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Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W vs IceWhale ZimaBoard 2

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

all judged against single-board computers at a similar price

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W scores 6.9/10 overall, ahead of the IceWhale ZimaBoard 2 at 6.3/10.

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W leads on software support and value.

The IceWhale ZimaBoard 2 leads on performance, storage and I/O and networking.

The biggest difference is software support, where the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W scores 10/10 to the IceWhale ZimaBoard 2's 5/10.

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

6.9/10verdict: buy

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is for people who need a wireless quad-core Arm board for headless projects. It suits those replacing an original Pi Zero or building embedded and IoT jobs that need a 40-pin footprint and Bluetooth. It is a poor fit for anyone who wants a desktop, wired networking or fast storage.

Typically about £14.40 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

ZimaBoard 2

IceWhale ZimaBoard 2

6.3/10verdict: good, not the best

The ZimaBoard 2 is for homelabbers who want a compact x86 board for a small NAS or Docker host. It offers an Intel N150, dual 2.5GbE and two SATA ports, with 8GB or 16GB of soldered RAM. It suits people who value low power draw and quiet running over upgradeability.

Typically about £288.89 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

CriterionWeightRaspberry Pi Zero 2 WIceWhale ZimaBoard 2
Software support30%10/105/10
Performance25%6/107/10
Storage15%4/107/10
I/O and networking15%5/108/10
Value15%7/105/10
Overall6.9/106.3/10

Specifications

SpecRaspberry Pi Zero 2 WIceWhale ZimaBoard 2
Processor (SoC)Broadcom BCM2710A1, quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A53 at 1GHzIntel N150 (4 cores, 4 threads, up to 3.6GHz)
Memory512MB LPDDR28GB (832) or 16GB (1664) LPDDR5 4800 MHz, soldered and not upgradable
Storage optionsmicroSD card slot only32GB (832) or 64GB (1664) onboard eMMC; two SATA 6Gbps ports
Networking2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, BLE, onboard antenna; no EthernetDual 2.5GbE
GPIO40-pin HAT-compatible I/O header footprint, unpopulatednot listed
Video outputsMini HDMI port; composite video via test pointsOne Mini DisplayPort 1.4, up to 4K at 60Hz
Power inputMicro USB, rated 5V DC 2.5A (supply rating)12V DC barrel input, 60W adapter

Strengths and weaknesses

Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W

  • + Quad-core 1GHz CPU is a clear step up from the original Zero
  • + Drop-in replacement for the original Zero, easing migration
  • + Wi-Fi is competent and the onboard antenna is decent
  • − 512MB RAM hampers web browsing
  • − Runs hot under load and needs cooling
  • − No Ethernet, no 5GHz Wi-Fi, header pins unpopulated

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need wired Ethernet or 5GHz Wi-Fi
  • Anyone wanting a browser-based desktop with 512MB of RAM
  • Buyers who need fast storage or USB 3 peripherals
Read the full Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W review ›

IceWhale ZimaBoard 2

  • + Dual 2.5GbE with about 275 to 280 MB/s reported real-world
  • + Low idle power draw, and silent without the fan
  • + Two SATA 6Gbps ports plus a PCIe 3.0 x2 lane
  • − RAM and eMMC are soldered and cannot be upgraded
  • − Throttling and 90s C package temperatures in passive tests
  • − UK buyers can only pay in US dollars on Zima's store

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want to upgrade RAM or onboard storage later
  • Anyone planning sustained heavy load with passive cooling
  • Projects that need a Raspberry Pi-style GPIO header
Read the full IceWhale ZimaBoard 2 review ›

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