If you've had enough Raspberry Pi, it might be time to sample Banana Pi's latest single-board computer (SBC), the BPI-M2 Pro module. This new 65 x 65mm board is based on the Amlogic S905X3 chip.
The Amlogic S905X3 is a quad-core microprocessor capable of reaching speeds as high as 2.0 GHz. For graphics, it uses a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU. The new Banana Pi SBC also comes with 2GB of LPDDR4 and a microSD card slot that can support up to 256GB, as well as16GB of eMMC flash onboard.
Users can opt to use both Ethernet and Wi-Fi for network connections. There's a Bluetooth module as well for connecting to wireless peripherals and more. The BPI-M2 Pro has HDMI output for both audio and video and two USB 3.0 ports.
Makers can make use of the 40-pin header for things like I2C, UART, SPI and PWM connections. The BPI-M2 Pro includes a power/reset switch for safely turning the device on and off. Note that it requires a 5V/3A power source.
Is this board a replacement for the Raspberry Pi? Not exactly, but it definitely stacks up against other SBCs on the market. Check out the Banana Pi BPI-M2 Pro Wiki page for more details about the new board.
Exact release details have not yet been made available.
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Ash Hill is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware with a wealth of experience in the hobby electronics, 3D printing and PCs. She manages the Pi projects of the month and much of our daily Raspberry Pi reporting while also finding the best coupons and deals on all tech.