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Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 vs FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S: Comparison
What is the difference between Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 and FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S?
The first real difference is gpu model: Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 Vivante GC7000UL against FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S Mali-G52 2EE. There is a split on soc model as well, Quad-Core Cortex-A53 up to 1.5GHz on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 versus Rockchip RK3568, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S. Has ai accelerator / npu is not the same on both, No on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 versus Yes on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S. There is a split on wireless as well, WiFi 5 on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 versus None on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S. They differ on use case too, General Purpose on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 versus NAS / Server on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S.
Which should you buy, Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 or FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S?
The Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 is the one to take for factory floor Modbus/CAN protocol gateways and outdoor or harsh-environment IoT deployments, though it is not built for hobbyist or desktop projects and budget-constrained builds. Buy the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S for OpenWrt or Linux-based home router/firewall builds and multi-gigabit network segmentation projects, though it is the wrong buy for GPIO or electronics tinkering (no header) and general-purpose desktop or media-center use. Our rating of the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 (7.5/10): A genuinely industrial-grade gateway for automation deployments, priced and built for reliability over raw performance. Our rating of the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (7.9/10): the best small-form-factor board in this list specifically for home router or firewall duty -- dual 2.5GbE in something this small is hard to beat.
Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 vs FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S price
The Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 asks 565% more, $399 against $60.00 for the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 and FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S differ on gpio header?
Yes. GPIO Header reads Yes on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 versus No on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S.
Is the CPU Architecture the same on the Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 and FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S?
It is. Both are listed at ARM, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- CompuLab
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- FriendlyElec
CPU Architecture
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- ARM
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- ARM
Model Number
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- IOT-GATE-iMX8
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- NanoPi R5S
Memory
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- 1GB to 4GB LPDDR4
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- 4 GBBest
Storage Type
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- eMMC
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- eMMC
SoC Model
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Quad-Core Cortex-A53 up to 1.5GHz
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- Rockchip RK3568, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- No
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- Yes
Wireless
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- WiFi 5
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- None (Ethernet only)
GPIO Header
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Yes
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- No
Price
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- 399 USD
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- 60 USD
Use Case
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- General Purpose
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- NAS / Server
GPU Model
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
- Vivante GC7000UL
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- Mali-G52 2EE
Which one should you pick?
Choose Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S if you want the higher memory (4 GB vs 1GB to 4GB LPDDR4).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 | FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $399.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $60.00 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
Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A genuinely industrial-grade gateway for automation deployments, priced and built for reliability over raw performance.
FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
7.9 / 10 Expert Rating
The best small-form-factor board in this list specifically for home router or firewall duty -- dual 2.5GbE in something this small is hard to beat.