NanoPi NEO3

NanoPi NEO3 is a Cheap Raspberry Pi Alternative From FriendlyELEC

NanoPi NEO3 is a tiny SBC (Single Board Computer) powered by Rockchip RK3328 processor and made for headless applications and networked storage thanks to Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.0 ports, as well as a 26-pin GPIO header.

Firstly, NanoPi NEO3 is the cheaper Raspberry Pi Alternative developed by company FriendlyElec. As a result their latest board the NanoPi NEO3 seems to be a small device that measures just about 1.9″ x 1.9″. It is an Open Source Single Board Computer with which for example you can build network storage applications. NanoPi NEO3 features a 1.5 GHz Rockchip RK3328 ARM Cortex-A53 quad-core processor, support for up to 2GB of RAM, and of course a microSD card for storage.

At the moment the board was still been finalized, but the company has now started to take orders for $20 and up depending on options which include a cute white enclosure.

NanoPi NEO3

NanoPi NEO3 Specifications

SoCRockChip RK3328, Quad-core 64-bit high-performance Cortex A53
RAM1GB/2GB DDR4
LAN10/100/1000M Ethernet with unique MAC
USB Host1x USB3.0 Type A and 2x USB2.0 on 2.54mm pin header
MicroSDMicroSD x 1 for system boot and storage
Fan2Pin JST ZH 1.5mm Connector for 5V Fan
GPIO2.54mm pitch 26 pin-header, include I2C, UART, SPI, I2S, GPIO
Power5V/1A, via Type-C or GPIO
PCB Dimensions48 x 48mm (1.89 inch x 1.89 inch)
Working Temperature-20℃ to 70℃
Weight22g

The RockChip RK3328 System on Chip (SoC) however is quite an old SoC. In addition it is released in 2016, but it is still a powerful chip for such a small board. NanoPi NEO3 providing a quad core Arm Cortex A53 and MAli-450MP4 GPU, add in 1GB or 2GB of DDR4, USB 3 and USB C power. So, we have an interesting board, as long as it is cost effective. Network connectivity is limited to a single Gigabit Ethernet port (RTL8211E). In addition to, there is no HDMI or other video outputs on the board, which means all control is via a remote terminal.

Storage is available via a microSD card slot, because there is no space for any SATA or NVME storage options. GPIO access is provided via a 26 pin interface, which features I2C, UART, SPI and I2S. Operating system support is currently an unknown quantity, but it is a good bet that operating systems for other RockChip boards will be compatible.

Finally, the $20 NanoPi NEO3 price tag is for the version with 1GB RAM, and you’ll need to add $5 to get 2GB RAM and an extra $2 for the enclosure.

Team Linuxiac
Team Linuxiac

Think You're an Ubuntu Expert? Let's Find Out!

Put your knowledge to the test in our lightning-fast Ubuntu quiz!
Ten questions to challenge yourself to see if you're a Linux legend or just a penguin in the making.

1 / 10

Ubuntu is an ancient African word that means:

2 / 10

Who is the Ubuntu's founder?

3 / 10

What year was the first official Ubuntu release?

4 / 10

What does the Ubuntu logo symbolize?

5 / 10

What package format does Ubuntu use for installing software?

6 / 10

When are Ubuntu's LTS versions released?

7 / 10

What is Unity?

8 / 10

What are Ubuntu versions named after?

9 / 10

What's Ubuntu Core?

10 / 10

Which Ubuntu version is Snap introduced?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *