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Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero vs Orange Pi 3B: Comparison
What is the difference between Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero and Orange Pi 3B?
Memory is where these two genuinely part company, Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero 2 GB against Orange Pi 3B 8 GB, a 75% lead for Orange Pi 3B. There is a split on use case as well, Ultra-Compact / Budget on the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero versus NAS / Server on the Orange Pi 3B.
Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero vs Orange Pi 3B: which one fits your build
Buy the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero for battery-powered IoT sensors needing WiFi 6 and ultra-compact embedded projects with tight space budgets, though it is the wrong buy for projects depending on the Pi Zero HAT ecosystem and beginners wanting maximum tutorial availability. The Orange Pi 3B suits budget NAS builds using a SATA hard drive and basic media-center or file-serving duty, though it is not the pick for performance-focused builds (see Radxa ROCK Pi 4C Plus) and buyers who need the widest Linux distro support. Our rating of the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero (6.7/10): A capable, WiFi 6-equipped Pi Zero rival for battery-powered IoT projects, held back mainly by a thinner tutorial and HAT ecosystem than the official Pi Zero line. Our rating of the Orange Pi 3B (6.6/10): A genuinely useful budget option for anyone wanting SATA-based storage without stepping up to a pricier board -- the standout feature at this price.
Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero vs Orange Pi 3B price
At the last price check the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero was $20.00 and the Orange Pi 3B $50.00, a 150% premium.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero and Orange Pi 3B differ on gpu model?
Yes. GPU Model reads Mali-G31 MP2 on the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero versus Mali-G52 2EE on the Orange Pi 3B.
Is the CPU Architecture the same on the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero and Orange Pi 3B?
It is. Both are listed at ARM, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- Banana Pi
- Orange Pi 3B
- Orange Pi
CPU Architecture
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- ARM
- Orange Pi 3B
- ARM
Model Number
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- BPI-M4 Zero
- Orange Pi 3B
- Orange Pi 3B
Memory
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- 2 GB-75%
- Orange Pi 3B
- 8 GBBest
Storage Type
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- microSD
- Orange Pi 3B
- eMMC + M.2 B-key (SATA via adapter)
SoC Model
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- Allwinner H618, Quad-Core Cortex-A53 @ 1.5GHz
- Orange Pi 3B
- Rockchip RK3566, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- No
- Orange Pi 3B
- Yes
Wireless
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- WiFi 6
- Orange Pi 3B
- WiFi 5
GPIO Header
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- Yes
- Orange Pi 3B
- Yes
Price
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- 20 USD
- Orange Pi 3B
- 50 USD
Use Case
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- Ultra-Compact / Budget
- Orange Pi 3B
- NAS / Server
GPU Model
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- Mali-G31 MP2
- Orange Pi 3B
- Mali-G52 2EE
Power Input
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- 5V/2A USB-C
- Orange Pi 3B
- 5V/3A USB-C
Which one should you pick?
Choose Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Orange Pi 3B if you want the higher memory (8 GB vs 2 GB).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero | Orange Pi 3B |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $20.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $50.00 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
Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
6.7 / 10 Expert Rating
A capable, WiFi 6-equipped Pi Zero rival for battery-powered IoT projects, held back mainly by a thinner tutorial and HAT ecosystem than the official Pi Zero line.
Orange Pi 3B
6.6 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely useful budget option for anyone wanting SATA-based storage without stepping up to a pricier board -- the standout feature at this price.