The Banana Pi M3 is an octa-core single board computer with 2GB of RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB ports, SATA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and HDMI. The closest Thinvent alternative is the Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC, an ARM Cortex A55 system with 4 cores, 4GB of onboard RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage, running Thinux embedded Linux.
Banana Pi M3 vs Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC
| Banana Pi M3 | Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Allwinner A83T octa-core | ARM Cortex A55 |
| Cores/Threads | 8 cores | 4 cores |
| RAM | 2 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | Not stated | 32 GB eMMC |
| Form Factor | Single board computer | Mini PC |
| Max Frequency | Not stated | 1.9 GHz |
| Cache | Not stated | 1 MB |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Dual antenna Wi-Fi |
| Video Output | HDMI | HDMI (1 port) |
| Operating System | Android, Lubuntu, Ubuntu, Debian, Raspbian | Thinux embedded Linux |
Key differences
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The Thinvent Micro 6 Pro offers up to 4GB of onboard RAM, double the 2GB on the Banana Pi M3.
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The Thinvent Micro 6 Pro ships with 32GB of eMMC storage in a finished mini PC chassis, with a 5V 2A adapter included.
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The Thinvent Micro 6 Pro includes dual antenna Wi-Fi and runs the pre-installed Thinux embedded Linux.
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The Banana Pi M3 has the higher core count, with eight cores against four, and supports a wider range of operating systems.
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The Banana Pi M3 provides a 40-pin GPIO header and CSI and display connectors for hobby and development boards, which the Thinvent Micro 6 Pro does not list.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Banana Pi M3 if you are building or prototyping with a bare board, need GPIO and camera connectors, or want to choose among several operating systems. Choose the Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC if you need a ready-to-deploy embedded system with more RAM, built-in storage and dual antenna Wi-Fi.
