FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S
Expert rating7.9 / 10
- SoC:
- Rockchip RK3568
- CPU:
- Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz
- Memory:
- Up to 4GB LPDDR4
- Storage:
- eMMC + microSD
- Price:
- $60
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: FriendlyElec Last updated: 2026-09-12
FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board) Review
FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S single-board computer with a Rockchip RK3568 quad-core CPU, dual independent 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, up to 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, and a small NPU, purpose-built as a pocket-sized router and firewall board.
The R5S has become something of a cult favorite in the homelab and self-hosted-router community, because it does one thing extremely well: route real gigabit-plus traffic between two networks in a box smaller than a deck of cards, running OpenWrt, OPNsense-adjacent Linux firewalls, or Ubuntu.
Overview
FriendlyElec designed the R-series specifically for networking use cases rather than general tinkering, and the R5S packs two independent 2.5GbE controllers plus RK3568's small NPU into a fanless, GPIO-less enclosure-ready board aimed squarely at router, firewall, and NAS-gateway builds.
Performance & Connectivity
Both Ethernet ports run at true 2.5Gbps independently of each other, letting the R5S saturate a fast home internet connection while still routing LAN traffic without contention. An eMMC socket keeps boot storage reliable, and a USB 3.0 port supports external drives for basic NAS duty.
Comparison to Alternatives
Against the Hardkernel ODROID-M1, the R5S is more narrowly focused on pure networking (no GPIO, less RAM headroom) but is typically cheaper and smaller for router-only use. Compared to the Hardkernel ODROID-H3, the R5S trades x86 software compatibility for lower power draw and a genuinely pocketable form factor.
Specifications
Identity
| Brand | FriendlyElec |
|---|
| CPU Architecture | ARM |
|---|---|
| Memory | 4 GB |
| Storage Type | eMMC |
| Has AI Accelerator / NPU | Yes |
| Wireless | None (Ethernet only) |
| GPIO Header | No |
| Price | 60 USD |
| Use Case | NAS / Server |
| Model | NanoPi R5S |
| Processor | Rockchip RK3568, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EE |
| Power | 12V/2A DC barrel |
Expert Review
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Expert rating7.9 / 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.
Best for
- OpenWrt or Linux-based home router/firewall builds
- Multi-gigabit network segmentation projects
- Compact NAS-gateway combos
Not for
- GPIO or electronics tinkering (no header)
- General-purpose desktop or media-center use
- Projects needing more than 4GB RAM
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board)?
The FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board) is a single board computer from FriendlyElec. Key specs: Processor Rockchip RK3568, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz, CPU Architecture ARM, GPU Mali-G52 2EE, Memory 4, Storage Type eMMC.
Will the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board) work with my current setup?
The FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board) lists Processor is Rockchip RK3568, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 2.0GHz. 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 FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board) best suited to?
It suits openwrt or linux-based home router/firewall builds, multi-gigabit network segmentation projects, compact nas-gateway combos.
What are the drawbacks of the FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board)?
It is a poor fit for gpio or electronics tinkering (no header), general-purpose desktop or media-center use, projects needing more than 4gb ram.
Compare and read more
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board) vs NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX Developer Kit (Single-Board Computer/Jetson Orin NX/Ampere GPU/Up to 16GB/Mid-Tier AI Dev Kit)
- ASUS NUC 13 Pro Board (Single-Board Computer/Intel Core i7-1360P (Raptor Lake)/Up to 64GB DDR5/Embedded NUC Motherboard) vs FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board)
- Compulab IOT-GATE-iMX8 (Single-Board Computer/NXP i.MX 8M Quad/Quad-Core Cortex-A53/DIN-Rail Industrial IoT Gateway) vs FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board)
- Firefly ROC-RK3588S-PC (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3588S/Octa-Core/8K Decode/UEFI Boot/AI Mainboard) vs FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board)
- FriendlyElec NanoPi R5S (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3568/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 2.0GHz/Up to 4GB LPDDR4/Dual 2.5GbE Router Board) vs NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin Developer Kit (Single-Board Computer/12-Core Cortex-A78AE/2048-Core Ampere GPU/64GB LPDDR5/Flagship Edge AI Dev Kit)