Certainly, the Raspberry Pi has paved the way for the development of powerful, energy-efficient, and affordable solutions. Its popularity is undeniable, and there have been numerous variations catering to diverse preferences and requirements. The latest addition to this lineup is the Banana Pi BPI-R4, which offers the added benefit of WiFi 7 and 5G connectivity.
If you’re not yet familiar with the Raspberry Pi, it’s quite surprising, given its widespread recognition. Essentially, it is a Single Board Computer (SBC) that integrates all the necessary components onto a single PCB, providing extensive connectivity options.
Countless individuals have embarked on impressive projects using this versatile component. One of the most captivating and noteworthy examples is the creation of a smart mirror. This innovative device displays various types of information, such as the time, weather, traffic updates, and current events, among other customizable features.
Create a home network as if it were a business
The latest addition to the Banana Pi series, the BPI-R4, brings a range of new features and cutting-edge connectivity options. With its SFP ports, it offers 10GbE connectivity, and its secondary board design provides a combination of 10GbE and 2.5GbE.
One of its standout innovations is the inclusion of tri-band WiFi 7 connectivity, offering speeds of up to 36 Gbps. While this type of wireless technology is relatively new, its adoption is expected to grow rapidly in the coming months. Although there are currently limited devices that support it, the number is projected to increase exponentially by the end of this year and the beginning of the next.
The BPI-R4 features a pair of mPCIe connectors on the back, allowing for integration of additional elements. It also supports 5G connectivity through the M.2 B-Key port located on the top of the board, complemented by three NanoSIM card slots.
Powering its enhanced connectivity is the MediaTek ‘Filogic 880’ MT7988A SoC. This processor boasts four Cortex-A73 cores operating at a frequency of 1.8 GHz. It includes specific optimizations for high-speed networks, eliminating the need for separate co-processing chips by integrating everything into a single chip.
The system comes equipped with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 8GB of eMMC flash memory. Wireless connectivity is facilitated through a NIC daughter board.
In terms of storage, the board features an M.2 M-Key slot at the bottom, allowing for the installation of an SSD drive. It also includes convenient features such as a microSD card reader, a USB 3.2 port, bootstrap switches, and a 26-pin GPIO interface.
Banana Pi, a powerful and economical solution
With the BPI-R4, we now have the capability to create and manage a router with professional-grade features right at home. This system offers WiFi 7 and multiple 10 GbE Ethernet ports, allowing for the establishment of a high-speed and highly connected home network.
For optimal management of its features, the BPI-R4 supports the installation of operating systems such as Debian Linux and OpenWRT, which are known for their effectiveness in handling advanced networking functionalities.
However, it’s important to note that the product is not yet available on the market. According to the product page, the BPI-R4 is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2024. As for pricing, the exact figure is unknown at the moment. Considering that the BPI-R3 is currently priced at 106 euros on AliExpress, we can anticipate the BPI-R4 to be priced around 150 euros or so. It’s worth mentioning that this estimation takes into account the enhanced power and WiFi 7 capabilities of the new model.