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Banana Pi BPI-SM10 vs Orange Pi 3B: Comparison
Banana Pi BPI-SM10 vs Orange Pi 3B memory compared
Start with memory, because it is the widest measured gap between them: Banana Pi BPI-SM10 32 GB against Orange Pi 3B 8 GB, 75% in favour of Banana Pi BPI-SM10. Ethernet speed is not the same on both, 1G on the Banana Pi BPI-SM10 versus Gigabit Ethernet on the Orange Pi 3B.
Who each one is for
it is not built for beginners wanting a plug-and-play dev board like a Raspberry Pi. It is equally the pick for developers who specifically want early access to the SpacemiT K3 RISC-V platform. It is not the one for anyone who needs a verified, benchmarked NPU today rather than a manufacturer claim. The Orange Pi 3B is the one to take for budget NAS builds using a SATA hard drive and basic media-center or file-serving duty, though it is the wrong buy for performance-focused builds (see Radxa ROCK Pi 4C Plus) and buyers who need the widest Linux distro support. Our rating of the Banana Pi BPI-SM10 (6.5/10): interesting silicon, risky purchase. Great if you want to be first on SpacemiT K3, but the 60 TOPS NPU claim is unverified and this is a compute module, not a beginner-friendly dev board. Our rating of the Orange Pi 3B (6.6/10): A genuinely useful budget option for anyone wanting SATA-based storage without stepping up to a pricier board -- the standout feature at this price.
Banana Pi BPI-SM10 vs Orange Pi 3B price
Cost splits them too. Orange Pi 3B sits at $50.00, Banana Pi BPI-SM10 at $449, 798% more.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Banana Pi BPI-SM10 and Orange Pi 3B differ on cpu architecture?
Yes. CPU Architecture reads RISC-V on the Banana Pi BPI-SM10 versus ARM on the Orange Pi 3B.
Is the GPIO Header the same on the Banana Pi BPI-SM10 and Orange Pi 3B?
It is. Both are listed at Yes, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Banana Pi
- Orange Pi 3B
- Orange Pi
CPU Architecture
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- RISC-V
- Orange Pi 3B
- ARM
Memory
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- 32 GBBest
- Orange Pi 3B
- 8 GB-75%
Storage Type
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Onboard UFS (128GB standard), microSD, NVMe / M.2
- Orange Pi 3B
- eMMC + M.2 B-key (SATA via adapter)
SoC Model
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- SpacemiT K3 RISC-V AI chip (RVA23 profile, RVV 1.0)
- Orange Pi 3B
- Rockchip RK3566, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Yes
- Orange Pi 3B
- Yes
Wireless
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- None (Ethernet only) on reference carrier; WiFi/BT available via optional M.2 Key E module
- Orange Pi 3B
- WiFi 5
GPIO Header
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Yes
- Orange Pi 3B
- Yes
Price
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- 449 USD
- Orange Pi 3B
- 50 USD
Use Case
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- AI / Machine Learning
- Orange Pi 3B
- NAS / Server
GPU Model
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Integrated 3D GPU (Vulkan, OpenCL, OpenGL ES)
- Orange Pi 3B
- Mali-G52 2EE
Ethernet Speed
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- 1G
- Orange Pi 3B
- Gigabit Ethernet
Video Outputs
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- 1 outputs
- Orange Pi 3B
- 1 outputs
RTC Support
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Not documented
- Orange Pi 3B
- Yes, onboard battery connector
Power Input
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- 12-19V DC, 5.5/2.5mm barrel jack
- Orange Pi 3B
- 5V/3A USB-C
USB Ports
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- 4x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1x USB-C
- Orange Pi 3B
- 1x USB 3.0 Type-A, 3x USB 2.0 Type-A
Which one should you pick?
Choose Banana Pi BPI-SM10 if you want the higher memory (32 GB vs 8 GB).
Choose Orange Pi 3B if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Banana Pi BPI-SM10 | Orange Pi 3B |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $449.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $50.00 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-SM10
6.5 / 10 Expert Rating
Interesting silicon, risky purchase.
Orange Pi 3B
6.6 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely useful budget option for anyone wanting SATA-based storage without stepping up to a pricier board -- the standout feature at this price.