Orange Pi

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 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.

Our verdict

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

Specifications

What these specs mean

Identity

Brand	Orange Pi
Model Number	Orange Pi 3B

Processor

SoC Model	Rockchip RK3566, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz

Graphics and AI

GPU Model	Mali-G52 2EE

Storage

Onboard Storage	microSD + onboard eMMC (0/8/32/128GB variants) + M.2 B-key SATA adapter slot

Networking

Ethernet Speed	Gigabit Ethernet

Display

Video Outputs	1 outputs

Expansion

RTC Support	Yes, onboard battery connector

Power

Power Input	5V/3A USB-C

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

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)?

Key specs for the Orange Pi 3B: CPU Architecture ARM, GPU Mali-G52 2EE, Storage Type eMMC + M.2 B-key (SATA via adapter), Storage microSD + onboard eMMC (0/8/32/128GB variants) + M.2 B-key SATA adapter slot, Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet, USB Ports 1x USB 3.0 Type-A, 3x USB 2.0 Type-A.

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?

Best suited to: 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)?

Not the best 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.