If you’re looking for a compact, affordable, and powerful single-board computer (SBC) for security testing and ethical hacking, two excellent contenders are Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W vs Orange Pi Zero 2W :
- Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- Orange Pi Zero 2W (H618 2024 Edition)
Both are tiny, budget-friendly boards, but which one is better for your pentesting needs? Let’s compare them properly.
📖 What Are These Boards?
Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is a reliable, low-power SBC by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, known for solid hardware and a huge community.
Orange Pi Zero 2W (H618) is an upgraded alternative by Orange Pi with better hardware specs, Bluetooth 5.0, WiFi 5 (dual band), and 4K video support.
📊 Updated Side-by-Side Comparison (2025)
| Feature | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W | Orange Pi Zero 2W (H618) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 1.0GHz Quad-core Cortex-A53 | 1.5GHz Quad-core Cortex-A53 (H618) |
| RAM | 512MB LPDDR2 | 4GB LPDDR4 |
| WiFi | WiFi 4 (802.11 b/g/n, 2.4GHz) | WiFi 5 (Dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 BLE | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| USB Ports | 1 × Micro USB OTG | 1 × USB 2.0, 1 × Micro USB OTG |
| Ethernet | No | 100Mbps via expansion header |
| Display Output | Mini HDMI (1080p) | HDMI 2.0 (4K@60fps) |
| Operating System | Raspberry Pi OS, Kali Linux | Android, Ubuntu, Debian, Armbian |
| Price Range | ₹1600–₹1800 (~$18–22) | ₹2500–₹3000 (~$28–36) |
🔍 Which One Is Better for Security Testing?
Let’s see how both perform for different pentesting scenarios:
✅ Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W — Pros:
- Official Kali Linux ARM support
- Built-in Bluetooth 4.2 BLE
- Low power, perfect for portable hacking boxes
- Huge community support, thousands of tutorials
- Cheapest and highly reliable for WiFi attacks
Cons:
- Only 512MB RAM
- No 5GHz WiFi
- No Ethernet
- Lower CPU speed
✅ Orange Pi Zero 2W (H618) — Pros:
- Faster 1.5GHz CPU and 4GB RAM
- WiFi 5 (Dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz) — excellent for modern AP testing
- Bluetooth 5.0 — better range and power efficiency for BLE testing
- Ethernet support via header — wired network attacks possible
- 4K HDMI output — better display, even though headless is preferred for security rigs
- Runs Ubuntu, Debian, Armbian, or Android
- Great for building multi-purpose headless pentesting setups
Cons:
- Slightly higher price
- Smaller community than Raspberry Pi
- No official Kali Linux image (though Armbian with Kali tools works fine)
📌 Use Case Highlights
| Task/Use Case | Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W | Orange Pi Zero 2W (H618) |
|---|---|---|
| WiFi Pentesting (2.4GHz) | ✅ | ✅ |
| WiFi Pentesting (5GHz) | ❌ | ✅ |
| Bluetooth Security Testing | ✅ (4.2) | ✅ (5.0) |
| Wired Network Attacks | ❌ | ✅ (via Ethernet header) |
| Portable USB Payload Drop Box | ✅ | ✅ |
| Headless Remote Pentesting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Heavy Pentesting Tools (Metasploit, etc.) | ⚠️ (512MB RAM) | ✅ (4GB RAM) |
🎯 Final Recommendation
- If your focus is WiFi 2.4GHz, Bluetooth pentesting, portable drop boxes, and Kali Linux support on a budget — pick Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W
- If you need better CPU speed, more RAM, dual-band WiFi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and Ethernet support for advanced pentesting rigs — the Orange Pi Zero 2W (H618) is the smarter pick.
🔒 Pro Tip:
For high-end WiFi pentesting, pair either board with an external WiFi adapter like Alfa AWUS036ACM or AWUS036NHA for monitor mode and packet injection.
📢 Conclusion
Both boards are great in their own right — Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is excellent for lightweight, community-supported WiFi/Bluetooth testing, while the Orange Pi Zero 2W H618 version is a modern, better-spec’d choice for heavy security testing with 5GHz WiFi and more RAM.
