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Abstract:
This video reviews the Radxa Zero 2 Pro single-board computer (SBC), evaluating its features, performance, software support, and overall value for inclusion in the creator's SBC tier list. The Zero 2 Pro, featuring an Amlogic A311D SoC (Quad A73 + Dual A53 cores, G52 GPU, 5 TOPS NPU) and 4GB RAM in a compact form factor, is physically examined and its specifications detailed. Testing involves the official Radxa Debian (KDE, 6.1 kernel) image and Armbian builds. Benchmarks (BrowserMark, Geekbench 5/6) show impressive performance for its size, rivaling some larger boards, with effective hardware acceleration demonstrated via smooth YouTube playback. However, several issues are noted: the official Radxa image requires a manual keyring update for package management and exhibits a WPA3/5GHz Wi-Fi bug (fixed in newer Armbian). A Radxa-provided Armbian image failed to launch its GUI, and the latest official Armbian build performed worse in benchmarks than Radxa's older Debian image. Documentation for fan control was slightly lacking, and the MIPI CSI connector uses a non-standard format. Despite these software/documentation quirks and limited availability outside Asia potentially increasing costs due to tariffs, the board's strong performance and features earn it a solid 'A Tier' rating.
Radxa Zero 2 Pro Review & Tier List Placement
0:00:05 Introduction: The video introduces the Radxa Zero 2 Pro, purchased by the reviewer, for evaluation on their SBC tier list.
0:00:40 Tier List Criteria: The reviewer outlines the evaluation criteria: Features/Specs, Documentation/Support, Software/Firmware, Performance/Reliability, and Accessories/Compatibility.
0:02:44 Board Overview & Specs: The Radxa Zero 2 Pro features an Amlogic A311D SoC (Quad A73 @ 2.2GHz, Dual A53 @ 1.8GHz), G52 GPU, 5 TOPS NPU, 4GB RAM (in this version), AP6256 Wi-Fi 5/BT, dual USB-C (one OTG, one power/host), mini HDMI, SD card slot, and non-standard MIPI DSI/CSI connectors on a compact board with a Pi-style GPIO header.
0:11:01 Heatsink & Setup: An optional heatsink with a small fan is installed for optimal thermal performance during testing.
0:11:48 Price & Availability: Priced around $65 USD (for 4GB/0GB eMMC), availability is mainly limited to Chinese/Hong Kong retailers (AliExpress, AllNet) and some Indian distributors. Limited Western availability might incur tariffs. Scores 3.5/5.
0:13:25 Features & Specs Rating: Strong specs for the size (6 cores, NPU, working GPU), but minor drawbacks include non-standard MIPI connectors and Wi-Fi 5 instead of 6. Scores 4/5.
0:15:01 Documentation & Software: Radxa generally has good documentation, GitHub repos, and SDK access. They support Armbian and other third-party images. Initial Score: 5/5.
0:18:27 First Boot (Official Radxa Debian): Boots quickly using the official Debian image (Oct 2023) with KDE desktop. Initial HDMI output issues were traced to the reviewer's capture card, not the SBC. Power draw is low (~1.2W idle).
0:19:40 Official Image Details: The image uses a relatively modern 6.1 kernel. Comes with 4GB RAM and 2GB swap pre-configured. Desktop environment is KDE Plasma.
0:20:45 Connectivity & Issues (Official Image): Connected to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi successfully. Issue: Required manual installation of radxa-archive-keyring.deb to fix APT certificate errors. Issue: Later discovered potential WPA3/5GHz connection problems (addressed in newer Armbian).
0:23:37 Browser Performance: Scores 149 on BrowserMark 3.0, considered good performance.
0:24:24 YouTube Playback: Handles 1080p YouTube video smoothly, indicating working hardware video acceleration.
0:26:12 Geekbench 5 (Official Image): With fan forced on, achieves strong scores: 345 (Single-Core) / 1100 (Multi-Core).
0:28:12 Geekbench 6 (Official Image): Continues strong performance: 474 (Single-Core) / 1165 (Multi-Core). Outperforms several other SBCs, especially in single-core.
Radxa-linked Armbian (6.8 kernel): Boots and completes setup (including connecting to WPA3/5GHz Wi-Fi), but the XFCE desktop environment fails to start correctly. Key Takeaway: This specific image provided via Radxa's site was non-functional for GUI use.
Latest Official Armbian (Ubuntu/Gnome, 6.12 kernel): Boots successfully and runs the Gnome desktop (though criticized for using Snap).
Documentation/Support: Downgraded to 4.5/5 due to missing fan control details in main docs and the keyring fix needed.
Software/Images: Downgraded to 3.5/5 due to the dated official image, the broken Radxa-linked Armbian image, and the keyring issue.
Performance/Reliability: Remains 5/5 based on the official image's strong, stable performance.
0:35:23 Accessories & Compatibility: Uses standard USB-C power. Has optional official heatsink/fan, camera, display. Standard Pi GPIO is good. Issue: MIPI CSI uses a non-standard compact connector limiting camera choices. No official case mentioned. Scores 4.5/5.
0:37:55 Final Tier List Placement: Achieves an overall average score of 3.6, placing it solidly in the A Tier. Key Takeaway: Excellent performance for its size, held back from S Tier mainly by software image issues and limited Western availability.
0:40:46 Performance on Latest Armbian: Geekbench tests run on the latest official Armbian image show lower performance than Radxa's older official Debian image. Key Takeaway: Radxa's official Debian 6.1 kernel image currently offers the best performance, despite being dated.
0:41:58 Conclusion & Use Cases: A powerful, compact, and affordable SBC. Recommended for projects needing more processing power than a Pi Zero, such as OctoPrint/Klipper with advanced features. Recommendation: Radxa should update their official image to fix bugs, include keyring, and potentially improve performance further with newer kernels.