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Banana Pi BPI-M5 vs Pine64 Quartz64 Model A: Comparison
Banana Pi BPI-M5 vs Pine64 Quartz64 Model A: the memory difference
There is no decisive spec gap here. Memory splits them by a margin most buyers will never feel, Banana Pi BPI-M5 4 GB against Pine64 Quartz64 Model A Up to 8GB LPDDR4. There is a split on soc model as well, Amlogic S905X3, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz on the Banana Pi BPI-M5 versus Quad-core Cortex-A55 on the Pine64 Quartz64 Model A.
Who each one is for
The Banana Pi BPI-M5 suits 4K media center boxes (Kodi/LibreELEC) and budget GPIO projects needing a Pi 4-style header, though it is the wrong buy for projects requiring official Raspberry Pi OS support and AI/ML workloads needing an onboard NPU. it is not the pick for anyone who needs RK3588-class or Raspberry Pi 5-class performance. It also earns its place with budget-conscious Pine64 community buyers who want a conventional ARM board over RISC-V. 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. Our rating of the Pine64 Quartz64 Model A (6.5/10): Pine64's affordable conventional-ARM option for buyers who don't want RISC-V's software trade-offs.
Banana Pi BPI-M5 vs Pine64 Quartz64 Model A price
The Banana Pi BPI-M5 asks 8% more, $65.00 against $60.00 for the Pine64 Quartz64 Model A.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Banana Pi BPI-M5 or Pine64 Quartz64 Model A?
The Banana Pi BPI-M5 asks 8% more, $65.00 against $60.00 for the Pine64 Quartz64 Model A.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- Banana Pi
- Pine64 Quartz64 Model A
- Pine64
Model Number
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- BPI-M5
- Pine64 Quartz64 Model A
- Quartz64 Model A
Memory
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- 4 GB
- Pine64 Quartz64 Model A
- Up to 8GB LPDDR4Best
SoC Model
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- Amlogic S905X3, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
- Pine64 Quartz64 Model A
- Quad-core Cortex-A55
Price
- Banana Pi BPI-M5
- 65 USD
- Pine64 Quartz64 Model A
- 60 USD
Which one should you pick?
Choose Banana Pi BPI-M5 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Pine64 Quartz64 Model A if you want the higher memory (Up to 8GB LPDDR4 vs 4 GB).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Banana Pi BPI-M5 | Pine64 Quartz64 Model A |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $65.00 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
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.
Pine64 Quartz64 Model A
6.5 / 10 Expert Rating
Pine64's affordable conventional-ARM option for buyers who don't want RISC-V's software trade-offs.