Orange Pi 3B
Expert rating6.6 / 10
- SoC:
- Rockchip RK3566
- CPU:
- Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
- Memory:
- Up to 8GB LPDDR4
- Storage:
- microSD + eMMC + SATA (via adapter)
- Price:
- $50
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Manufacturer: Orange Pi Last updated: 2026-09-14
Orange Pi 3B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SATA-Capable Budget Board) Review
Orange Pi 3B single-board computer with a Rockchip RK3566 quad-core CPU, up to 8GB LPDDR4 RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, SATA support via an M.2-to-SATA adapter, a small NPU, and a 26-pin GPIO header.
The 3B leans into budget NAS territory by supporting SATA drives through its M.2 slot, giving it a genuine path to spinning-disk storage that most sub-$60 ARM boards simply don't offer, alongside enough RAM headroom for lightweight file-serving duties on its compact 89 x 56mm board.
Overview
Orange Pi positioned the 3B as a value-focused general-purpose board with an unusual bonus for its price bracket: SATA connectivity through an M.2 B-key slot with a SATA adapter, letting budget NAS builders attach a real hard drive instead of relying solely on USB storage.
Performance & Connectivity
Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band WiFi 5, USB 3.0, an IR receiver, and a small onboard NPU give the 3B a well-rounded spec sheet for its price, while 4K video decode makes it a reasonable budget media-center option alongside its NAS capabilities.
Comparison to Alternatives
Against the Milk-V Mars, which shares the same RK3566 SoC, the Orange Pi 3B adds SATA storage support via its M.2 B-key slot at a similar price point, making it the stronger pick for storage-focused builds, though the Mars matches the Raspberry Pi 4's GPIO pinout and mounting holes while the 3B does not. Compared to the Radxa ROCK 4C Plus, the 3B is cheaper and adds SATA and an onboard NPU, but the 4C Plus offers a faster RK3399 CPU and full M.2 NVMe rather than SATA-via-adapter. Against the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B (8GB), the 3B undercuts it substantially on price and adds SATA and an NPU, but trails badly on software ecosystem and documentation.
Specifications
Identity
| Brand | Orange Pi |
|---|
| CPU Architecture | ARM |
|---|---|
| Memory | 8 GB |
| Storage Type | eMMC + M.2 B-key (SATA via adapter) |
| Has AI Accelerator / NPU | Yes |
| Wireless | WiFi 5 |
| GPIO Header | Yes |
| Price | 50 USD |
| Use Case | NAS / Server |
| Model | Orange Pi 3B |
| Processor | Rockchip RK3566, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz |
| GPU | Mali-G52 2EE |
| Power | 5V/3A USB-C |
| Board Dimensions | 89 x 56 mm |
| USB Ports | 1x USB 3.0 Type-A, 3x USB 2.0 Type-A |
| Video Output | 1x HDMI 2.0 (4K30), 4-lane MIPI-DSI |
| Video Decode | 4K@60fps H.265/VP9 |
| Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Storage | microSD + onboard eMMC (0/8/32/128GB variants) + M.2 B-key SATA adapter slot |
| Camera/Display Connectors | MIPI-CSI, MIPI-DSI |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone/mic jack, onboard speaker header |
| IR Receiver | Yes |
| RTC | Yes, onboard battery connector |
| Operating System Support | Orange Pi OS, Ubuntu, Debian, Android 12 |
| Price Variants | 2GB/0GB eMMC $35 / 4GB/32GB eMMC $50 / 8GB/128GB eMMC $65 |
Expert Review
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Expert rating6.6 / 10
A genuinely useful budget option for anyone wanting SATA-based storage without stepping up to a pricier board -- the standout feature at this price.
Best for
- Budget NAS builds using a SATA hard drive
- Basic media-center or file-serving duty
- Cost-sensitive projects wanting a small NPU bonus
Not for
- Performance-focused builds (see Radxa ROCK Pi 4C Plus)
- Buyers who need the widest Linux distro support
- Projects requiring full-speed NVMe rather than SATA
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the Orange Pi 3B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SATA-Capable Budget Board)?
The Orange Pi 3B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SATA-Capable Budget Board) is a single board computer from Orange Pi. Key specs: Processor Rockchip RK3566, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz, CPU Architecture ARM, GPU Mali-G52 2EE, Memory 8, Has AI Accelerator / NPU true.
Will the Orange Pi 3B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SATA-Capable Budget Board) work with my current setup?
The Orange Pi 3B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SATA-Capable Budget Board) lists Processor is Rockchip RK3566, 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 Orange Pi 3B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SATA-Capable Budget Board) best suited to?
It suits budget nas builds using a sata hard drive, basic media-center or file-serving duty, cost-sensitive projects wanting a small npu bonus.
What are the drawbacks of the Orange Pi 3B (Single-Board Computer/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SATA-Capable Budget Board)?
It is a poor fit for performance-focused builds (see radxa rock pi 4c plus), buyers who need the widest linux distro support, projects requiring full-speed nvme rather than sata.
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