Raspberry Pi 5 vs Orange Pi 5 in 2024

We’re comparing Raspberry Pi 5 vs Orange Pi 5 to help you make an informed purchasing decision.

The arrival of Raspberry Pi 5 in 2023 has been met with eager enthusiasm from around the world. A solid four years since the rollout of Pi 4, the flagship model delivers around twice the processing speed plus faster read and write speeds. As you might have feared, it’s currently sold out almost everywhere.

Orange Pi 5 meanwhile, was released earlier this year. It is the more powerful of the two single-board computers, though has traditionally been less appealing to beginners thanks to a lack of software and driver support. We’ll be offering a full break down of both devices so you can get a sense of which one would be better for you.

Raspberry Pi 5 vs Orange Pi 5: Comparing the raw specs

After this table comparing the specs of Raspberry Pi 5 and Orange Pi 5, we’ll go into further depth about how these specs influence the specific use cases and projects you have in mind.

Specs	Raspberry Pi 5	Orange Pi 5
CPU	• quad-core, 64-bit 4x ARM Cortex-A76 • 512KB per-core L2 caches and a 2MB shared L3 cache • Cryptography extensions	• 8-core, 64-bit processor • Big.Little Architecture: 4xCortex-A76 and 4xCortex-A55, • • • Big core cluster is 2.4GHz, and Little core cluster is 1.8GHz frequency.
GPU	• VideoCore VII • Supports OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2	• Arm Mali-G610 MP4 “Odin” GPU • Compatible with OpenGL ES1.1/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.2 and Vulkan 1.2 • 3D graphics engine and 2D graphics engine
Operating System	Runs on a Linux-based sytem	Supports the Orange Pi OS (Droid), Ubuntu, Android12, and Debian11
Network	1Gb Ethernet 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz 802.11ac Wi-Fi Bluetooth 5.0/BLE	10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet
RAM	4/8GB LPDDR4X	4/8/12GB LPDDR4/4X
SoC	BCM2712	Rockchip RK3588S
Power	5V/5A (USB-C)	5V/4A (USB-C)
Video Output	2x micro HDMI (4Kp60) 2x MIPI DSI/CSI	• HDMI 2.1, up to 8Kp60 • DP1.4 (DisplayPort), DP1.4 and USB3.1 ports are multiplexed, and the port is shared with Type-C • 2 * MIPI D-PHY TX 4Lane, configurable up to 4Kp60
USB	2x USB 2.0 2x USB 3.0	2x USB2.0 1x USB3.0 Type-C (USB3.1) ×1
Size	94x62mm	100x62mm

Power consumption

Both the Raspberry and Orange Pi computers we’re comparing are relatively power efficient. Orange Pi 5 takes the crown though on account of its big.LITTLE architecture and 8nm LP process design.

Pay attention to the bigger A76 cores which handle the demanding tasks. Meanwhile, the feisty little A55 cores are left to handle the more conventional tasks. The split between these two cores creates a fallback for the Orange Pi 5 that decreases power consumption, without affecting the overall performance.

That’s not to say Raspberry Pi 5 isn’t a power-efficient machine. It’s also worth noting the flagship model has improved in power efficiency from Pi 4 too.

Connectivity and networking

Both boards are pretty evenly matched here, though Orange Pi 5 takes the technical win if you’re interested in 8K video output. Both enjoy two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, a PCIe 2.0 interface, Gigabit Ethernet, and HDMI display output.

The Raspberry Pi 5 comes with onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while the Orange Pi 5 lacks both. There is the option to connect an adapter for the M.2 slot or a USB adapter for WiFi/Bluetooth capabilities though.

CPU performance

Raspberry Pi 5 is impressive, but Orange Pi 5 takes the crown when it comes to comparing CPU capabilities.

Raspberry Pi 5 performs well when it comes to its single-core performance. This means it’s well suited to running Ubuntu or Debian-based applications. Orange Pi 5 meanwhile excels in its multi-core performance thanks to its 8-core CPU. This makes the Orange Pi best suited for more intensive uses and heavier workloads.

Expandability and slots

Both boards offer excellent expandability options. Raspberry Pi 5 comes with a standard slot for SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), while the Orange Pi 5 goes that extra step with its MIPI D-PHY TX interface. For that reason, go for the Orange Pi 5 if you need versatility, perhaps for multiple peripherals or more complex projects.

What would you use the Orange Pi 5 for?

Those planning to use their Pi for data intensive tasks, pay attention to each computer’s connectivity options and overall capacity. Both come with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Gigabit Ethernet ports for network connections. However, the Orange Pi 5 is preferable here with its support for NVMe SSDs through a PCIe interface, over Pi 5 which only supports microSSDs. Especially if you use PCie 5.0 over 4.0, Orange Pi 5 is best suited for data-intensive tasks. Orange Pi 5 also comes with more RAM options, meaning it has the potential to handle larger datasets more efficiently than the Raspberry Pi 5.

What is the Raspberry Pi 5 better used for?

Raspberry Pi 5 is the better computer for emulating retro games. Why? Compared to Orange Pi 5, Raspberry Pi 5 has far better software support. This is a historical advantage of Raspberry Pi computers and difficult to beat. Though Orange Pi 5 probably is the best option if you’re exclusively looking at Raspberry Pi 5 alternatives.

Raspberry Pi 5 vs Orange Pi 5: Price comparison

Raspberry Pis enjoy a reputation for being great value machines on paper when it comes to MSRP – which is lower than the Orange Pi 5. As we’ve outlined in the table below, we’ve included the Orange Pi 5 Plus model includes a 256GB eMMC module and a bundled power supply, which contributes to its higher price.

Model	Raspberry Pi 5	Orange Pi 5
4GB RAM	$60	$85
8GB RAM	$80	$100
16GB RAM	N/A	$170 (Plus model)
32GB RAM	N/A	$159 (standard model) $180 (Plus model)

The news that the Pi 5 would only cost $5 more than Pi 4, despite boasting both a CPU and GPU performance boost has been popular. However, is the MSRP relevant if scalpers are hoovering up the stock and charging extortionate prices for the flagship model?

Meanwhile, users may find the price of the Orange Pi 5 to be decent, only costing slightly more than the Pi 5. You may find the Orange Pi 5 is easier to get a hold of, especially if you’re not based in the UK and have access to the Raspberry Pi store in Cambridge. Unless you’re keen to save every penny, your final decision should be based on which computer is best suited to your needs and projects.

Raspberry Pi 5 vs Orange Pi 5 – what’s our verdict?

We could hit you with the classic line, and say that your choice will come down to your personal needs and budget. It is technically true, but let us elaborate. If this will be your first Pi board, you should consider going with Raspberry Pi 5 (if you can get your hands on one). There’s an abundance of helpful videos out there, and comes built-in with Wi-Fi, which saves you from having to add it in yourself.

Orange Pi 5 is the more powerful board though, and delivers a stronger mutli-core performance. With that, you should have a good idea about what sort of projects you want to attempt before buying. The extra $20 you spend on the Orange Pi 5 is easily worth it.