The single-board computer (SBC) market has long been dominated by the Raspberry Pi, but a new contender is shaking things up. FriendlyElec’s NanoPi M5 is making waves with specs that cater to power users, including up to 16GB of RAM, NVMe SSD support, and 4K monitor compatibility—features that even the latest Raspberry Pi models struggle to match.
A Closer Look at the Hardware
At the heart of the NanoPi M5 is the Rockchip RK3568, a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor clocked at 2.0 GHz. While it may not outperform the Raspberry Pi 5’s Cortex-A76 cores in raw speed, it compensates with flexibility. The star attraction here is the 16GB LPDDR4X RAM option, a first for SBCs in this price range, making the M5 a viable candidate for memory-intensive tasks like virtualization, AI workloads, or media servers.
The board’s NVMe SSD support via an M.2 slot is another game-changer. Unlike the Raspberry Pi, which relies on slower microSD cards or USB-attached storage, the NanoPi M5 can leverage blazing-fast NVMe drives for quicker boot times and smoother data handling. Paired with its 4K@60Hz HDMI output, this makes the device a compelling choice for 4K media centers or lightweight desktop setups.
Connectivity and Expandability
The NanoPi M5 doesn’t skimp on ports, either. It includes Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0, ensuring robust connectivity. You’ll also find two USB 3.0 ports, a USB 2.0 port, and a 40-pin GPIO header for hardware tinkerers. For those diving into projects requiring real-time processing, the board even offers an SPI-connected RP2040 microcontroller (the same chip powering the Raspberry Pi Pico) for low-power tasks.
Software and Use Cases
FriendlyElec supports both Android 12 and multiple Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and Debian. Developers and hobbyists can access extensive documentation on the NanoPi M5 wiki, which provides guides for everything from OS installation to GPIO programming.
Potential applications range from home servers (thanks to that NVMe storage and ample RAM) to digital signage or retro gaming consoles. The 4K output also positions it as a budget-friendly alternative to mini PCs for light productivity work.
Pricing and Availability
Starting at $45 for the 4GB model (scaling up to $99 for the 16GB version), the NanoPi M5 undercuts many x86 competitors while offering Raspberry Pi-like affordability. You can purchase it directly from FriendlyElec’s store or via third-party retailers like Amazon, where it’s increasingly available globally.
The Verdict
The NanoPi M5 isn’t just another Raspberry Pi clone—it’s a thoughtfully designed SBC that addresses specific gaps in the market. While Raspberry Pi still holds the crown for community support and software polish, the M5’s hardware upgrades make it a tantalizing option for users craving more power and storage flexibility. Whether you’re building a NAS, a edge computing node, or a 4K media hub, this board deserves a spot on your shortlist.
*Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the Wi-Fi standard; the NanoPi M5 supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), not Wi-Fi 6.*
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