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FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 vs Orange Pi 5 Plus: Comparison
What is the difference between FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 and Orange Pi 5 Plus?
They are built to different briefs, and cpu architecture shows it, FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 ARM against Orange Pi 5 Plus ARM big.LITTLE. There is a split on soc model as well, Quad Cortex-A76 2.4GHz + Quad Cortex-A55 1.8GHz on the FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 versus Rockchip RK3588S on the Orange Pi 5 Plus. Pcie interface is not the same on both, M.2 M-key PCIe 3.0 x4 + M.2 E-key on the FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 versus PCIe 3.0 x4 on the Orange Pi 5 Plus. There is a split on official os as well, Android 12, Ubuntu, Debian on the FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 versus Orange Pi OS , Android 12 on the Orange Pi 5 Plus.
FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 vs Orange Pi 5 Plus: which one fits your build
The FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 is the one to take for compact Linux desktop or dev workstation replacement and edge AI inference with NVMe-backed storage, though it is not built for ultra-low-budget builds and battery-powered portable projects. Buy the Orange Pi 5 Plus for NAS or home server builds needing dual 2.5GbE and NVMe and edge AI/vision projects wanting onboard NPU. It is not the one for beginners wanting the most polished software support (that's still Raspberry Pi). Our rating of the FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 (8.5/10): one of the strongest all-around RK3588 boards for developers who want NVMe storage and desktop-class RAM without a carrier board.
FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 vs Orange Pi 5 Plus price
At the last price check the Orange Pi 5 Plus was $109 and the FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 $139, a 28% premium.
Read the full breakdown: Raspberry Pi 5 Alternatives: More Powerful Boards Worth Buying
Frequently asked questions
Do the FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 and Orange Pi 5 Plus differ on power input?
Yes. Power Input reads 12V/2A DC barrel jack on the FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 versus USB-C PD on the Orange Pi 5 Plus.
Is the Use Case the same on the FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 and Orange Pi 5 Plus?
It is. Both are listed at AI / Machine Learning, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- FriendlyElec
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- Other
CPU Architecture
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- ARM
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- ARM big.LITTLE
Model Number
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- NanoPC-T6
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
Memory
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- 4GB to 16GB LPDDR5
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- 32 GBBest
SoC Model
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- Quad Cortex-A76 2.4GHz + Quad Cortex-A55 1.8GHz
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- Rockchip RK3588S
Price
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- 139 USD
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- 109 USD
Use Case
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- AI / Machine Learning
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- AI / Machine Learning
AI Performance
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- 6 TOPS
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- 6 TOPS
PCIe Interface
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- M.2 M-key PCIe 3.0 x4 (NVMe) + M.2 E-key (WiFi module)
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- PCIe 3.0 x4
Power Input
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- 12V/2A DC barrel jack
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- USB-C PD
Official OS
- FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
- Android 12, Ubuntu, Debian
- Orange Pi 5 Plus
- Orange Pi OS (Ubuntu/Debian based), Android 12
Which one should you pick?
Choose FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose Orange Pi 5 Plus if you want the higher memory (32 GB vs 4GB to 16GB LPDDR5).
Price comparison
| Retailer | FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6 | Orange Pi 5 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $139.00 View on Consumercarts listing | |
| Orange Pi Official Store | $109.00 View on Orange Pi Official Store |
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
FriendlyElec NanoPC-T6
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
One of the strongest all-around RK3588 boards for developers who want NVMe storage and desktop-class RAM without a carrier board.