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Banana Pi BPI-R4 vs Radxa ROCK 5B+: Comparison
Banana Pi BPI-R4 vs Radxa ROCK 5B+: the onboard storage difference
Onboard storage is the dividing line, Banana Pi BPI-R4 8GB eMMC + microSD, optional M.2 SATA/NVMe against Radxa ROCK 5B+ 2 GB. On memory there is little in it, 8 GB on the Banana Pi BPI-R4 versus Up to 32GB on the Radxa ROCK 5B+. Soc model is not the same on both, Quad-Core Cortex-A73 up to 2.0GHz on the Banana Pi BPI-R4 versus Rockchip RK3588, octa-core on the Radxa ROCK 5B+. They differ on connectivity too, 1x 10GbE SFP+, 2x 2.5GbE, WiFi 7 module support,... on the Banana Pi BPI-R4 versus USB 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI in and out, official... on the Radxa ROCK 5B+.
Who each one is for
The Banana Pi BPI-R4 suits 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 Radxa ROCK 5B+ for desktop replacement and home NAS builds, the rear M.2 NVMe slot, 2.5GbE, and PoE support combine into a genuinely strong package. The same goes for buyers wanting strong general performance without AI as the primary goal, the RK3588's eight-core design delivers real multitasking headroom. Avoid it for buyers whose primary goal is serious AI or machine learning work, the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super is the right choice for that specific need. 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 Radxa ROCK 5B+ (8.5/10): the most thoughtfully designed RK3588 board, with rear M.2 NVMe, 2.5GbE and PoE making it a genuinely strong desktop or NAS base.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- Banana Pi
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Radxa
Model Number
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- BPI-R4
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
Memory
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 8 GB
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Up to 32GBBest
SoC Model
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- Quad-Core Cortex-A73 up to 2.0GHz
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- Rockchip RK3588, octa-core (4x 2.2-2.4GHz performance + 4x efficiency cores)
Onboard Storage
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 8GB eMMC + microSD, optional M.2 SATA/NVMe
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- 2 GB
Connectivity
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 1x 10GbE SFP+, 2x 2.5GbE, WiFi 7 module support, M.2 for 5G/LTE modem
- Radxa ROCK 5B+
- USB 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI in and out, official PoE HAT support
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 Radxa ROCK 5B+ if you want the higher memory (Up to 32GB vs 8 GB).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Banana Pi BPI-R4 | Radxa ROCK 5B+ |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $189.00 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.
Radxa ROCK 5B+
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The most thoughtfully designed RK3588 board, with rear M.2 NVMe, 2.5GbE and PoE making it a genuinely strong desktop or NAS base.