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Banana Pi BPI-R4 vs Raspberry Pi 5: Comparison
What is the difference between Banana Pi BPI-R4 and Raspberry Pi 5?
Onboard storage is the dividing line, Banana Pi BPI-R4 8GB eMMC + microSD, optional M.2 SATA/NVMe against Raspberry Pi 5 2 GB. Use case is not the same on both, NAS / Server on the Banana Pi BPI-R4 versus General Purpose on the Raspberry Pi 5. There is a split on connectivity as well, 1x 10GbE SFP+, 2x 2.5GbE, WiFi 7 module support,... on the Banana Pi BPI-R4 versus Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 on the Raspberry Pi 5.
Banana Pi BPI-R4 vs Raspberry Pi 5: which one fits your build
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 Raspberry Pi 5 for beginners, educators, and general hobbyist projects, the safest, most supported entry point into the single-board computer space. The same goes for media center and general computing builds, the 8GB memory configuration and dual 4K video output suit this use case. Avoid it for AI or machine learning workloads, the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super, covered elsewhere on this site, is purpose-built for that need 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 Raspberry Pi 5 (9/10): the safest all-round single-board computer, where unmatched documentation and community support matter more than raw specifications.
Banana Pi BPI-R4 vs Raspberry Pi 5 price
The Banana Pi BPI-R4 asks 136% more, $189 against $80.00 for the Raspberry Pi 5.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Banana Pi BPI-R4 and Raspberry Pi 5 differ on soc model?
Yes. SoC Model reads Quad-Core Cortex-A73 up to 2.0GHz on the Banana Pi BPI-R4 versus Broadcom BCM2712, Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz on the Raspberry Pi 5.
Is the CPU Architecture the same on the Banana Pi BPI-R4 and Raspberry Pi 5?
It is. Both are listed at ARM, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Which is cheaper, Banana Pi BPI-R4 or Raspberry Pi 5?
The Banana Pi BPI-R4 asks 136% more, $189 against $80.00 for the Raspberry Pi 5.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- Banana Pi
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Raspberry Pi Foundation
CPU Architecture
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- ARM
- Raspberry Pi 5
- ARM
Model Number
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- BPI-R4
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Raspberry Pi 5 | 8GB Variant
Memory
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 8 GB
- Raspberry Pi 5
- 8GB LPDDR4X
SoC Model
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- Quad-Core Cortex-A73 up to 2.0GHz
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Broadcom BCM2712, Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A76 @ 2.4GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- No
- Raspberry Pi 5
- No
Price
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 189 USD
- Raspberry Pi 5
- 80 USD
Use Case
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- NAS / Server
- Raspberry Pi 5
- General Purpose
Onboard Storage
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 8GB eMMC + microSD, optional M.2 SATA/NVMe
- Raspberry Pi 5
- 2 GB
Connectivity
- Banana Pi BPI-R4
- 1x 10GbE SFP+, 2x 2.5GbE, WiFi 7 module support, M.2 for 5G/LTE modem
- Raspberry Pi 5
- Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0
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 Raspberry Pi 5 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Banana Pi BPI-R4 | Raspberry Pi 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $189.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $80.00 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.
Raspberry Pi 5
9 / 10 Expert Rating
The safest all-round single-board computer, where unmatched documentation and community support matter more than raw specifications.