Orange Pi CM4
Expert rating6.5 / 10
- SoC:
- Rockchip RK3566
- CPU:
- Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
- Memory:
- Up to 8GB LPDDR4
- Storage:
- Onboard eMMC up to 32GB
- Price:
- From $35
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Manufacturer: Orange Pi Last updated: 2026-10-10
Orange Pi CM4 Review
Orange Pi CM4 compute module built on the Rockchip RK3566, up to 8GB LPDDR4 RAM, onboard eMMC storage, a small NPU, and a SO-DIMM edge connector for mounting on custom or official Orange Pi carrier boards.
Priced well below the Raspberry Pi CM4 it visually competes with, the Orange Pi CM4 gives makers and small manufacturers a cheaper embeddable module with a built-in NPU, at the cost of a much smaller carrier-board ecosystem and less mature long-term software support.
Overview
Following the Raspberry Pi CM4's SO-DIMM concept, Orange Pi's CM4 swaps in a Rockchip RK3566 SoC, undercutting the official module's price while adding a small onboard NPU that the Broadcom-based original lacks entirely.
Performance & Connectivity
On its official carrier board, the module exposes Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, HDMI, and a 40-pin GPIO header; the NPU can run lightweight RKNN-converted vision models for basic detection tasks that the Raspberry Pi CM4 would need external hardware for.
Comparison to Alternatives
Against the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4, the Orange Pi CM4 is meaningfully cheaper and adds an NPU, but trails badly on documentation, carrier-board variety, and long-term supply guarantees that industrial buyers value. Compared to full boards like the Orange Pi 3B, the CM4 trades plug-and-play convenience for embeddability into a custom product.
Our verdict
Reviewed by Burooj Alam. Rated by us, not by users.
Expert rating6.5 / 10
A budget-friendly CM4-style module with a useful NPU bonus, best suited to cost-sensitive hobby products rather than anything needing long-term industrial support.
Best for
- Cost-sensitive custom carrier-board projects
- Small hobbyist products needing basic NPU vision
- Makers comfortable with a smaller support community
Not for
- Industrial products needing guaranteed long-term supply
- Anyone wanting the Raspberry Pi CM4's carrier-board ecosystem
- Projects needing extensive official documentation
Specifications
What these specs meanIdentity
| Brand | Orange Pi |
|---|---|
| Model Number | Orange Pi CM4 |
Processor
| SoC Model | Rockchip RK3566, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz |
|---|
Graphics and AI
| GPU Model | Mali-G52 2EE |
|---|
Power
| Power Input | Carrier-board dependent, typically 5V |
|---|
| CPU Architecture | ARM |
|---|---|
| Memory | 8 GB |
| Storage Type | eMMC |
| Has AI Accelerator / NPU | Yes |
| Wireless | WiFi 5 |
| GPIO Header | No |
| Price | 35 USD |
| Use Case | General Purpose |
Measured results
HPL (Linpack) test
| HPL (Linpack) throughput | 5.604 Gflops | HPL (Linpack), whole board · Orange Pi CM4 (RK3566 4-core) · Source |
| HPL efficiency | 1.4 Gflops/W | HPL (Linpack), whole board · Orange Pi CM4 (RK3566 4-core) · Source |
| Wall power during HPL | 4 W | HPL (Linpack), whole board · Orange Pi CM4 (RK3566 4-core) · Source |
One run by the author. Power is average wall power for the whole board during the run (Kill-A-Watt or smart-plug meter), so it includes the power supply and attached devices. Results depend on RAM, cooling and software settings.
Retrieved 23 Sept 2026
Jeff Geerling, top500-benchmark (github.com/geerlingguy/top500-benchmark). Copyright 2022 Jeff Geerling. Used under the MIT License; full permission notice: github.com/geerlingguy/top500-benchmark/blob/master/LICENSE
FAQs
What are the key specifications of the Orange Pi CM4 (Compute Module/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SO-DIMM Embedded Module)?
Key specs for the Orange Pi CM4: CPU Architecture ARM, GPU Mali-G52 2EE, Storage Type eMMC, Processor Rockchip RK3566, Quad-Core Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz.
Will the Orange Pi CM4 (Compute Module/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SO-DIMM Embedded Module) work with my current setup?
The Orange Pi CM4 (Compute Module/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SO-DIMM Embedded Module) 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 CM4 (Compute Module/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SO-DIMM Embedded Module) best suited to?
Best suited to: Cost-sensitive custom carrier-board projects; Small hobbyist products needing basic NPU vision; Makers comfortable with a smaller support community.
What are the drawbacks of the Orange Pi CM4 (Compute Module/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SO-DIMM Embedded Module)?
Not the best fit for: Industrial products needing guaranteed long-term supply; Anyone wanting the Raspberry Pi CM4's carrier-board ecosystem; Projects needing extensive official documentation.
Compare and read more
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- Banana Pi BPI-M5 (Single-Board Computer/Amlogic S905X3/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/4GB LPDDR4/Raspberry Pi Form-Factor Alternative) vs Orange Pi CM4 (Compute Module/Rockchip RK3566/Quad-Core Cortex-A55 1.8GHz/Up to 8GB LPDDR4/SO-DIMM Embedded Module)
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