Orange Pi Zero 3 1GB/1.5GB/2GB/4GB LPDDR4 Allwinner H618 4-Core 64 Bit Single Board Computer, Support WiFi 5.0/Bluetooth 5.0, Development Board Run Linux/Debian/Ubuntu/Android(1GB)

I bought the Orange Pi Zero 3 because finding a reasonably priced Raspberry Pi right now has become a bit of an adventure. I was hesitant to move away from the Raspberry Pi ecosystem, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how capable this little board is. Performance has been solid for what I needed, and once I got it set up, it did exactly what I was hoping it would do. If you’re comfortable working with single-board computers, this is a very viable alternative when Raspberry Pi pricing or availability gets ridiculous. I’m knocking off a star for two reasons: First, the Wi-Fi antenna setup feels awkward. It does come with an antenna, (which wasn’t especially clear from the product page), but unlike my Raspberry Pi boards, this one really seems to need it for good Wi-Fi performance. That leaves you with a small antenna hanging off the board, connected through a tiny attachment point that feels a little fragile. The other downside is the software/imaging ecosystem. Raspberry Pi still has the advantage when it comes to how polished and straightforward the OS installation and setup process feels. The Orange Pi experience takes a little more effort and research. Fortunately, Armbian provides some very good images and makes the process much easier. Overall, I’m happy I gave it a try. It’s a capable little board and a good value, especially if Raspberry Pi availability or pricing is pushing you to look elsewhere. Just be prepared for a slightly less polished setup experience and that somewhat inelegant Wi-Fi antenna.