The Banana Pi M4 is a compact single-board computer built around a Realtek RTD1395 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processor, with 1 GB or 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB eMMC storage, onboard Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. The closest Thinvent match is the Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC, which uses a quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor with 4 GB RAM and 32 GB eMMC, along with dual-antenna Wi-Fi and Thinux embedded Linux. For buyers looking at other Thinvent ARM options, the Micro 5R Thin Client is also a related alternative.
Banana Pi M4 vs Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC, Thinvent Micro 5R Thin Client
| Banana Pi M4 | Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC, ARM Cortex-A55 | Thinvent Micro 5R Thin Client, ARM Cortex-A53 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor | Realtek RTD1395 | ARM Cortex-A55 | ARM Cortex-A53 |
| Cores/Threads | 4 cores | 4 cores, up to 1.9 GHz | 4 cores, up to 2.0 GHz |
| RAM | 1 GB or 2 GB | 4 GB | 2 GB |
| Storage | 8 GB eMMC | 32 GB eMMC | 16 GB eMMC |
| Form Factor | Single-board computer | Mini PC | Thin client |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.2 | Dual-antenna Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5 |
| USB | 4 x USB 2.0, 1 x USB Type-C | Not stated | Not stated |
| Display | 1 x HDMI | 1 x HDMI | HDMI 2.0 |
Key differences
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The Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC offers 4 GB of RAM against the Banana Pi M4's maximum of 2 GB, giving more memory headroom for multitasking.
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Its 32 GB eMMC storage is four times the Banana Pi M4's 8 GB, leaving more room for the operating system and applications.
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The Micro 6 Pro ships as a mini PC with Thinux embedded Linux and dual-antenna Wi-Fi, so it is ready to deploy without assembling a board.
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The Banana Pi M4 is the more affordable board-level option for hobby and development projects, and it offers a richer set of USB ports for peripherals.
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The Banana Pi M4 is a lower-level board with a full USB port selection, which suits custom electronics work. The Thinvent Micro 5R Thin Client is the better fit when a Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 thin client is needed.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Banana Pi M4 for maker projects, learning, and custom hardware where you want a bare board and an extensive set of USB ports. Choose the Thinvent Micro 6 Pro Mini PC when you need more RAM, more storage and a ready-to-run embedded Linux system for deployment. The Thinvent Micro 5R Thin Client suits connected, Wi-Fi 6 endpoint use.
