New Walnut Pi 2B SBC Launched with Allwinner T527 Octa-Core CPU, Wi-Fi 6, and up to 4GB RAM in Raspberry Pi Form Factor

The Walnut Pi 2B is a single-board computer (SBC) that serves as an alternative to the Raspberry Pi, particularly the Raspberry Pi 5. Designed for a variety of applications, including DIY electronics projects, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, edge AI, home automation, and potentially as a mini PC.

It is powered by an Allwinner T527 octa-core Cortex-A55 processor, with options for 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and optional 32GB eMMC flash storage. This SBC also includes a microSD card slot for storage expansion. It offers Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity. The board features a 40-pin GPIO header (likely partially compatible with Raspberry Pi HATs), a PCIe 2.0 x1 FFC connector for expansion (allowing for NVMe SSD connection), one USB 3.0 port, three USB 2.0 ports, and a micro HDMI port capable of 4K 60Hz output. Some models also include a 2 TOPS NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for AI acceleration and an IR receiver.

The Walnut Pi 2B is compact, with dimensions of 85 x 56 mm, and can be powered via a USB-C port or Power over Ethernet (PoE). They position it as a competitively priced option, offering some features not found on the Raspberry Pi 5, like Wi-Fi 6 and an integrated AI accelerator, though it has fewer USB 3.0 ports and only one HDMI output.

Previously, we have covered other Allwinner T527-based SBCs, including the OrangePi 4A, the Myir MYD-LT527-SX, the Radxa Cubie A5E, and many more. Feel free to check these out if you are interested.

Walnut Pi 2B SBC Specifications:

• SoC: Allwinner T527
  • CPU: Octa-core Arm Cortex-A55 processor @ up to 1.8GHz, RISC-V core up to 200 MHz
  • GPU: Arm Mali-G57 MC1
  • NPU: Optional 2 TOPS (available on specific SKUs)
• System Memory: 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
• Storage:
  • MicroSD card slot
  • Optional 32GB eMMC flash (on specific SKUs)
  • 8MB SPI flash
• Video Output:
  • 1x Micro HDMI 2.0 port up to 4K @ 60Hz
  • MIPI DSI display interface (4-lane)
• Audio:
  • Via Micro HDMI output
  • 1x 3.5mm headphone jack (audio output + microphone input)
• Camera Input: MIPI CSI camera interface (supports 2-lane or 4-lane mode input)
• Networking:
  • Wired: Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port
  • Wireless:
    • Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) via SDIO 3.0 module
    • Bluetooth 5.0 via SDIO 3.0 module
• USB:
  • 1x USB 3.0 Type-A port
  • 1x USB 2.0 Type-A port
  • 2x USB 2.0 interfaces via 2.54mm pitch header pins
• Expansion:
  • 40-pin GPIO header (partially Raspberry Pi compatible) with UART, I2C, SPI, PWM, etc.
  • PCIe 2.0 x1 FFC connector (for NVMe SSD expansion via adapter board)
• Debugging: 3-pin UART header for serial console (UART0)
• Miscellaneous:
  • IR receiver (on specific SKUs)
  • Power button
  • Reset button (likely)
  • Power LED, Status LED
  • RTC support (requires external battery)
• Power Supply:
  • 5V via USB Type-C port
  • Supports PoE (Power over Ethernet) via an external PoE module connected to designated header pins
• Dimensions: 85 x 56 mm (Raspberry Pi Model B form factor)

The company mentions, the Walnut Pi 2B supports multiple operating systems, including Walnut Pi OS (based on Debian Desktop), a lightweight Linux image, Ubuntu, Android, and Home Assistant OS. You can find the Walnut Pi OS build script on GitHub, while the official website provides access to the documentation, though it’s currently only in Chinese. Still, users will discover helpful guides for getting started with Walnut OS, programming in C and Python, using GPIO, working with PyQt5 and OpenCV, and integrating with Home Assistant. There’s also a section called “User DIY” that includes instructions for DeepSeek R1-1.5B.

At the time of writing, the Walnut Pi 2B SBC is priced starting at $42.70 for the base model with 1GB RAM and no eMMC. The 2GB RAM version without eMMC is available on AliExpress for $47.99, while the highest-tier option, featuring 4GB RAM and 32GB eMMC storage, is priced at $63.87. The company also provides bundle options that may include accessories like an active cooler, ABS case, 5V/3A power adapter, micro HDMI cable, and a microSD card with reader. Interestingly, the same SBC appears on Amazon as well, but at a much steeper price of $172.

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