Orange Pi has officially unveiled its latest single-board computer, the Orange Pi 6 Plus, a flagship SBC engineered for high-performance computing and AI-driven workloads.
At its core lies the CIX CD8180/CD8160 SoC, featuring a 12-core 64-bit CPU and an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of up to 45 TOPS of AI performance — positioning the board as a serious contender for developers building machine learning and edge inference applications.
High-Performance SoC with Advanced AI Capabilities
The new SoC is built on a 12-core heterogeneous architecture, incorporating a powerful GPU and hardware support for ray tracing and 8K video decoding.
While Orange Pi has not disclosed the full CPU configuration on its official page, community resource SBCWiki provides detailed insights:
- 4× high-performance cores: Cortex-A720 @ up to 2.8GHz
- 4× mid-tier cores: Cortex-A720 @ up to 2.4GHz
- 4× efficiency cores: Cortex-A520 @ 1.8GHz
- GPU: Arm Immortalis-G720 MC10
This blend of high-frequency and energy-efficient cores ensures balanced performance across diverse workloads — from real-time video analytics to AI model inference and complex multi-threaded tasks.
Memory and Storage Options
Orange Pi 6 Plus is available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB LPDDR5 memory configurations (128-bit bus), offering ample bandwidth for data-intensive AI and multimedia tasks.
Storage expandability is another highlight:
- 2× M.2 Key-M (2280) slots supporting NVMe SSDs
- 64Mbit SPI Flash
- MicroSD card slot
This combination allows developers to scale storage for operating systems, large AI datasets, or project-specific applications with ease.
Connectivity and Networking
Networking capabilities are a standout feature on the Orange Pi 6 Plus:
- 2× 5G Ethernet ports, each powered by dedicated controllers for high-speed wired connectivity
- 1× M.2 Key-E slot for Wi-Fi module expansion
- 2× USB 3.0 Host ports, 2× USB 2.0 ports, and 2× full-function Type-C 3.0 ports
Both Type-C interfaces support DisplayPort (DP) video output and Power Delivery (PD) up to 100W, enabling “one-cable” setups for data, power, and display.
Multimedia and Display Support
For display and image capture, Orange Pi 6 Plus offers impressive flexibility:
- HDMI 1.4 output (up to 4K@60Hz)
- eDP 4K display interface
- Dual M.2-CSI interfaces, each supporting four camera channels
The SBC also includes a 3.5mm audio jack (with microphone input) and a dedicated audio codec enabling dual speaker output, suitable for embedded multimedia or AI vision projects that include audio feedback or sound recognition.
Expansion and I/O
A standard 40-pin header provides easy access to common interfaces — GPIO, UART, I²C, SPI, and PWM — ideal for prototyping and peripheral integration.
Other useful additions include:
- PWM-controlled fan connector for smart cooling
- RTC connector and battery interface
- Power, system, and battery status LEDs
- Power, BOOT, and RESET buttons
These features make the Orange Pi 6 Plus a developer-friendly platform suitable for robotics, automation, and advanced DIY projects.
Software and OS Compatibility
The Orange Pi 6 Plus is designed to run a wide range of operating systems, including Debian, Ubuntu, Android, and Windows, with future support for ROS 2 (Robot Operating System) — a major plus for robotics developers and AI researchers.
This wide compatibility makes it adaptable for diverse applications, from smart edge computing to human–machine interface systems.
Technical Specifications
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU / SoC | 12-core 64-bit CIX CD8180 / CD8160 SoC with integrated NPU (up to 45 TOPS) and integrated GPU |
| Memory / Storage | Up to 64GB LPDDR5 (128-bit) • 64Mbit SPI Flash • 2 × M.2 Key-M (2280) NVMe slots • MicroSD slot |
| Display Interfaces | 1 × DP 1.4 (up to 4K@120Hz) • 2 × Type-C DP outputs • 1 × HDMI 1.4 (up to 4K@60Hz) • 1 × eDP (up to 4K@60Hz) |
| Networking | 2 × 5G Ethernet ports • 1 × M.2 Key-E slot (Wi-Fi module) |
| I/O Expansion | 40-pin header (GPIO, UART, I²C, SPI, PWM) • Fan connector (PWM control) • RTC connector • Battery connector |
| Audio | 3.5 mm audio jack (I/O) • Analog mic input • Dual speaker outputs via audio codec |
| USB Ports | 2 × USB 3.0 Host • 2 × USB 2.0 • 2 × full-function Type-C 3.0 (PD & DP) • 1 × USB 2.0 9-pin header |
| Other Features | Power/system/battery LEDs • Power / BOOT / RESET buttons |
| Power Supply | Type-C PD input (20V, up to 100W) |
| Mechanical | Dimensions: 115 × 100 mm • Weight: 132 g |
While pricing details for the Orange Pi 6 Plus have not yet been announced, the official product page is already live. According to Orange Pi’s roadmap, global availability is expected soon via Amazon, AliExpress, and other major e-commerce channels. Developers and enthusiasts interested in high-performance AI computing should keep an eye out for its release.
