Best Single Board Computers of 2026

"The NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super Developer Kit totally exceeded my expectations. For such a compact device, its performance is incredible—booting fast, running CUDA smoothly, and handling AI workloads with ease. I’ve pushed it with everything from local LLMs to robotics stacks, and it hasn’t missed a beat. The hardware feels solid, setup was pretty direct, and even under heavy loads, it stays stable. For anyone into edge AI or real-time machine learning, this kit is a real powerhouse. Highly recommended if you want serious AI capabilities in a small, efficient package."

"After a few days of tinkering, I finally got this up and running. The hardware packs a punch for its size, but getting through the setup was tough because of the software hurdles. I had to jump through hoops with Jetpack versions and OS installs, and even installing libraries like PyTorch with GPU support was a real hassle. There’s a lot of room for improvement in simplifying and clarifying the setup process, but once I got everything sorted, I really enjoyed using it as a mini GPU computer for my projects."

"This device is pretty sweet for the price—it’s speedy and versatile, and I’m still discovering more things it can do. Emulation runs great, and I’m diving into AI generation and LLM work. Testing it out with a digital camera has also given me much better night shots. There’s a lot of potential here, and overall, it’s a very solid deal."

"As someone with 15+ years in electrical engineering, I was skeptical due to the low price, but I'm glad I took the chance! The kit came in a very useful organizer, and while the parts are standard low-cost components, everything worked flawlessly. The tutorials are clear and easy to follow, and I appreciated having all the datasheets. I only encountered one minor error in the instructions, which was easily fixed. This kit is a fantastic way to dive into Arduino projects, and I highly recommend it to anyone starting out."

"I'm new to Arduino and found this clone board to be a great way to learn programming and electronics. There's a bit of a learning curve, but with resources like Simon Monk's book, it becomes manageable. It's a cool little board for beginners, but make sure to back up your files and tweak your computer settings if you have trouble opening the sketches. Every mistake is a chance to learn!"

"As a teacher, I love this kit, but more importantly, my students love it even more! The components are well-organized and of good quality, with thoughtful touches like metal film resistors in taped packaging. The included lessons are solid, though a couple of wiring diagrams could use small corrections. Overall, it's a great value and Elegoo's support is excellent."

"As someone new to Raspberry Pi, I found the CanaKit kit to be incredibly easy to assemble—no screws required, and the case design is smart. Everything I needed was in the box except for a keyboard and mouse, and setup went quickly. The only thing that slowed me down was figuring out the fan pin connections, but with a little online searching, it was simple. The included NOOBS software made installing the OS fast and straightforward. Overall, this kit is a fantastic value and made my entry into Pi projects seamless."

"I’m very pleased with this kit. Setup was straightforward, and the optional extras like the heat sinks, SD card reader, and fan were perfect additions. I also appreciated the responsive customer support from CanaKit, who answered my questions quickly via email. Great experience for a beginner!"

"At first, I struggled getting a display output and worried that something was wrong with the kit. But after swapping out my newer monitor for an older one, the Raspberry Pi worked flawlessly. It turned out to be a monitor compatibility issue, not the kit itself. CanaKit’s thoughtful and proactive support helped me troubleshoot, and I’m grateful for their assistance in getting my Pi up and running. Highly recommend checking your display connectors if you run into issues."

"I'm very impressed with the CanaKit Raspberry Pi 5 16GB Starter Kit PRO. Everything I needed was included, and the build quality is excellent—from the stylish case to the dependable power supply. The 16GB RAM makes multitasking and development a breeze, and setup was a snap. It's been incredibly stable, and I’d definitely recommend it for anyone who wants an all-in-one Pi 5 solution."

"Setup was a breeze with this kit. Everything fit together perfectly, and the cooling system is both quiet and effective. My only minor issue is that it's a bit tricky to access the header pins if you want to add sensors, but overall, it's a high-quality product that runs flawlessly."

"The kit was easy to assemble and worked as expected. I really appreciate that it came preloaded with Pi Linux, and the fan stays quiet. The plastic case fits well, and so far, I've been able to run multiple LEDs and switches without trouble."

"The Raspberry Pi 5 blows me away with its performance—honestly, it's probably more powerful than I need for my projects! The ability to add M.2 storage is fantastic, and the build quality is top-notch. I run small automations and scripts, and it handles everything with ease. So many USB ports and a full-size ethernet port make connectivity a breeze. For the price, the value is unbeatable. Highly recommend it for anyone needing a powerful mini-computer!"

"I’ve been using the Pi 5 to build an OpenWRT router, and it’s been absolutely reliable and efficient. This little unit is surprisingly capable for networking projects. Setup was straightforward, and I’m impressed with how well it handles router tasks."

"I love the increased speed of the Pi 5, especially compared to previous models. However, Python programming was a bit tricky at first since I couldn’t install add-on modules directly. After setting up a virtual environment, everything worked smoothly. Aside from that initial hurdle, it’s a fantastic single board computer."

"I'm a beginner and found this kit very easy to put together and set up. It had everything I needed as advertised, and I had it up and running within minutes. Definitely a great starter option for newcomers!"

"The speed of the 8GB RP5 blew me away compared to my previous model. The fan runs quietly and the case feels sturdy. With Ubuntu server, I got it going in about 10 minutes. Just remember you'll need to bring your own micro SD card and a powerful enough power supply."

"I use this for Home Assistant and gaming emulation, and it's fast, responsive, and easy to assemble. The case is solid, and the fan and heatsink keep everything cool. Overall, I'm really impressed with how versatile this kit is."

"As someone with no prior electronics experience but a strong programming background, I found this starter kit to be comprehensive and thoughtfully put together. The packaging is impressive and gift-worthy, reminiscent of an Apple product, and everything inside is well organized. The included book is a real highlight—it guides you through projects that teach both electronics and programming in an accessible way. I think this kit is an excellent way to begin learning electronics, and I’d recommend it to anyone interested in programming or electronics, or as a fun activity for families."

"This Arduino kit is perfect for beginners like me. The manual is clear and detailed, and all the components needed for the projects are in the box. I particularly appreciated the quality of the materials and the way the kit helped me understand electronic project execution. The book is printed on high-quality paper and provides a great reading experience. I’d love to see a PDF version available in the future. After using this kit, I’m definitely interested in trying out intermediate and advanced kits as well."

"I was really impressed by the high-quality packaging and components in this kit. The instructional book is fantastic, breaking down the basics in a clear and easy-to-follow style. It’s fun to work through the projects, though I did find some of the hardware a bit fiddly to handle. Despite a slightly torn box, I feel that the value for money is excellent. I’d highly recommend this kit to anyone wanting to learn about electronics and coding."

"For my project, I needed a compact, energy-efficient computer, and the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W fit the bill perfectly. It consumes very little power even when running full Linux distros, making it a great replacement for my Pi 4, which drained batteries too fast. Transition was seamless—I just swapped the SD card, and everything worked right away. The starter kit included almost everything I needed, except for a USB micro cable for power. If you need a low-power Linux device, this is an absolute must-have."

"The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is such a ridiculously good value—it's small, capable, and endlessly adaptable. I've turned mine into a portable offline knowledge server, a cybersecurity toolkit, and even a budget-friendly desktop for basic tasks. It's amazing how many roles this tiny board can play: from robotics to home automation, to being the brain of a project. If you want a device that can be repurposed for countless ideas, this is the one. The only caveat is that it's not a high-end PC, but for its size and price, the trade-off is more than fair."

"This board is perfect for lightweight computing—it sits right between the Raspberry Pi Pico and the regular Pi models. I love how versatile it is for different projects and how little power it uses. However, I wish the HDMI port matched the standard Pi models since I already had the adapter. Still, it's so tiny and adaptable that I can use it for lots of things, from headless setups to custom USB devices."

"What really stands out to me is the incredible value and tiny size of the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W. For less than thirty bucks, I get a computer that's more powerful than what the Apollo missions had, and I'm using it for all sorts of fun projects—from automating my Christmas lights to experimenting with retro gaming and even building a facial recognition doorbell. It's shockingly reliable out of the box, with WiFi and Bluetooth packed into a device smaller than a deck of cards. If you want a cheap, wireless computer for quirky or practical projects, this is the one I'd recommend."

"I picked up the Pi Zero 2 W to set up a redundant Pihole DNS server at home. Now, when one server needs a reboot, my network stays up because of the backup. With an aluminum case and heatsink, it runs cool and completely silent. The Pi Zero 2 W has plenty of power for both Pihole and Wireguard, and I love that I don't need to pay extra for GPIO pins since I don't need them. If you're looking for a small Linux computer for network projects, this is a fantastic choice."

"My wife is thrilled with the Android Auto appliance I built using the Pi Zero 2 W for her Chevy Volt. After flashing a custom OS onto a microSD card and connecting everything, the Pi handles the wireless connection to her Pixel phone smoothly. There's a brief delay while it starts up, but once connected, Google Maps, phone, and SiriusXM all work seamlessly through Android Auto. It's holding up well so far and has made a big difference in her daily drive."

"The Raspberry Pi 4 (4GB) has been an incredible investment for me. I'm amazed by its power and versatility—I've used it for everything from retro gaming with RetroPie to home automation and media streaming. The setup was a breeze, and the community support is top-notch. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves tinkering or needs a compact, energy-efficient computer."

"As someone who builds Raspberry Pi retro consoles for friends, I love the form factor and customization options—those retro cases look amazing. However, lately, the price has gone up and I've noticed more faulty units needing replacement. There are now competing boards with more power, but the Pi is still a solid, if no longer unbeatable, choice."

"I upgraded my ham radio hotspot to the RPi 4 Model B and the difference is huge: it's faster, fully compatible with WPSD and Trixie, and all my compatibility headaches are gone. I'm very satisfied with its performance!"