The world of single-board computers (SBCs) continues to evolve with the launch of the Radxa ZERO 3W, an ultra-compact and powerful SBC by Radxa. Designed with the Rockchip RK3566 SoC, this small yet mighty board offers a remarkable balance of size and performance, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications.

Specifications at a Glance

Processing Power

– SoC: Rockchip RK3566
– CPU: Quad-core Arm® Cortex®-A55 up to 1.6GHz
– GPU: Arm® Mali™-G52 2EE
– Supports OpenGL® ES1.1/2.0/3.2, Vulkan® 1.1, and OpenCL™ 2.0

Memory and Storage
– RAM: 1GB / 2GB / 4GB LPDDR4
– Onboard eMMC: Optional 8GB / 16GB / 32GB
– Flexible booting options: eMMC and Micro SD Card

Connectivity
– Wireless: IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax (WiFi 6) and Bluetooth 5.4 with BLE
– Antenna: Configurable for onboard or external use via software
– Ports:
– 1x Micro HDMI supporting 1080P@60fps
– 1x USB 3.0 HOST Type-C
– 1x USB 2.0 OTG Type-C for power and data
– 1x TF Card Slot
– 1x MIPI CSI camera port

GPIO and Interfaces
– 40x user GPIO supporting various interfaces:
– Up to 5x UART
– 1x SPI bus
– Up to 2x I2C bus
– 1x PCM/I2S
– Up to 6x PWM
– Up to 28x GPIO
– 2x 5V DC power in
– 2x 3.3V power pin

Multimedia
– Decoding: H.264/H.265 up to 4K@60fps
– Encoding: H.264/H.265 up to 1080P@60fps

Software
– Supports Debian / Ubuntu / Linux
– Development tools: QT, WiringX, Mraa

Dimensions and Certification
– Size: 65mm x 30mm
– Certifications: CE / FCC

Operating Conditions
– Temperature: 0 ~ 50°C optimal, up to 80°C with clock speed throttling
– External cooling recommended for sustained high-performance use

The Radxa ZERO 3W’s versatility makes it suitable for various applications, from IoT devices to home automation and education.

The Radxa ZERO 3W’s compact form factor and rich connectivity options make it perfect for Internet of Things (IoT) projects. Its powerful processing capabilities and WiFi 6 support ensure robust performance for smart home devices, sensors, and automation systems. For example, you could use the Radxa ZERO 3W to create a smart thermostat that connects to your home network, collects data from temperature sensors, and adjusts your heating and cooling systems accordingly.

With its quad-core processor and Mali-G52 GPU, the Radxa ZERO 3W can handle edge computing tasks, including machine learning inference. This makes it ideal for deploying AI models at the edge, such as in a surveillance camera that uses real-time image recognition to detect intruders or monitor specific areas.

Home automation enthusiasts can leverage the Radxa ZERO 3W to control various smart home devices. For instance, you can integrate it into a home automation hub that manages lights, security systems, and entertainment centers, providing a centralized control interface through an app or voice commands.

For educators and students, the Radxa ZERO 3W offers a powerful yet affordable platform for learning about computer science, electronics, and programming. It can be used in classrooms to teach coding with Python, build simple robots, or develop DIY electronics projects, providing hands-on experience with real-world applications.

The board’s multimedia capabilities, including 4K video decoding and HDMI output, make it suitable for building compact media centers. You can use the Radxa ZERO 3W to create a media server that streams high-definition content to your TV, offering a cost-effective alternative to commercial streaming devices.

Radxa commits to supporting the ZERO 3W model until at least September 2033, ensuring long-term availability and reliability for users. This commitment makes it a dependable choice for long-term projects and commercial applications.

The Radxa ZERO 3W is backed by a vibrant community of developers and hobbyists who contribute to software libraries and provide support through forums and online resources. This active community ensures that you’ll have access to a wealth of knowledge and assistance as you embark on your projects.

The Radxa ZERO 3W stands out in the crowded SBC market with its tiny form factor, robust performance, and extensive connectivity options. Whether you’re a hobbyist looking to explore new projects, an IoT developer in need of a reliable platform, or an educator seeking an engaging teaching tool, the Radxa ZERO 3W offers a versatile and powerful solution.

Embrace the future of compact computing with the Radxa ZERO 3W, where tiny form factor meets extraordinary performance.

Author Profile

Vikky K

20+ years embedded hardware design professional with a burning passion for teaching. Sharing the intricate world of embedded hardware is my mission and joy.