Buying a Raspberry Pi Zero back in 2016 taught me a lot about Linux, automation, containerization, and other aspects of computing. Since then, I’ve brought plenty of DIY ideas to life with Single-Board Computers – and my repertoire of SBC projects has expanded even further after I started writing for XDA. Although I’ve largely shifted my focus to the Raspberry Pi 5, I’ve also reviewed a plethora of SBCs during that time, ranging from cool-looking devices with major dealbreakers to fully-functional RISC-V systems and NAS-centric boards.

However, the Radxa X4 stood apart from the rest of the SBC crowd when I reviewed it back in September 2024, and over the last couple of months, it has become an important part of my computing lab. What's weird is that I haven't seen the Radxa X4 mentioned anywhere, even though it’s hands-down my favorite SBC in recent times.

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The Raspberry Pi 5 may be a terrific system for DIY projects, but there are plenty of other alternatives for tinkerers

Arm SBCs are known for their budget-friendly nature, with the Zero boards from many series (including the Raspberry Pi family) costing well under $20 despite offering a fully-functional computing system. Their x86 counterparts, on the other hand, often cost the same as mini-PCs while offering lower thermal headroom, and in many cases, weaker processors.