### Radxa ZERO 2 Pro: A New Challenger to Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
In the world of single-board computers (SBCs), Radxa has unveiled a new contender designed to take on the popular Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. Introducing the Radxa ZERO 2 Pro, a compact and feature-rich SBC that’s both slightly larger and more hardware-packed than its Raspberry competitor.
The Radxa ZERO 2 Pro distinguishes itself with its small footprint, measuring 65 x 36 mm, and comes equipped with a host of connectors. Users will find MIPI-CSI camera and MIPI-DSI display ports, Micro HDMI 2.0, and versatile USB Type-C ports integrated into this tiny computing powerhouse.
What’s under the hood is equally impressive. The ZERO 2 Pro is armed with the Amlogic A311D chipset, comprising four ARM Cortex-A73 CPU cores and dual Cortex-A53 CPU cores, boosted by a Mali-G52 MP4 GPU. But that’s not all — this chipset also houses a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of delivering 5 TOPS of AI performance, which could be a game-changer for AI enthusiasts and developers working on machine learning projects.
For connectivity and expansion, the SBC offers a 40-pin GPIO header, useful for a wide range of DIY electronic projects, and a MicroSD card reader to handle storage needs. It also includes a suite of other handy ports:
– 1x Micro HDMI 2.0
– 1x USB 2.0 Type-C (OTG/Host)
– 1x USB 3.0 Type-C (Host)
Wireless capabilities are no afterthought, with the ZERO 2 Pro supporting both Bluetooth 5 and Wi-Fi 5, aided by an external antenna for robust signal strength. Adding to the versatility is onboard eMMC 5.1 flash storage, providing a stable and speedy solution for internal storage.
For software, Radxa has taken steps to support developers and enthusiasts by hosting Armbian and Manjaro images on GitHub, while Debian and Ubuntu images are readily available on its official website. Plans to support Android are also in the pipeline, though at the time of writing, Android OS images are not yet available.
The ZERO 2 Pro offers several price points and configurations to suit various needs and budgets. Its current base model starts at $64.99, comprising 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB of eMMC flash storage. Additional models with varying RAM and storage capacities, including a $55 variant with 4 GB of RAM but without built-in storage and options scaling up to 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB of eMMC storage, are expected to be available from retailers like ALLNET China and Arace Tech.
This new SBC is a testament to Radxa’s commitment to providing powerful and flexible computing solutions, and it’s a development that’s sure to excite hobbyists, developers, and tech enthusiasts alike. Whether for educational purposes, DIY projects, or even as a foundation for more complex computing systems, the Radxa ZERO 2 Pro presents itself as a viable and potent addition to anyone’s tech toolkit.
