Peter Gamma (Physiologist & Director) Meditation Research Institute Switzerland (MRIS)

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Issue: which device to choose as a Raspberry Pi zero 2 w alternative?

Posted bypg@petergamma.org

Last Updated on April 9, 2023 by pg@petergamma.org

  • We experienced that during our review of the Raspberry Pi zero 2 w, the price for this device increased from 40 USD to 105 USD, which is an increase of 65 USD
  • two month ago, the Raspberry Pi zero 2 ws 17 USD on Aliexpress.

Seller or re-sellers who do stock market speculations with devices developers are interested in cost them time and money, hinder development and cause withdrawal of the devices under speculation.

  • we immediately evaluated further to find alternatives, for instance:

1. Raspberry Pi 3

  • People with low budget can use a Raspberry Pi 3 instead of the Raspberry Pi zero 2w

2. The MangoPi MQ-QUAD

  • The device is often faster and draws less power than the Raspberry Pi zero w 2.
  • There is a MangoPi Pro (single core) Armbian YouTube demo available from NicoD SBCs.
  • Since the 4 core device has similar specifications than the 1 core device, Armbian should also work on the 4 core version of the device.
  • Video playback has issues, and web browers did not work with Armbian on the single core device, but most applications worked on Armbian.
  • If you can do without a web browser and video playback or if you can resolve these issues the device is an alternative.

  • We think it is worth testing this device with the Debian image of the manufacturer.
  • The YouTube reviewers Embedded System who did speed and power tests with the device mentioned that Debian which can be downloaded from the manufacturer works best with this device.
  • We think it is worth testing if web surfing works with the Debian image.

  • According to NicoD’s SBCs most software runs on Armbian installed on the single core version of the device, except for browsers.

  • He thinks it is a lot of time to get browsers work on this soc.
  • He thinks this does not work on this chip.
  • It is a RISC-V single board computer.

  • Learn Embedded Systems says they suppose most users will use the Debian image for the Device.
  • NicoD’s SBCs promotes Armbian on his channel, did he therefore not test the Debian version?
  • Learn Embedded Systems did benchmarks with the device running Debian.

Learn Embedded Systems with 22.800 subscribers on YouTube called the MangoPi MQ-QUAD a true raspberry Pi zero 2 competitor, but we miss a confirmation that browsers work on the device, for instance if Debian is installed.

  • 22.800 Abonnenten

3. Orange Pi 5

  • The device offers a contemporary hardware platform.
  • Software developement is in progress, but the device is still quiet new.
  • But for developers we think it is worth to try if this device works for you.
  • We expect that power consumption is bigger than for low power devices
  • we need a bigger battery, but if our application works on this device, we have a new and contemporary device
  • The Orange Pi 5 is available within 2 – 3 weeks if you live in Switzerland.
  • We already asked Digitec Switzerland why they do not sell the device and ask to start selling it
  • We suggest you to do the same with the Orange seller in your country.

4. Orange Pi Zero 2

  • There is an Armbian image available for the device

https://imola.armbian.com/archive/orangepizero2/archive/

  • There is a forum for Armbian for this device:

https://forum.armbian.com/forum/140-orange-pi-zero-2/

5. the Orange Pi Zero has newer Armbian images than Pi Zero 2

Orange Pi Zero

6. And there are many other Orange Pi single board computers that support Armbian:

https://forum.armbian.com/forum/173-allwinner-sunxi/

  • We can find them on ebay starting from 25 USD up to 150 USD:

https://www.ebay.ch/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=orange+pi&_sacat=92074&LH_PrefLoc=2&rt=nc&_pgn=1

  • We have currently 595 results on ebay for Orange Pi.