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FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S vs Radxa ROCK 4C Plus: Comparison
FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S vs Radxa ROCK 4C Plus gpu model compared
The first real difference is gpu model: FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S Mali-G52 2EE against Radxa ROCK 4C Plus Mali-T860MP4. They differ on has ai accelerator / npu too, Yes on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S versus No on the Radxa ROCK 4C Plus. They differ on wireless too, None on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S versus WiFi 5 on the Radxa ROCK 4C Plus. Use case is not the same on both, NAS / Server on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S versus General Purpose on the Radxa ROCK 4C Plus.
FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S vs Radxa ROCK 4C Plus: which one fits your build
The FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S suits 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. The Radxa ROCK 4C Plus is the one to take for general-purpose GPIO projects on a mid-range budget and light desktop Linux use with 4K video output, though it is not the pick for AI/ML projects needing an onboard NPU and buyers wanting the newest available Radxa silicon. 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. Our rating of the Radxa ROCK 4C Plus (7/10): A dependable mid-tier RK3399 board for GPIO projects that don't need RK3588-class performance -- solid, if no longer cutting edge.
FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S vs Radxa ROCK 4C Plus price
The Radxa ROCK 4C Plus asks 25% more, $75.00 against $60.00 for the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S.
Frequently asked questions
Do the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S and Radxa ROCK 4C Plus differ on storage type?
Yes. Storage Type reads eMMC on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S versus NVMe/M.2 on the Radxa ROCK 4C Plus.
Is the CPU Architecture the same on the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S and Radxa ROCK 4C Plus?
It is. Both are listed at ARM, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Which is cheaper, FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S or Radxa ROCK 4C Plus?
The Radxa ROCK 4C Plus asks 25% more, $75.00 against $60.00 for the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- FriendlyElec
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- Radxa
CPU Architecture
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- ARM
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- ARM
Model Number
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- NanoPi R5S
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- ROCK 4C Plus
Memory
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- 4 GB
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- 4 GB
Storage Type
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- eMMC
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- NVMe/M.2
SoC Model
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- Rockchip RK3568, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- Rockchip RK3399, Dual Cortex-A72 @ 1.8GHz + Quad Cortex-A53 @ 1.4GHz
Has AI Accelerator / NPU
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- Yes
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- No
Wireless
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- None (Ethernet only)
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- WiFi 5
GPIO Header
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- No
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- Yes
Price
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- 60 USD
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- 75 USD
Use Case
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- NAS / Server
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- General Purpose
GPU Model
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- Mali-G52 2EE
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- Mali-T860MP4
Power Input
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
- 12V/2A DC barrel
- Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
- 5V/3A USB-C
Which one should you pick?
Choose FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S if you want the higher memory (4 GB vs 4 GB).
Choose Radxa ROCK 4C Plus if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Price comparison
| Retailer | FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S | Radxa ROCK 4C Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $60.00 View on Consumercarts listing | $75.00 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
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.
Radxa ROCK 4C Plus
7 / 10 Expert Rating
A dependable mid-tier RK3399 board for GPIO projects that don't need RK3588-class performance -- solid, if no longer cutting edge.