Sipeed has introduced the Longan Pi3H, a single board computer (SBC) that is similar in size to the Raspberry Pi Zero. Powered by an Allwinner H618 quad-core Cortex-A53 processor, the board features full-size connectors including an HDMI 2.0 video output, two USB 2.0 Type-A ports, and a gigabit Ethernet RJ45 jack. It also offers WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, a 40-pin GPIO header, and a USB OTG Type-C port for power. The board is composed of a carrier board and a replaceable LM3H CPU module with the Allwinner H618 SoC, RAM, and eMMC flash.

The Sipeed Longan Pi3H specifications include:

• SoC – Allwinner H618 with a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor, up to 1.5GHz, and 1MB L2 cache
• GPU – Arm Mali-G31 MP2 GPU with support for OpenGL ES 1.0/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.1
• VPU with support for various video formats
• System Memory – 2GB or 4GB LPDDR4
• Storage options include a microSD card slot and optional 32GB eMMC flash
• Video & Audio Output – HDMI 2.0a up to 4Kp60
• Networking features a gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port and dual-band WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 with a ceramic antenna
• USB ports include 2x USB 2.0 Type-A ports and 1x USB 2.0 OTG Type-C port
• Expansion options include a 40-pin Raspberry Pi-compatible GPIO header with I2C, SPI, UART, and a variety of GPIOs
• Debugging features a 4-pin debug UART (3.3V)
• Additional features include FEL and Reset buttons, 2x user LEDs
• Power supply options include 5V via USB Type-C port or 4-pin Debug UART header
• Dimensions: SBC – 65 x 30.8 x 23.6 mm, LM3H module – 46.1 x 25 x 2.9mm

Mainline Linux support for the board is expected to be merged in Q1 2024. While the documentation page is not currently working, hardware documentation such as schematics and mechanical drawings are available.

Pre-orders for the Sipeed Longan Pi3H are available on Aliexpress, with prices ranging from $17.90 for the 2GB RAM variant (without eMMC flash) to $34.90 for the 4GB RAM variant with 32GB eMMC flash. Shipping is expected to start on February 11, and the product will be available for European customers in a few days.

Source: CNX Software – Embedded Systems News.

The Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero is a small computer board that closely resembles the Raspberry Pi Zero in size and shape. However, it offers some notable differences, such as dual USB-C ports instead of micro USB ports and a more powerful processor.

The BPI-M4 Zero features an ARM Cortex-A53 quad-core processor, 2GB of LPDDR4 memory, and 8GB of eMMC flash storage. It also includes a Raspberry Pi-compatible 40-pin connector, making it compatible with a wide range of accessories.

Compared to the Raspberry Pi Zero, the BPI-M4 Zero boasts a 1.5 GHz Allwinner H618 processor, which is the same chip used in another Raspberry Pi Zero clone, the Orange Pi Zero 2W.

In terms of ports and connectors, the Banana Pi model includes a mini HDMI 2.0a port, two USB Type-C ports (one with support for 5V/3A power input), a microSD card reader, a 24-pin FPC connector (supporting USB 2.0, 100 Mbps Ethernet, and IR), a 40-pin header, and a WiFi 5 & BT 4.2 module. The board also features two status LED lights, a wireless antenna, and two hardware keys functioning as a reset button and a FEL button.

Measuring 65 x 30mm, the BPI-M4 Zero should fit in most cases designed for the Raspberry Pi Zero or similar boards.

Pricing and availability for the Banana Pi BPI-M4 Zero have not been announced yet. However, it is expected that the board will be priced under $20, which is typical for this kind of device.

Source: Liliputing.