RK3566 vs RK3568: What Exactly Is the Difference?

RK3566 and RK3568 belong to the same RK356x family — identical CPU/GPU/NPU (4×A55, Mali-G52, 1 TOP NPU) — yet they differ where it matters for your baseboard design: interfaces and packaging.

Four Key Differences

Which One for Your Product?

Lean RK3566 for

• Gateways / industrial hosts: dual GbE + 4G module expansion is enough, at lower cost;
• Serial-screen terminals and kiosks with modest interface needs.

Lean RK3568 for

• High-speed expansion: NVMe SSD, 5G modules, multi-port PCIe capture cards;
• Dual-display signage and POS terminals needing flexible display combos.

Common Pitfalls

1) Assuming RK3566 is a "stripped-down" RK3568 — no, they are parallel parts with different interface priorities;
2) Drawing the baseboard before locking lane assignments — confirm PCIe/SATA/display routing first;
3) Ignoring SoM incompatibility — if the product line might switch chips later, discuss pin-to-pin design with your solution provider early.

Hongyin Tech offers both RK3566 and RK3568 core boards and custom mainboards; our engineers help you evaluate lane allocation up front to avoid baseboard rework.