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Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC vs Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W: Comparison
Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC vs Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W: the onboard storage difference
Onboard storage is the dividing line, Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC Up to 128GB eMMC against Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W microSD card slot. Memory is closer, 4GB to 16GB LPDDR4 on the Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC versus 512 GB on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. Soc model is not the same on both, Octa-core on the Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC versus Broadcom BCM2710A1, Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A53 @ 1GHz on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.
Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC vs Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W: which one fits your build
it is the wrong buy for buyers who want the smallest or cheapest RK3588S board available. It also earns its place with Linux enthusiasts who want easier OS installation via UEFI boot on RK3588S hardware. Take the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W for embedded, headless, and automation projects where physical size and cost are the binding constraints. The same goes for retro gaming emulation and light scripting tasks within the Raspberry Pi software ecosystem. It is the wrong buy for any computationally demanding workload, 512MB of RAM and this CPU rule out media centers, AI, or general desktop use. Our rating of the Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC (7.5/10): the original RK3588S design, still notable for UEFI boot support that makes standard Linux installs far easier. Our rating of the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W (8/10): the smallest, cheapest way into the official Pi ecosystem, bought for size and cost rather than compute.
Which is cheaper, Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC or Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W?
At the last price check the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W was $15.00 and the Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC $219, a 1360% premium.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- Firefly
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- Raspberry Pi Foundation
Model Number
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- ROC-RK3588S-PC
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
Memory
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- 4GB to 16GB LPDDR4
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- 512 GBBest
SoC Model
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- Octa-core (4x Cortex-A76 + 4x Cortex-A55)
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- Broadcom BCM2710A1, Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A53 @ 1GHz
Price
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- 219 USD
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- 15 USD
Onboard Storage
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
- Up to 128GB eMMC
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- microSD card slot
Which one should you pick?
Choose Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W if you want the higher memory (512 GB vs 4GB to 16GB LPDDR4).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $219.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $15.00 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
Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The original RK3588S design, still notable for UEFI boot support that makes standard Linux installs far easier.
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The smallest, cheapest way into the official Pi ecosystem, bought for size and cost rather than compute.