Best Single Board Computers in 2022


Single board computers (SBCs) are small, affordable, and powerful computers that are perfect for projects that require a high level of computing power and flexibility. With the rise of DIY projects, SBCs have become increasingly popular, as they can be used to build a wide variety of different devices and systems.

When looking for the best SBC for your project, there are several important factors to consider. First, you should think about your budget. SBCs come in a variety of different price ranges, so you’ll want to find one that fits within your budget. Additionally, you should consider the type of processor that the board uses, as this will determine the overall performance of the computer. You should also consider the type of memory and storage that the board offers, as these will determine the amount of data the board can store.

Finally, you should consider the type of ports that the board offers. Some SBCs offer ports for connecting peripherals such as cameras and keyboards, while others may offer more specialized ports for connecting to specific devices. Additionally, you should consider the operating system that the board runs, as this will determine what types of applications and programs you can run on the board.

When looking for the best SBC for your project, it’s important to take all of these factors into consideration. With the right board, you can create powerful and versatile systems that fit within your budget.

1. CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter MAX Kit - 64GB Edition

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter MAX Kit - 64GB Edition

Informations:

Raspberry Pi 4 On/Off Power Switch, CanaKit USB-C PiSwitch

Samsung EVO Micro SD Card, 64 GB (Class 10) NOOBS and a USB MicroSD Card Reader are pre-installed

CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan and Premium High-Gloss Raspberry Pi 4 Case with Integrated Fan Mount

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 3.5A USB-C Power Supply with Noise Filter, Heat Sink Set, and Two Micro HDMI to HDMI Cables, Six Foot (Supports up to 4K 60p)

includes a 1.5GHz 64-bit quad-core ARMv8 Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Model B CPU (4GB RAM)#

Review:

Works very much as I had anticipated. Without performing the hardware update, the system would have heated up more than it did due to the fan's comparatively low noise level. The cables are adequate, but if you want to use the RPi with a different display or connect it to a modem, you'll likely need some other supplies. To complete the setup, you must have a wired mouse and keyboard, though.It includes Noobs, which operates far faster than the Rpi 3 and allows you to download the primary operating system, Raspbian.Depending on what you plan to use the RPi 4 for, you may need to perform some independent research and tinkering to get the most out of it. This is not a product that can be bought on the spur of the moment.It functions as planned as is.

2. CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 Starter Kit

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 Starter Kit

Informations:

includes a quad-core, 64-bit, 1.5GHz Raspberry Pi 4 Model B processor (1GB RAM)

Samsung EVO Micro SD Card, 32 GB (Class 10) NOOBS and a USB MicroSD Card Reader are pre-installed

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 3.5A USB-C Power Supply with Noise Filter, Set of Heat Sinks, and a 6 foot Micro HDMI to HDMI Cable (Supports up to 4K 60p)

CanaKit's Raspberry Pi 4 Premium High-Gloss Case with Fan Mount and Low Noise Bearing System Fan

Raspberry Pi 4 On/Off Power Switch, CanaKit USB-C PiSwitch#

Review:

CanaKit: As always, a well-planned product.Performance: I make a career by writing software. Performance indicators are included in some of my more complex systems so that I can gauge if new algorithms speed up or bog down a program. Using those, I can say that for a single threaded task, this device is faster than my HP Elitebook laptop (AMD PRO A12-9800B 8 compute cores 2.7GHz). Although it's not a completely fair comparison because the laptop can obviously perform more tasks in parallel and is also hampered by 100 different Windows threads, I.T. bullsh*t, and the fact that it runs Cygwin on top of Windows, the Pi4 is still compiling and executing programs faster than the laptop. I must admit that I'm impressed.Thermal: Heat ages electronics, even though the Pi should function without additional heatsinks and fans. I would unquestionably advise a kit with a fan. It is difficult to determine if the fan in this kit is operating because of how quiet it is. That is advantageous for a home theater because background noise is undesirable and video is not a particularly demanding medium.Use: Mount this $100 computer on the back of your TV, add a $20 wireless keyboard, and connect to your home's WiFi to get an extremely responsive home computer that 99.9% of (non-gaming) users will find to be quite responsive.Raspian Linux: I was able to install all the necessary tools and libraries without any issues.

3. Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Board

Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Board

Informations:

Raspberry Pi 3 uses an ARMv7-based quad-core chipest Boardcom BCM 2837 64-bit single-board computer running at 1200MHz.

Model B Raspberry Pi 3 RAM: 400MHz/1GB SDRAM

The Raspberry Pi 3 Model B is the best option for robust connected designs because it adds wireless LAN and Bluetooth connectivity.#

Review:

This tiny computer is amazing. This provides some fantastic features for folks who are conversant with computer hardware and Linux. You can quickly and affordably set up a custom server or servers that meet your needs, from blocking intrusive ads (pi-hole DNS) to your own VoIP server/PBX (Asterisk with or without FreePBX), to a cheap marine navigation AIS device (add a BU-353 GPS and RTL-SDR USB dongles, keep below deck/away from water, and broadcast AIS and backup GPS over WiFi to your Android/OpenCPN navigation station on deck), to setting up your I haven't even touched on the potential applications of automation and robotics.Since there is a non-trivial learning curve with Pi, I wouldn't suggest it for complete beginners, especially if you're just purchasing the board. A package with an SD card with an operating system already installed would be better for beginners. Buying simply the board will be fine for the experienced. If you attempt to write an image to an existing partition rather of overwriting the entire card, you'll be left wondering why you're only receiving a red light and no other activity. This is because default OS images may have numerous partitions. After writing the image to the card, if you can't see any files, you need to try again. Hope this is useful!

4. ELEGOO UNO Project Super Starter Kit with Tutorial and UNO R3 Compatible with Arduino IDE

ELEGOO UNO Project Super Starter Kit with Tutorial and UNO R3 Compatible with Arduino IDE

Informations:

For those beginning programmers who are interested, the most affordable kit based on the Arduino platform is available.

Free PDF tutorial with more than 22 courses in a tidy bundle.

This starter kit has a power supply module, a 9V battery, and dc power.

excellent kite with UNO R3. The Arduino UNO R3, MEGA 2560 R3, and NANO are all fully compatible.

pin header for the LCD module 1602#

Review:

a fantastic package that has everything you need to get going. The kit includes a variety of sensors for experimentation and offers in-depth instructions and code samples to guide you through a number of different projects. As an amateur Arduino user, I bought this kit because I wanted the Uno R3 board and thought the additional components (breadboard, jumper wires, sensors, etc.) would be useful as a starting point for a few extra dollars. It's a high-quality board, and I've had no problems.I assumed I would rely primarily on the Arduino website and community for my study and hadn't given the instructional materials much thought. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the tutorials and examples were comprehensive and enjoyable, and I spent the majority of a weekend going through all 24 of the lessons (Note: Since I don't have a CD-ROM drive, I downloaded the most recent versions directly from the manufacturer website). The documents include the datasheets for each component and are available in a number of different languages. The lessons include the necessary code libraries in each folder and show you how to load them, although I had a slight problem with a lesson that used out-of-date data or libraries. A newbie may save the frustration by just skipping over that lesson and they wouldn't be out anything. It was simple enough to google and locate the cure. Overall, this is a fantastic beginner package for anyone interested in learning about Arduino.

5. Elegoo EL-CP-004 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire 40pin Male to Female, 40pin Male to Male, 40pin Female to Female Breadboard Jumper Wires Ribbon Cables Kit for arduino

Elegoo EL-CP-004 120pcs Multicolored Dupont Wire 40pin Male to Female, 40pin Male to Male, 40pin Female to Female Breadboard Jumper Wires Ribbon Cables Kit for arduino

Informations:

Each cable is around 20 cm (8 inches) long.

We've always been concerned with the customer experience and with fine-tuning product functionality.

One 40-pin male to female jumper wire, one 40-pin male to male jumper wire, and one 40-pin female to female jumper wire are included.

To support unconventional odd-spaced headers and create an assembly with the number of wires needed for your connection, the cables can be separated.

coloring a box for packing.#

Review:

In a digital circuits class, where we frequently built, dismantled, and moved circuit components like capacitors, resistors, and ICs, I used these jumpers. When working with ICs (555 timers and binary counters), which require several interconnects, many of which aren't conveniently close together, these jumpers were essential.Following are my pros and cons:PRO ( ): * 130 pieces at a very low cost. * Various lengths for different jumps.* A variety of hues, each with different wire lengths.CONS (-) (-)* Does not adhere to the normal color scheme (Black Brown Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Violet Gray White); * The wire has a permanent bend as a result of the shipping process (although it is flexible and will still function);* If a pin connector is utilized at an angle and there is no wire slack, it will become loose (though I expect this in any wiring)Overall, it's a good value for tiny circuit designs and tests.

6. ELEGOO UNO R3 Board ATmega328P ATMEGA16U2 with USB Cable Compatible with Arduino IDE Projects, RoHS Compliant

ELEGOO UNO R3 Board ATmega328P ATMEGA16U2 with USB Cable Compatible with Arduino IDE Projects, RoHS Compliant

Informations:

Complete compatibility with the Arduino IDE and compliance with RoHS

The ATMega16U2 chip has replaced the ATMega8U2 chip in the ELEGOO UNO R3 BOARD. greater memory and faster transmission rates.

We have always been concerned with improving product functionality and the customer experience.

using the ATMEL ATMEGA328P chip for control (the same with Arduino UNO R3)

NEW IMPROVEMENT: The female header connector's clear prints, which are also more exact and user-friendly, have been added.#

Review:

Arduino/Genuino Uno board information BNuploaded drawings and checked fundamentals. Compared to other Arduino brands, it feels and looks better. They are clearly doing an excellent job with the designs. Everything has beautiful labels and is wrapped well. Sturdy packaging and double anti-static bag protection.Elegoo offers excellent prices to make electronic design accessible to the world without sacrificing quality or taking shortcuts if you're seeking for high quality and a very fair price.This is the best quality for the best price available, according to my wife, who asked today if I had a favorite brand to buy electronics from. I've used many kits. They just aren't as good as SunF. I won't name them all that.If you are new to Arduino or just beginning your study of it, this is undoubtedly what you need. The pins' layout and side labels make prototyping particularly effective.

7. Flirc Raspberry Pi 4 Case (Silver)

Flirc Raspberry Pi 4 Case (Silver)

Informations:

made to work with the latest Raspberry Pi 4

Improved metal quality and design thanks to a brand-new manufacturing process

built-in heat sink, a thermal pad, and four screws are included.

The most attractive Raspberry Pi case is constructed of lovely metal.

Access to the GPIO and all of the major connectors is simple from the bottom.#

Review:

I noticed an early assessment of this case that was sent to a YouTuber, who stated that it performed better because it didn't have fans than some other cases that did, and he demonstrated the results. The thought of my Pi 4 not having a fan immensely appealed to me because I needed it to stop stuttering when the thermometer popup was on all the time.Well, I just recently received this, and so far, so good! I haven't noticed that thermometer appearing at all since using it. It is intended for the case to become very heated, so that makes sense. I haven't tested Bluetooth yet, but WiFi still appears to be functional.I've zip-tied the case behind my monitor stand now, and thus far it's been working out well.Thus after a few days, I can say that so far, I'm content, but summer is still ongoing. It won't even be here in LA until September. If the heatwave doesn't pass, I'll update this.

8. CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Basic Starter Kit with Fan (4GB RAM)

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Basic Starter Kit with Fan (4GB RAM)

Informations:

includes a 1.5GHz 64-bit quad-core ARMv8 Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Model B CPU (4GB RAM)

CanaKit's Raspberry Pi 4 3.5A USB-C Power Supply with Noise Filter is made specifically for the Raspberry Pi 4. (UL Listed)

6 foot Micro HDMI to HDMI cable (Supports up to 4K 60p)

Raspberry Pi 4 Premium Clear Case, CanaKit Fan, and Set of Heat Sinks

Raspberry Pi 4 On/Off Power Switch, CanaKit USB-C PiSwitch#

Review:

The most of the essentials are covered in the other evaluations of this excellent kit. What I would add that isn't been said is as follows:1) The criticisms from fans are not a huge problem. Yes, you can hear it, and while it isn't silent, it isn't particularly loud either. You become aware of it if the space is silent. The fan fades into the background and is forgotten the instant there is another sound (music, TV, conversation, etc.). When the Pi is off, the fan continues to run. The fan's tiny "logo"-shaped entrance is my biggest gripe because it doesn't appear like it can move a lot of air. The plastic case really blocks the majority of the fan, thus it is not open. It doesn't appear to be damaging, though, since my Pi4 runs at its highest temperature of 55C while installing software, processing photos, etc., and idles at 45C, exactly like all my other, older Pis.2) Instead of complete cables, the kit only includes micro (male) to standard (female) HDMI adapters. This choice is my favorite and the major reason I purchased this kit. I can connect my HDMI-to-VGA converters to the old VGA displays I frequently use. I wouldn't be able to do this if they had provided micro-to-normal (male-to-male) HDMI connections. So just be mindful.3) The case is highly useful even though, in my opinion, it is not the most stylish. It is a material that is generally transparent yet somewhat frosted (not totally transparent). While the Pi is still inside the remainder of the case, the "top" may be removed with ease (perfect friction fit) to access the GPIO, camera socket, etc. That's nice, In certain circumstances, you can't do this without unscrewing something, or the friction fit is so tight that trying to open it will break your fingernails.4) The top of the case does not have a "convenient" access to remove the camera cable, GPIO connections, etc. Instead, when the top is on, there is a small 1mm gap that almost completely around the perimeter between the top of the case and the body, and you must bring the wires out through that 1mm gap all the way around the sides. Although "useful," this is not attractive. Although nothing ever comes out of the top of the case, just the sides do, and you have a lot of control over which side it comes out of, perhaps this is a positive thing for your application.5) A separate adapter also serves as the power switch. This is advantageous because you can now "give" other power sources a power switch or use the power switch on other USB-C cables. Another justification for my purchase of this package.6) I chose the 4GB RAM model because you never know what you might do with your Pi in the future. However, I typically keep well under 2GB when performing most common things (actually, mostly under 1GB, unless running heavier apps). Therefore, I believe that 2GB would be a chance to save some money without compromising anything if your budget is extremely limited. If you genuinely want to leverage the Pi4's additional enhancements, I would generally advise against using 1GB of RAM (dual 4k displays, etc.). Unless you have a very precise, very specific need for a Pi 4, you're definitely better off using one of the Pi3B's or even earlier if you think you'll only only need 1 GB (e.g. headless operation of USB 3 ports, or something equally specific). Due to the Pi4's speed, I usually just use it to prototype projects before switching to older Pi 1s, 2s, or 3s. Although it doesn't seem significantly faster than the 3B , the speed improvement (when coding/compiling, visiting the web, etc.) is still perceptible even over the 3B .7) MP3 files have a lot of click artifacts when I play them with ANY media player (VLC, gxine, etc). (a few per second). My other Pis haven't had a problem with this. Since the Pi4 is so new, I assume that this is simply a problem with media software that has not yet been tailored for it. This isn't a big concern for me because I don't listen to music on my Pis very often. Be mindful once more.8) Installing software on the Pi4 seems to be much simpler (notably CUPS and Samba). After installation, presto! It's all set to go. To get it to operate properly, I didn't need to watch over it. I don't know, maybe it's just because the new Raspbian Buster version is superior. Buster has not been run on any of my other Pis.This review should be useful.

9. Vilros Raspberry Pi Zero W Basic Starter Kit- Black Case Edition-Includes Pi Zero W -Power Supply & Premium Black Case

Vilros Raspberry Pi Zero W Basic Starter Kit- Black Case Edition-Includes Pi Zero W -Power Supply & Premium Black Case

Informations:

Raspberry Pi-specific 2.5A power supply with HDMI, a mini HDMI adapter, and micro USB OTG

High-end black case with three covers: a closed cover, a cover with GPIO access, and a cover for the camera mount.

Camera Module Adapter with 40 Pin Header and Heatsink for Raspberry PI Zero

802.11 b/g/n wireless LAN, Bluetooth 4.1, and Bluetooth Low Energy are all included with the Pi Zero W. (BLE)

The Vilros 1 Year Warranty Covers All Parts#

Review:

The starter kit for the Pi Zero W from Vilros is the one I prefer because it comes with a power supply that can also run any other Pi (it supplies 2.5 A), has an on/off switch on the line, and has a flat front that allows it to sit square to a window (the silicone "dots" included in the kit can be used to provide a slight stand-off so the camera lens is not pressed against glass). To change the memory card, the case must be opened and the Pi must be unseated from the restraining clips. It should be noted that there is no slot in the case for this purpose.I'm using a Pi Zero W to connect remotely to a MotionEyeOS server while using an 8 MP Raspberry Pi camera. Raspbian Stretch Lite and an RTSP server are both running on the Pi. With v4l2 set to create an H264 picture stream from the camera, the v4l2rtspserver process is consuming roughly 12% CPU and 6.3% RAM to stream images at 20 FPS with a resolution of 1640x1232.[22 June2018] Note: If the Pi camera module is to be mounted in the casing as well, avoid placing the heat sink on the Pi CPU. Once the case is closed, there is not enough room for the Pi and the camera module.

10. Vilros Raspberry Pi 4 Complete Kit with Clear Transparent Fan Cooled Case (4GB)

Vilros Raspberry Pi 4 Complete Kit with Clear Transparent Fan Cooled Case (4GB)

Informations:

RAM IS SIZEABLE: The Raspberry Pi 4 has 4GB of RAM, which is the same amount of RAM or more than many common laptops have. Your processor will be able to run media players, popular computer programs, and retro gaming setups with 4GB of RAM!

VERSATILE USE: Despite having a modest processor, the Raspberry Pi is a highly versatile minicomputer that can take the place of your desktop PC. Since it can easily run both an outdated gaming setup and an ad-blocking server, its uses vary from practical to sentimental. Other applications include, but are not limited to, playing media, creating time-lapse films, printing from non-wireless printers, creating multiplayer network game servers, and creating motion-capture security systems.

KEEP YOUR PROCESSOR COOL: A processor heats up more as it becomes busier, which results in less-than-ideal performance. We've built a pre-installed, ready-to-connect fan within the case to address this common problem. A set of four heat sinks is also provided; they can aid in the passive cooling of your setup. Your processor will be pushed to its limits and become more flexible thanks to these cooling systems.

IMPROVEMENTS OVER PRIOR MODELS: The Raspberry Pi 4's newest model delivers revolutionary improvements in terms of CPU speed, multimedia capability, connectivity, memory, and more! This model's desktop performance is on par with low-end x86 PC systems.

EASY TO TURN ON AND OFF: This kit includes a power supply that is USB-C compatible with the Raspberry Pi 4 model and has an on/off switch that is simple to use. This power supply was created specifically for the Raspberry Pi 4 model to speed up processing.#

Review:

The RasPi4-4Gb model was the one I bought. WOW! Everything was included in this Vilros bundle, allowing users to quickly get up and running. I've bought a half-dozen RasPi's, but this case's assembly was as easy as placing the Pi in the bottom, attaching the heat sinks, connecting the fan's wires (the fan was already assembled to the top), snapping the case's lid onto place, inserting the microSD card, and plugging in the power supply and micro-HDMI cable. That statement took almost as long to type as it did to set this up and run. I didn't use the NOOBs 32 Gb microSD card because I already had a raspbian-Buster image created for one of my RasPi-3B s.I haven't tried the 4K content because I'm using this on an old 1080p TV. However, I can stream YouTube and TV shows with ease using the omxplayer (I created a clumsy little C/GTK3 front-end that makes streaming/playing full-screen videos a breeze).This stays between 40 and 50 C thanks to the fan and heat sinks. Sweet and cool!Although my desktop Linux system runs Fedora 30 with Mate/Compiz, I can run four desktops on it and have added a few Compiz effects to make it a virtual replica of it. all with plenty of RAM.Without a doubt, this is a fantastic value! I wholeheartedly advise anyone wishing to start in the field of computing's future to do so. The raspberry pi developers have created a massive monster. Vilros adds the cherry on top. Simple, effective, and simple. How fantastic I find this package is beyond words. Give it a try if you've been considering getting a RasPi but were hesitant because you can't go wrong for the price.Price, full kit, simple assembly, and ready to use are positives.Cons: delivery took four days.Addendum: The fan was hardly audible when I unpacked and put it together. But gradually, over a few weeks, it became louder. I turned it off, removed the top, secured the fan with four screws, and then put the top back on. Now it is silent once more.

About Author

Matt Grabowsky

My name is Matt Grabowsky and for over two decades I have been observing technological and social trends, talking about them and explaining them in an accessible way.