The VisionFive 2 Lite is a credit card-sized single-board computer (SBC) that looks a lot like a Raspberry Pi. But it’s actually a smaller, cheaper, and less powerful version of the VisionFive 2 RISC-V SBC that launched a few years ago.
The new model has a slower version of the same processor and loses a few ports and connectors, but picks up optional support for onboard WiFi and Bluetooth. StarFive is taking pre-orders for the VisionFive 2 Lite through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Rewards start as low as $20 for an entry-level model and devices are expected to begin shipping to backers in October.
That price is for a basic model with just 2GB of RAM and no WiFi, but you can also pay $23 for a 2GB/WiFi model, $30 for a 4GB/WiFi version, or $37 for an 8GB/WiFi configuration.
Retail prices are expected to be about 30% higher after crowdfunding ends, with prices ranging from $28 to $54.
Each version of the little computer is powered by a StarFive JH7110S processor, which is basically a slightly slower version of the JH7110 chip used for the larger model. They both feature four SiFive U74 RISC-V CPU cores (RV64GC) and Imagination BXE-4-32 graphics. But the cheaper version only supports CPU speeds up to 1.25 GHz, while the pricier version can hit speeds up to 1.5 GHz.
A few other key difference are that the VisionFive 2 Lite has:
- An M.2 slot with one lane of PCIe 2.0 instead of two lanes
- One USB 3.0 port instead of two
- One Gigabit Ethernet port instead of two
The older, larger, and faster model also features an extra 4-lane MIPI-DSI connector and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Here’s an overview of some key specs for both models:
| VisionFive 2 Lite | VisionFive 2 | |
| Processor | StarFive HJ7110S 4 x SiFive U74 CPU cores @ 1.25 GHz Imagination BXE-4-32 MC1 graphics |
StarFive HJ7110 4 x SiFive U74 CPU cores @ 1.5 GHz Imagination BXE-4-32 MC1 graphics |
| RAM | 2GB, 4GB, or 8GB Up to LPDDR4-2800 |
|
| Storage | microSD card reader eMMC (optional) M.2 2242 M-Key (PCIe Gen 2 x1) SPI flash (for bootloader) |
microSD card reader eMMC (optional) M.2 2242 M-Key (PCIe Gen 2 x2) SPI flash (for bootloader) |
| Ports | 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x Gigabit Ethernet 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A 3 x USB 2.0 Type-A 1 x USB Type-C (5V/3A power) |
1 x HDMI 2.0 2 x Gigabit Ethernet 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A 2 x USB 2.0 Type-A 1 x 3.5mm audio 1 x USB Type-C (5V/3A power) |
| Other connectors | 1 x MIPI-DSI (2-lane) 1 x MIPI-CSI (2-lane) 1 x 40-pin GPIO header 1 x 2-pin 5V fan header |
1 x MIPI-DSI (4-lane) 1 x MIPI-DSI (2-lane) 1 x MIPI-CSI (2-lane) 1 x 40-pin GPIO header 1 x 2-pin 5V fan header |
| Wireless | WiFi 6 Bluetooth 5.4 |
Optional via dongle |
| Dimensions | 85 x 56mm | 100 x 74mm |
| Starting Price (at launch) | $20 (crowdfunding) $28 (retail) |
$45 (crowdfunding) $65 (retail) |
Both systems support 5V/3A or higher power input via the USB-C port, Power over Ethernet, or using the power pins on the GPIO header.
