RK3588 vs NVIDIA Jetson: Which Edge AI Platform Should You Choose?
Quick answer
Choose RK3588 when you need the best price-to-performance for 8K vision, multi-camera inference and fanless industrial boxes. Choose NVIDIA Jetson when your workload is built on CUDA / TensorRT and you need mature AI libraries or the highest TOPS in a small module. Both families are in stock at Ai-Paipai as an authorized distributor.
RK3588 vs Jetson: spec comparison
| Spec | Rockchip RK3588 | NVIDIA Jetson (Orin Nano / NX / AGX) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core: 4× Cortex-A76 + 4× Cortex-A55 | 6–12× Cortex-A78AE (Orin); varies by model |
| AI accelerator | 6 TOPS NPU (built-in) | 40–275 TOPS (Ampere GPU, model dependent) |
| GPU | Mali-G610 MP4 | 1024-core Ampere GPU |
| Memory | Up to 32 GB LPDDR4/LPDDR5 | 8–64 GB LPDDR5 |
| Video | 8K@60fps decode / 8K encode | Up to 4× 4K or 8K (model dependent) |
| Software | RKNN / OpenCL / Linux; no CUDA | CUDA / TensorRT / JetPack (mature ecosystem) |
| Typical price | $269–$499 (board/SoM) | $599–$3979 (dev kit / module) |
| Best for | Cost-sensitive edge AI, multi-camera, industrial | CUDA workloads, robotics, max TOPS |
RK3588 boards in stock
- Station M3 ARM Mini PC – RK3588S ($349.00) — compact RK3588S mini PC, up to 32 GB.
- AIBOX-3588 RK3588 Edge Fanless PC ($449.00) — fanless industrial edge PC.
- ROC-RK3588S-PC SBC ($319.00) — affordable RK3588 SBC.
- Core-3588JD4 RK3588 SoM ($269.00) — RK3588 SoM for custom carrier boards.
- ITX-3588J Mini ITX Motherboard ($449.00) — Mini-ITX form factor motherboard.
NVIDIA Jetson boards in stock
- NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super Dev Kit ($599.00) — Orin Nano Super Developer Kit, 40+ TOPS.
- NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX SoM 16GB ($1209.00) — Jetson Orin NX 16 GB SoM, 100 TOPS.
- NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin Dev Kit 64GB ($3979.00) — AGX Orin Dev Kit, up to 275 TOPS.
- Firefly AIO-OrinNano Motherboard ($659.00) — Firefly Orin Nano robotics motherboard.
- Firefly EC-OrinNX Edge AI PC ($1599.00) — Firefly Orin NX fanless edge PC.
Which one should you pick?
Pick RK3588 if you are building a product on a budget, need 8K video or many camera inputs, or want a fanless box without paying CUDA tax. The AIBOX-3588 RK3588 Edge Fanless PC ($449.00) and Station M3 ARM Mini PC – RK3588S ($349.00) are the most popular starting points.
Pick Jetson if your team already runs CUDA/TensorRT models, needs the highest inference throughput, or is doing advanced robotics where the JetPack ecosystem saves months of work. Start with the NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano Super Dev Kit ($599.00).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RK3588 better than Jetson Nano?
For raw AI TOPS, Jetson (even Nano Super at 40+ TOPS) beats the RK3588 NPU (6 TOPS). But RK3588 wins on overall value, 8K video and I/O, and costs far less. "Better" depends on whether you need CUDA.
Can RK3588 run YOLO and vision models?
Yes. RK3588 runs YOLO and other models via RKNN / OpenCV / ONNX on its 6 TOPS NPU, which is enough for many multi-camera detection and edge inference tasks.
Which Jetson is best for a small robot?
The Jetson Orin Nano Super Dev Kit is the most cost-effective entry, while the Orin NX (100 TOPS) suits heavier perception. Firefly carriers like the AIO-OrinNano make integration easier.
Do you ship these worldwide?
Yes. Ai-Paipai ships authorized Firefly, NVIDIA Jetson and Puzhi boards worldwide on a DDU basis from Shenzhen.
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