SIQMA

Top 8 Popular Boards for IoT

IoT development boards are a crucial factor of the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, allowing developers to create and prototype diverse IoT packages. These iot development board offer a platform for hardware and software program integration, making it less complicated to experiment with and install IoT answers. In this article, we will explore the Top 8 Popular Boards for IoT, highlighting their features and some key capabilities.

Here are Top 8 Popular Boards for IoT according Large community of users, Well-established and widely supported software & OS:

Raspberry Pi 5

The Raspberry Pi 5 is a powerful single-board computer designed for advanced computing and IoT development. Built with a quad-core 64-bit ARM Cortex-A76 processor clocked at 2.4GHz, it delivers significantly improved performance compared to its predecessors, making it ideal for handling complex IoT applications. With support for dual 4K HDMI displays, PCIe 2.0 connectivity, and enhanced GPIO capabilities, the Raspberry Pi 5 offers seamless integration with sensors, actuators, and other IoT peripherals in Raspberry Pi IoT. Its built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 ensure robust wireless connectivity, essential for IoT deployments in smart homes, industrial automation, and environmental monitoring.

Additionally, its compatibility with popular IoT frameworks like Node-RED, Home Assistant, and MQTT, combined with its low power consumption and compact form factor, makes the Raspberry Pi 5 a versatile and efficient platform for prototyping and deploying scalable IoT solutions.

👉 Buy Raspberry Pi 5

Arduino UNO R4 WiFi

Arduino is a well-known open-source platform that is widely used for prototyping and building electronics projects. The Arduino UNO R4 WIFI’s combination of built-in ESP32-S3 wireless from Espressif connectivity, powerful RA4M1 microprocessor from Renesas, Power Efficiency and GPIO Pins makes it a strong contender for a wide range of IoT projects like IoT Heart Rate Monitoring with Arduino UNO R4 WiFi . Its affordability and ease of use further solidify its position as a popular choice for both hobbyists and professionals in the IoT domain. The Uno R4 has some drawbacks in Arduino IoT Projects, including the inability for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to work simultaneously, limited third-party software support that is still playing catch up, and the introduction of the Qwiic connector, which can cause compatibility issues with existing libraries.

👉 Buy Arduino Uno R4 WiFi

NodeMCU

NodeMCU is a low-cost development board based on the ESP8266 Wi-Fi chip With CP2102 and CH340G Converter. It is popular for its Small Form Factor, low power consumption, built-in Wi-Fi capabilities and Extensive Community Support.
The NodeMCU offers several advantages, including a built-in TCP/IP stack that makes it IoT-ready and a breadboard-friendly design for easy prototyping.
However, it comes with some drawbacks, such as the need to learn programming for its new functionalities, a limited number of analog pins, and compatibility challenges due to its lower voltage level, which can make it incompatible with certain modules in rare cases. NodeMCU is often used for Specific IoT Cases like: Home Automation, Smart Agriculture, Environmental Monitoring, etc.

👉 Buy NodeMcu ESP8266 Wifi Module With CP2102 Converter

Arduino Nano 33 IoT

The Arduino Nano 33 IoT’s combination of built-in connectivity, powerful Arm Cortex-M0+ SAMD21 processor running at 48MHz, coupled with a u-blox NINA-W102, sensor fusion capabilities, Compact Size and the support of the Arduino ecosystem makes it a compelling choice for a wide range of IoT projects, particularly those involving motion sensing and wireless communication. The Nano 33 IoT only supports 3.3V I/O. In order to enable the 5V I/O, you should bridge (solder) the two points at VUSB, at the bottom of the board. In addition, the board includes a 6-axis IMU, making it ideal for applications such as simple alarm systems, pedometers, and relative positioning of robots, among others.

👉 Buy Arduino Nano 33 IoT

Orange Pi Zero 2W

The Orange Pi Zero 2W’s combination of Allwinner H618 high-performance quad-core Cortex-A53 processor, multiple memory configurations and interfaces, wireless connectivity, open-source nature, and affordability makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of IoT projects. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, the Zero 2W offers a versatile and cost-effective platform for exploring the world of the Internet of Things. Orange Pi Zero 2W supports Android 12 TV, Debian11, Debian12, Ubuntu22 and Orange Pi OS (Arch).

👉 Buy Orange Pi Zero 2W

NVIDIA Jetson Nano

The NVIDIA Jetson Nano’s powerful Maxwell GPU, AI and Deep Learning Capabilities, multiple interfaces like Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, and GPIO pins,, Support for Multiple OS and strong developer community make it an excellent choice for a wide range of demanding IoT projects that require high processing power and advanced features. This capability is crucial in scenarios such as autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and intelligent surveillance systems, where low latency is critical.
Additionally, its compatibility with popular AI frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, CUDA, and IoT platforms like MQTT and Node-RED enables developers to build and deploy advanced IoT solutions efficiently.

Banana Pi BPI-M3

The Banana Pi BPI-M3 is a powerful single-board computer (SBC) designed for high-performance applications, featuring an Octa-Core Allwinner A83T processor, 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and 8GB of eMMC storage. With built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Gigabit Ethernet, it offers excellent connectivity options, making it well-suited for Internet of Things (IoT) projects. The board supports multiple operating systems, including Android, Ubuntu, Debian, and Raspberry Pi OS, providing flexibility for developers.

Its GPIO headers, USB ports, and camera interface allow easy integration with sensors and peripherals, making it ideal for smart home automation, industrial monitoring, and edge computing applications. With its robust processing power and versatile connectivity, the Banana Pi BPI-M3 is a strong candidate for developing IoT solutions requiring real-time data processing and seamless device communication.

👉 Buy Banana Pi BPI M3

Orange Pi 5 Ultra

The stands as a highly capable platform for diverse IoT projects, underpinned by its powerful Rockchip RK3588S SoC with a quad-core ARM Cortex-A76 and quad-core Cortex-A55 processor, up to 32GB of LPDDR4x RAM allocation, comprehensive range of interfaces like GPIO pins, USB 3.0 ports, and M.2 slots, open-source foundation (e.g., Android, Debian, Ubuntu), and inherent expandability with IoT frameworks like TensorFlow Lite, OpenCV, and MQTT. This combination of features positions the Orange Pi 5 Ultra as a compelling choice in Popular Boards for IoT for both hobbyists and professionals seeking to implement innovative IoT solutions. for more basic info see Introducing the features and uses of the Orange Pi 5 Ultra.

👉 Buy OrangePi 5 Ultra

How is IoT revolutionizing various industries, and what are its key applications and benefits across different sectors?

Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing sectors like agriculture, healthcare, logistics, security, and transportation. In agriculture, it enables precision farming, improving efficiency and yield. In healthcare, IoT devices enhance patient care and enable personalized medicine. In logistics, IoT facilitates real-time tracking, optimizing supply chains. In security, IoT enhances safety through surveillance and intrusion detection. Finally, in transportation, IoT enables features like autonomous driving and predictive maintenance, improving safety and efficiency.

Conclusion

The Popular Boards for IoT discussed in this article offer a wide range of capabilities and features, making IoT development boards suitable for various projects. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each board, developers can choose the best platform for their specific needs from among these Best IoT Boards.

FAQ:

What software should be learned to run IoT projects on development boards?

IDEs: Arduino IDE, PlatformIO, Mbed Studio
Programming Languages: C/C++ JavaScript (Node.js) and Python
Firmware Tools: STM32CubeIDE/STM32CubeMX, Esptool
Cloud Platforms & Backend Tools: Google Cloud IoT, Microsoft Azure IoT,AWS IoT Core, Node-RED
Networking and Simulation Tools: Wireshark, IoTify, GNS3, Cisco Packet Tracer
Mobile Development Tools: Android Studio, Xcode, React Native or Flutter