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Banana Pi BPI-R4 vs Hardkernel ODROID-H4: Comparison
Banana Pi BPI-R4 vs Hardkernel ODROID-H4 onboard storage compared
Onboard storage is the dividing line, Banana Pi BPI-R4 8GB eMMC + microSD, optional M.2 SATA/NVMe against Hardkernel ODROID-H4 3 GB. Memory is closer, 8 GB on the Banana Pi BPI-R4 versus Up to 48GB DDR5-4800 on the Hardkernel ODROID-H4. Soc model is not the same on both, Quad-Core Cortex-A73 up to 2.0GHz on the Banana Pi BPI-R4 versus Intel N97 , Quad-Core @ up to 3.6GHz on the Hardkernel ODROID-H4.
Who each one is for
Buy the Banana Pi BPI-R4 for multi-gigabit fiber home routing (2.5G-10G) and future-proof WiFi 7 OpenWrt router builds, though it is not built for standard gigabit or slower internet connections and budget-conscious router projects. Take the Hardkernel ODROID-H4 for budget x86 NAS, router, and firewall builds (pfSense, OPNsense, Proxmox) needing genuine x86 compatibility. It also earns its place with compact digital signage or desktop setups needing triple 4K display output. It is not the one for storage-heavy NAS builds, the base H4 has no SATA ports, look at Hardkernel's own H4+ variant instead. Our rating of the Banana Pi BPI-R4 (8.5/10): the strongest DIY OpenWrt router board for multi-gigabit fiber connections, if you actually have the bandwidth to use it. Our rating of the Hardkernel ODROID-H4 (8/10): the budget x86 pick for NAS, router, and firewall builds where ARM compatibility isn't enough.
Which is cheaper, Banana Pi BPI-R4 or Hardkernel ODROID-H4?
At the last price check the Hardkernel ODROID-H4 was $99.00 and the Banana Pi BPI-R4 $189, a 91% premium.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- Banana Pi
- Hardkernel ODROID-H4
- Hardkernel
Model Number
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- BPI-R4
- Hardkernel ODROID-H4
- ODROID-H4
Memory
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 8 GB
- Hardkernel ODROID-H4
- Up to 48GB DDR5-4800 (single-channel)Best
SoC Model
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- Quad-Core Cortex-A73 up to 2.0GHz
- Hardkernel ODROID-H4
- Intel N97 (Alder Lake-N), Quad-Core @ up to 3.6GHz
Price
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 189 USD
- Hardkernel ODROID-H4
- 99 USD
Onboard Storage
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 8GB eMMC + microSD, optional M.2 SATA/NVMe
- Hardkernel ODROID-H4
- 3 GB
Which one should you pick?
Choose Banana Pi BPI-R4 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Hardkernel ODROID-H4 if you want the higher memory (Up to 48GB DDR5-4800 (single-channel) vs 8 GB).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Banana Pi BPI-R4 | Hardkernel ODROID-H4 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $189.00 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-R4
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The strongest DIY OpenWrt router board for multi-gigabit fiber connections, if you actually have the bandwidth to use it.
Hardkernel ODROID-H4
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The budget x86 pick for NAS, router, and firewall builds where ARM compatibility isn't enough.