RK3588 vs RK3566: Flagship vs Entry-Level Rockchip SBC
Overview
The RK3566 is Rockchip's quad-core Cortex-A55 SoC — efficient, cheap, and perfect for HMI, lightweight edge and maker projects. The RK3588 is the octa-core flagship with a 6 TOPS NPU and 8K video. The Station M2 (RK3566) and Station M3 (RK3588S) make this an easy "step up" decision.
RK3588 vs RK3566 spec table
| Spec | RK3588 / RK3588S | RK3566 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4× A76 + 4× A55 (8 cores) | 4× Cortex-A55 (4 cores) |
| NPU | 6 TOPS | ~1 TOPS |
| GPU | Mali-G610 MP4 | Mali-G52 |
| Video | 8K@60 decode/encode | 4K@60 decode |
| Memory | Up to 32 GB | Up to 8 GB |
| Price | $269–$499 | $129–$379 |
RK3588 options
- Station M3 ARM Mini PC – RK3588S ($349.00) — RK3588S mini PC, up to 32 GB.
- AIBOX-3588S Embedded Fanless PC ($499.00) — embedded fanless PC.
- ROC-RK3588-RT SBC ($339.00) — RT SBC with Ethernet ports.
RK3566 options
- Station M2 ARM Mini PC – RK3566 ($169.00) — RK3566 mini PC, up to 8 GB.
- ROC-RK3566-PC Mini SBC ($379.00) — mini SBC.
- AIO-3566JD4 Motherboard ($149.00) — motherboard.
- EC-R3566PC Fanless Industrial PC ($129.00) — fanless industrial PC.
Which should you buy?
Buy RK3566 for HMI panels, thin clients, smart displays and entry-level AI where ~1 TOPS is enough and BOM cost matters. Buy RK3588 when you need real AI throughput, 8K media, or headroom for future models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RK3566 good for AI?
It has a small ~1 TOPS NPU — fine for light classification or wake-word tasks, but not for heavy vision models. For AI, choose RK3588.
Can I run the same OS image on both?
Both run Linux BSPs from Rockchip, but device trees and kernels differ, so images are not directly interchangeable.
Which is better for a smart display / HMI?
RK3566 is the cost-efficient choice for HMI; RK3588 only if you need 8K output or on-device AI on the same panel.
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