FriendlyELEC NanoPi R3S is a low-cost Rockchip RK3566 SBC and router with two Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 3.0 host port, a USB-C port for power and data, a microSD card slot, reset and mask buttons, and some LEDs. It also has a MIPI DSI connector for users who want to connect a display.

Its design and size are similar to the NanoPi R5C Dual 2.5GbE SBC and Router, so it can be considered a low-cost alternative with dual GbE, no M.2 socket for WiFi and Bluetooth, only one USB 3.0 port, and no HDMI video output. The company promotes it as a low-cost platform for IoT applications, basic NAS solutions, etc.

NanoPi R3S specifications:

• SoC – Rockchip RK3566
  • CPU – Quad-core Cortex-A55 processor with up to 2.0 GHz
  • GPU – Arm Mali-G52 MP2 GPU
  • NPU – 0.8 TOPS AI accelerator
  • VPU
    • 4Kp60 H.265/H.264/VP9 video decoder
    • 1080p60 H.264/H.265 video encoder
• System memory – 2GB LPDDR4X
• storage
  • Optional 32 GB eMMC flash
  • MicroSD card slot
• Display interface – 30-pin MIPI DSI FPC connector (CNXSoft: I couldn’t find any documentation on this or a display known to work)
• Network – 2x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports
  • WAN via Realtek RTL8111H PCIe to GbE controller tested up to 934 Mbit/s (Tx) and 936 Mbit/s (Rx)
  • LAN via Realtek RTL8211E tested up to 934 Mbit/s (Tx) and 941 Mbit/s (Rx)
• USB
  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port
  • 1x USB-C port for power and data (e.g. for flashing the firmware)
• Debugging – 3-pin UART header (1.5 Mbps baud rate)
• Miscellaneous
  • Mask key for eMMC flash update
  • User button
  • 2-pin connector for RTC
  • 3x user LEDs for SYS, LAN, WAN
• Power supply – 5 V via USB Type-C port
• Dimensions – PCB: 57 x 57 mm; Housing: 61.5 x 61.5 x 25 mm
• Weight – 30 grams without case, 144 grams with metal case
• Temperature range – 0 to 80°C

FriendlyELEC provides images for Ubuntu Noble 24.04 Core, Debian 12 Core, OpenMediaVault 6.1 and FriendlyWrt (fork of OpenWrt 21.02 or 23.05) for the board, all based on Linux 6.1.x and u-boot
v2017.09. They can be flashed to the eMMC via a microSD card or USB-C cable using the eFlasher utility, or booted directly from the microSD card. Documentation and OS images can be found in the wiki.

I compared the NanoPi R5C in the introduction as both are based on the Rockchip RK3566/RK3568 processor, but it is more of an update of the Rockchip RK3328 based NanoPi R2S Dual GbE IoT Board and Gateway with better performance and additional features like a USB 3.0 Type-A port and MIPI DSI. FriendlyELEC shows that the R3S runs much cooler than the R2S when used in the same/similar metal case.

The NanoPi R3S board is available without eMMC flash for just $30 (or with 32GB flash for $35), plus $5 for the metal case. So a complete kit with 32GB eMMC flash and metal case is $40 plus shipping.

Jean-Luc founded CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time venture before quitting his job as a software engineering manager and starting writing daily news and reviews full-time later in 2011.

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