Banana Pi BPI-M5
Expert rating6.9 / 10
- SoC:
- Amlogic S905X3
- CPU:
- Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
- Memory:
- 4GB LPDDR4
- Storage:
- microSD + eMMC socket
- Price:
- $65
Consumercarts is reader-supported. Learn more
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Manufacturer: Banana Pi Last updated: 2026-09-12
Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative) Review
Banana Pi BPI-M5 single-board computer built on the Amlogic S905X3 with quad-core Cortex-A55 CPU, 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 40-pin Raspberry Pi-compatible GPIO header.
The BPI-M5 was one of the more credible Pi 4 alternatives during the chip-shortage years, pairing a media-savvy Amlogic SoC with a familiar 40-pin layout, and it still holds up today as a cheaper, easier-to-source board for GPIO projects that don't need Pi-specific software.
Overview
Banana Pi built the M5 around the same Amlogic S905X3 chip found in many Android TV boxes, giving it strong 4K video decode capability alongside general-purpose ARM computing, all wrapped in a Pi 4-shaped board with a matching 40-pin header.
Performance & Connectivity
Cortex-A55 cores trade peak single-thread speed for efficiency, so the M5 sits below Pi 4/5 in compute benchmarks but ahead of it in video codec support (H.265 4K60 decode). Gigabit Ethernet, an eMMC socket, and dual-band WiFi 5 make it a capable media-center or lightweight server board.
Comparison to Alternatives
Against the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (8GB), the BPI-M5 offers better hardware video decode but a rougher Linux driver experience and smaller community. Compared to its own successor, the Banana Pi BPI-M5 Pro, the original M5 is slower and lacks an NPU, but remains cheaper and simpler for basic GPIO or media projects.
Specifications
Identity
| Brand | Banana Pi |
|---|
| CPU Architecture | ARM |
|---|---|
| Memory | 4 GB |
| Storage Type | eMMC |
| Has AI Accelerator / NPU | No |
| Wireless | WiFi 5 |
| GPIO Header | Yes |
| Price | 65 USD |
| Use Case | General Purpose |
| Model | BPI-M5 |
| Processor | Amlogic S905X3, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G31 MP2 |
| Power | 5V/3A USB-C |
Expert Review
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Expert rating6.9 / 10
A solid, GPIO-compatible Pi alternative for media and general tinkering, though the driver ecosystem needs more patience than the official Raspberry Pi line.
Best for
- 4K media center boxes (Kodi/LibreELEC)
- Budget GPIO projects needing a Pi 4-style header
- Boards where eMMC boot speed matters
Not for
- Projects requiring official Raspberry Pi OS support
- AI/ML workloads needing an onboard NPU
- Users unwilling to troubleshoot smaller-community Linux images
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative)?
The Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative) is a single board computer from Banana Pi. Key specs: Processor Amlogic S905X3, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz, CPU Architecture ARM, GPU Mali-G31 MP2, Memory 4, Storage Type eMMC.
Will the Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative) work with my current setup?
The Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative) lists Processor is Amlogic S905X3, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz. Check that against the hardware you already own before buying, since this is the field that most often decides whether a part fits.
Who is the Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative) best suited to?
It suits 4k media center boxes (kodi/libreelec), budget gpio projects needing a pi 4-style header, boards where emmc boot speed matters.
What are the drawbacks of the Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative)?
It is a poor fit for projects requiring official raspberry pi os support, ai/ml workloads needing an onboard npu, users unwilling to troubleshoot smaller-community linux images.
Compare and read more
- Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative) vs Sipeed LicheePi 4A (Single-Board Computer/T-Head TH1520/Quad-Core RISC-V C910 1.85GHz/Up to 16GB LPDDR4X/4 TOPS NPU)
- ASUS Tinker Board 2 (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3399/Hexa-Core Cortex-A72+A53/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Industrial-Grade Pi-Style Board) vs Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative)
- ASUS Tinker Board 3N (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568 Quad-Core Cortex-A55/LPDDR4X/Dual LAN/PoE PD/M.2 Expansion) vs Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative)
- Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative) vs BeagleBone AI-64 (Single-Board Computer/Texas Instruments TDA4VM/Dual-Core Cortex-A72 2.0GHz/4GB RAM/Robotics and Vision AI Pick)
- Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative) vs BeagleBone Black (Single-Board Computer/TI Sitara AM3358/Single-Core Cortex-A8 1GHz/PRU Real-Time Coprocessors)