The Raspberry Pi CM4 has long been the go-to compute module for makers, but Radxa has now stepped into the arena with something much more powerful: the Radxa CM4. Built around the Rockchip RK3576(J) octa-core Cortex-A72/A53 SoC, this little board isn’t just another clone — it’s designed for Edge AI, multimedia, and industrial applications.
What sets it apart? A built-in 6 TOPS NPU for AI tasks, up to 16GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and support for UFS 2.0, dual PCIe Gen2, SATA 3, and DisplayPort. Basically, it’s trying to cover everything the Pi CM4 does, and then add more on top.
Radxa CM4 – Key Specifications
- CPU: Rockchip RK3576 or RK3576J (industrial-grade)
- 4x Cortex-A53 @ 2.0GHz
- 4x Cortex-A72 @ 2.2GHz
- GPU: Mali-G52 MC3 (OpenGL ES 1.1–3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.2)
- NPU: 6 TOPS (INT8), supports TensorFlow, PyTorch, ONNX, TFLite, and more
- Memory: 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB LPDDR4X
- Storage: Up to 256GB onboard eMMC + optional UFS 2.0 module + microSD + SATA 3.1
- Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, Gigabit Ethernet PHY
- Video:
- Decode: AV1, VP9, H.265 up to 8Kp30 or 4Kp120
- Encode: H.265/H.264/MJPEG up to 4Kp60
- Outputs: HDMI 4K120, DP 4K120, eDP 4K60, MIPI DSI
- Camera Support: 1x 4-lane MIPI CSI or 2x 2-lane MIPI CSI
- USB: 1x USB 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen2
- PCIe: 2x PCIe Gen2
- Power: 5V input
- Form factor: 55 × 40mm, same footprint as Raspberry Pi CM4 but with an extra connector
It comes in two variants:
- Commercial version (0–60°C) with RK3576
- Industrial version (-40–85°C) with RK3576J
- And here’s the kicker — Radxa promises availability until 2035, making it appealing for long-term industrial projects.
Radxa CM4 IO Board
To get the most out of the module, Radxa also offers the Radxa CM4 IO Board. It adds a bunch of connectors and expansion options, including:
- HDMI, MIPI DSI, and CSI for displays & cameras
- USB 3.0 Type-C and Type-A ports
- Gigabit Ethernet with PoE support
- M.2 M-Key slot for NVMe SSDs
- 40-pin Raspberry Pi–style GPIO header
- Fan header, RTC battery, and 12V DC input
The best part? The Radxa CM4 is also compatible with the official Raspberry Pi CM4 IO Board and third-party options like Waveshare CM4-NANO-B, CM4 IoT Router Mini, and more. So, if you already have Pi CM4 hardware lying around, this is almost a drop-in upgrade.
Software Support
Out of the box, the Radxa CM4 runs Debian 12 with Rockchip’s Linux 6.1 kernel, but it also supports Yocto, Buildroot, and Android 14. This gives developers the flexibility to build anything from industrial AI applications to Android-powered multimedia devices.
How Does It Compare?
- Banana Pi BPI-CM4 – Hexa-core Amlogic A311D with 5 TOPS NPU. Decent, but software support is weak.
- Orange Pi CM4 – Affordable at ~$23, but runs on a weaker RK3566 Cortex-A55 with a 0.8 TOPS NPU.
- Radxa CM4 – Octa-core powerhouse, up to 16GB RAM, 6 TOPS NPU, UFS support, and long-term availability until 2035. Clearly the most future-ready option among the CM4 alternatives.
Pricing & Availability
- Radxa CM4 (4GB RAM / 32GB eMMC): $70.31
- Radxa CM4 (16GB RAM / 128GB eMMC): $168.94
- Radxa CM4 IO Board: $26.23
You can grab it today from AliExpress and other Radxa distributors.
The Radxa CM4 looks like one of the strongest Raspberry Pi CM4 alternatives we’ve seen so far. With more processing power, modern AI capabilities, and industrial-grade availability, it feels tailor-made for projects where the Pi CM4 just isn’t enough anymore.
Of course, like always, software support will decide its success — but on paper, this module is a beast for anyone working in AI, robotics, multimedia, or embedded applications.
0 Comments