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Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero vs Pine64 PineTab: Comparison
What is the difference between Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero and Pine64 PineTab?
The first real difference is gpu model: Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero Mali-G31 MP2 against Pine64 PineTab Mali-400 MP2. There is a split on soc model as well, Allwinner H618, Quad-Core Cortex-A53 @ 1.5GHz on the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero versus Quad-Core Cortex-A53 up to 1.2GHz on the Pine64 PineTab. They differ on wireless too, WiFi 6 on the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero versus WiFi 5 on the Pine64 PineTab. They differ on use case too, Ultra-Compact / Budget on the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero versus General Purpose on the Pine64 PineTab.
Who each one is for
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 Pine64 PineTab suits mobile Linux OS development (postmarketOS, etc.) and open-hardware tablet tinkering and repair, though it is not the pick for users wanting mainstream tablet performance and media-heavy or gaming use. 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 Pine64 PineTab (6/10): A niche but valuable open-hardware tablet for Linux mobile OS development, not a mainstream tablet alternative.
Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero vs Pine64 PineTab price
Cost splits them too. Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero sits at $20.00, Pine64 PineTab at $99.00, 395% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero and Pine64 PineTab differ on storage type?
Yes. Storage Type reads microSD on the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero versus eMMC on the Pine64 PineTab.
Is the CPU Architecture the same on the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero and Pine64 PineTab?
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
- Pine64 PineTab
- Pine64
CPU Architecture
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- ARM
- Pine64 PineTab
- ARM
Model Number
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- BPI-M4 Zero
- Pine64 PineTab
- PineTab
Memory
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- 2 GB
- Pine64 PineTab
- 2GB LPDDR3
Storage Type
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- microSD
- Pine64 PineTab
- eMMC
SoC Model
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- Allwinner H618, Quad-Core Cortex-A53 @ 1.5GHz
- Pine64 PineTab
- Quad-Core Cortex-A53 up to 1.2GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- No
- Pine64 PineTab
- No
Wireless
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- WiFi 6
- Pine64 PineTab
- WiFi 5
GPIO Header
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- Yes
- Pine64 PineTab
- No
Price
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- 20 USD
- Pine64 PineTab
- 99 USD
Use Case
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- Ultra-Compact / Budget
- Pine64 PineTab
- General Purpose
GPU Model
- Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero
- Mali-G31 MP2
- Pine64 PineTab
- Mali-400 MP2
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 Pine64 PineTab if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero | Pine64 PineTab |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $20.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $99.00 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.
Pine64 PineTab
6 / 10 Expert Rating
A niche but valuable open-hardware tablet for Linux mobile OS development, not a mainstream tablet alternative.