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Banana Pi BPI-SM10 vs Orange Pi CM4: Comparison
Banana Pi BPI-SM10 vs Orange Pi CM4: the memory difference
The gap that matters here is memory: Banana Pi BPI-SM10 32 GB against Orange Pi CM4 8 GB, which puts Banana Pi BPI-SM10 75% ahead. There is a split on use case as well, AI / Machine Learning on the Banana Pi BPI-SM10 versus General Purpose on the Orange Pi CM4.
Who each one is for
it is not built for beginners wanting a plug-and-play dev board like a Raspberry Pi. The same goes 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 CM4 suits cost-sensitive custom carrier-board projects and small hobbyist products needing basic NPU vision, though it is not the pick for industrial products needing guaranteed long-term supply and anyone wanting the Raspberry Pi CM4's carrier-board ecosystem. 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 CM4 (6.5/10): A budget-friendly CM4-style module with a useful NPU bonus, best suited to cost-sensitive hobby products rather than anything needing long-term industrial support.
Which is cheaper, Banana Pi BPI-SM10 or Orange Pi CM4?
The Banana Pi BPI-SM10 asks 1183% more, $449 against $35.00 for the Orange Pi CM4.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Banana Pi BPI-SM10 and Orange Pi CM4 differ on cpu architecture?
Yes. CPU Architecture reads RISC-V on the Banana Pi BPI-SM10 versus ARM on the Orange Pi CM4.
Is the Has AI Accelerator / NPU the same on the Banana Pi BPI-SM10 and Orange Pi CM4?
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 CM4
- Orange Pi
CPU Architecture
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- RISC-V
- Orange Pi CM4
- ARM
Memory
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- 32 GBBest
- Orange Pi CM4
- 8 GB-75%
Storage Type
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Onboard UFS (128GB standard), microSD, NVMe / M.2
- Orange Pi CM4
- eMMC
SoC Model
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- SpacemiT K3 RISC-V AI chip (RVA23 profile, RVV 1.0)
- Orange Pi CM4
- Rockchip RK3566, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Yes
- Orange Pi CM4
- Yes
Wireless
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- None (Ethernet only) on reference carrier; WiFi/BT available via optional M.2 Key E module
- Orange Pi CM4
- WiFi 5
GPIO Header
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Yes
- Orange Pi CM4
- No
Price
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- 449 USD
- Orange Pi CM4
- 35 USD
Use Case
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- AI / Machine Learning
- Orange Pi CM4
- General Purpose
GPU Model
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- Integrated 3D GPU (Vulkan, OpenCL, OpenGL ES)
- Orange Pi CM4
- Mali-G52 2EE
Power Input
- Banana Pi BPI-SM10
- 12-19V DC, 5.5/2.5mm barrel jack
- Orange Pi CM4
- Carrier-board dependent, typically 5V
Which one should you pick?
Choose Banana Pi BPI-SM10 if you want the higher memory (32 GB vs 8 GB).
Choose Orange Pi CM4 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | Banana Pi BPI-SM10 | Orange Pi CM4 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $449.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $35.00 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 CM4
6.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A budget-friendly CM4-style module with a useful NPU bonus, best suited to cost-sensitive hobby products rather than anything needing long-term industrial support.