If I told you that you could buy a 64-bit quad-core PC that runs Ubuntu for just $20 you’d presumably ask me what the reward tiers are, cos it sounds like a crowd-funding pitch.
But it’s not.
Meet the Orange Pi PC 2, a 64-bit quad-core single-board computer from Shenzhen Xunlong.
And it only costs $20.
The biggest use of this tiny little device will be in development, small home electronics, IoT projects, and so on.
But honestly, it could make a bad-ass little mini-PC for basic web browsing tasks, too. Built it a cute little case, attach it the back of a monitor, and you’ve got an All-in-One PC (albeit one that won’t be able to run Steam games).
Despite the use of “Pi” in the product name there is no link with the Raspberry Pi project.
The $20 board offers the following specs, built-in:
- Allwinner H5 quad core Cortex A53 processor
- Mali-450MP4 GPU
- 1GB DDR3 RAM
- 2x USB 2.0 slots
- 1x USB OTG port
- Micro SD card slot (up to 64GB)
- HDMI out
- 3.5mm audio in/out jack
- Built-in microphone
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 40-pin Raspberry Pi compatible header
- IR receiver
- Power button
- Power and status LEDs
You’ll notice there’s no on-board Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, but the smattering of USB ports make this mostly moot.
Shenzhen Xunlong say the $20 board will be available to use with an array of open-source OSes, including Ubuntu.
It’s available to buy now from AliExpress, priced at $20 (excluding P&P).