMMC
SoC Model
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- Rockchip RK3399, Dual Cortex-A72 @ 2.0GHz + Quad Cortex-A53 @ 1.5GHz
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- Amlogic S905X3, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- No
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- No
Wireless
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- WiFi 5
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- WiFi 5
GPIO Header
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- Yes
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- Yes
Price
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- 110 USD
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- 65 USD
Use Case
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- General Purpose
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- General Purpose
GPU Model
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- Mali-T860MP4
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- Mali-G31 MP2
Power Input
- ASUS Tinker Board 2
- 5V/3A USB-C
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- 5V/3A USB-C
Which one should you pick?
Choose ASUS Tinker Board 2 if you want the higher memory (4 GB vs 4 GB).
Choose Banana Pi BPI-M5 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | ASUS Tinker Board 2 | Banana Pi BPI-M5 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $110.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $65.00 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 Tinker Board 2
6.8 / 10 Expert Rating
A capable but pricier RK3399 board whose real selling point is ASUS's industrial supply-chain guarantees rather than anything hobbyists specifically need.
Banana Pi BPI-M5
6.9 / 10 Expert Rating
A solid, GPIO-compatible Pi alternative for media and general tinkering, though the driver ecosystem needs more patience than the official Raspberry Pi line.