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Arduino UNO Q 4GB (ABX00173) vs Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against single-board computers at a similar price

The Arduino UNO Q 4GB (ABX00173) scores 5.1/10 overall, ahead of the Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO at 4.6/10.

The Arduino UNO Q 4GB (ABX00173) leads on software support, storage and I/O and networking.

The Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO leads on value.

They score the same on performance.

Arduino UNO Q 4GB (ABX00173)

Arduino UNO Q 4GB (ABX00173)

5.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The Arduino UNO Q 4GB suits makers who want Linux and real-time Arduino code on one UNO-format board. It is aimed at projects that mix sensors and actuators with software running on Debian. It is a weaker fit for anyone who wants a general-purpose mini computer with wired networking and storage expansion.

Typically about £59.31 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO

Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO

4.6/10verdict: skip

The Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO is for people who want a small, wireless board for light, single-purpose jobs. It suits builders who already have Raspberry Pi Zero cases or GPIO accessories to reuse. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs wired networking, fast storage or a lot of memory.

Typically about £23.93 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightArduino UNO Q 4GB (ABX00173)Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO
Software support30%6/105/10
Performance25%5/105/10
Storage15%5/103/10
I/O and networking15%5/104/10
Value15%4/105/10
Overall5.1/104.6/10

Specifications

SpecArduino UNO Q 4GB (ABX00173)Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO
Processor (SoC)Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210, quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 @ 2.0 GHz, 64-bit, Adreno 702 GPU @ 845 MHz, plus separate STM32U585 MCU (Cortex-M33, up to 160 MHz)Allwinner H3 quad-core Cortex-A7
Memory4GB LPDDR4512 MB DDR3, shared with GPU
Storage options32GB onboard eMMC; no SD or M.2 slot listedmicroSD (TF) card up to 64 GB; no onboard flash
NetworkingDual-band Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac) and Bluetooth 5.1 on module WCBN3536A; no Ethernet port listedOnboard Wi-Fi 802.11n via AP6212/K016 (SDIO); no onboard Ethernet
GPIOArduino UNO-compatible headers: JDIGITAL (18-pin, 3.3 V), JANALOG (14-pin, 3.3 V), JMISC (60-pin, mixed 1.8 V/3.3 V), JMEDIA (60-pin, 1.8 V), JCTL (10-pin, 1.8 V), JSPI (6-pin), Qwiic (4-pin); no total GPIO count published40-pin header, pin-compatible with Raspberry Pi 3
Video outputsUSB-C DisplayPort Alt-Mode via ANX7625 bridge; Full HD (1920x1080) supported, 1280x720 optimal in SBC mode; shared with JMEDIA MIPI-DSI outputMini HDMI 1.4, 1080p30 output; decodes 1080p60 H.264, encodes 1080p30 H.264
Power inputUSB-C 5 V up to 3 A (5 V/3 A PD); 7-24 V DC on VIN; or 5 V on 5V_SYS pin; recommended minimum 15 W PD supplyMicro USB, 5V/2A

Strengths and weaknesses

Arduino UNO Q 4GB (ABX00173)

  • + Linux and a real-time MCU on one board
  • + UNO-compatible headers plus Qwiic connector
  • + Low power draw reported, about 0.5 W idle
  • − No Ethernet port listed
  • − No SD or M.2 slot listed
  • − One reviewer found it slower than a Raspberry Pi 5

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need wired Ethernet, since none is listed.
  • Anyone who wants SD or M.2 storage expansion.
  • Users who want the fastest general-purpose Linux board at this price.
Read the full Arduino UNO Q 4GB (ABX00173) review ›

Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO

  • + Pin-compatible 40-pin GPIO header, matching Raspberry Pi 3
  • + Onboard 802.11n Wi-Fi
  • + Owners report Raspberry Pi Zero cases and accessories fit
  • − No onboard Ethernet; wired networking only via GPIO
  • − 512 MB of RAM, shared with the GPU
  • − microSD only, with a single USB 2.0 OTG port

Skip it if:

  • Anyone who needs onboard wired Ethernet or gigabit networking
  • Buyers wanting NVMe, M.2 or storage beyond a 64 GB microSD card
  • Homelabbers planning several containers or VMs on more than 512 MB of RAM
Read the full Banana Pi BPI-M2 ZERO review ›

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