Choosing between the Rockchip RK3568 and Allwinner H700 depends on your product goals: multimedia playback, connectivity and I/O, power envelope, or lowest BOM for handheld consoles and low-cost devices. Below I compare the two SoCs from the perspective of hardware engineers and product teams, showing the key specs, practical strengths and trade-offs, and recommended use cases. I also note that we offer Rockchip-based customization (tablets, mini-PCs, embedded systems) if you want a tailored design.
Quick summary (one-liner)
RK3568 – stronger connectivity, richer peripheral set, more modern GPU variant and SoC options for industrial/edge devices. Great when you need dual GigE, PCIe, USB3 and broader memory support.
Allwinner H700 – purpose-built multimedia/gaming-focused platform (Cortex-A53 + Mali-G31) with very good 4K video decode and low-cost handheld adoption. Best when the primary requirement is cost-effective 4K playback or simple gaming consoles.
Comparison table – RK3568 vs H700
(Table RK3568 vs H700 sources: Rockchip and distributor datasheets; Allwinner H700 whitepaper and product pages.)
Deeper notes & practical implications (RK3568 vs H700)
CPU & GPU
- Both SoCs (RK3568 vs H700) are quad-core 64-bit ARM designs, but RK3568 uses Cortex-A55 cores at higher typical clocks (A55 > A53 in per-clock efficiency), which usually gives the RK3568 an edge in general CPU throughput for multi-task and background services (e.g., web servers, background AI tasks). This is consistent with published datasheets and board implementations.
- For GPU workloads, the RK3568’s Mali-G52 family typically outperforms the Mali-G31 in synthetic and real-world 3D workloads (important if you plan lightweight 3D UI or higher-res emulation). The H700’s Mali-G31 is still efficient for 2D UI, video overlays and many retro gaming tasks.
Multimedia
- Allwinner positioned the H700 squarely as a 4K@60 multimedia platform (10-bit decode) with image processing features – great for video boxes and handhelds that prioritize video playback quality and color tuning.
- RK3568 also supports 4K decode and broader multi-display options (HDMI2.0, eDP, MIPI) and adds stronger video encode capabilities – useful for signage, capture or devices that perform both encode and decode.
I/O, networking and industrial features
- If your product needs dual Gigabit Ethernet, PCIe, USB3 or more extensive peripheral expansion (NVMe, multiple cameras, industrial interfaces), the RK3568 ecosystem and board SKUs are a better fit. Many industrial SBCs and modules are based on RK3568 because of these features.
- The H700 is frequently selected for handhelds and small set-top/console devices where cost, battery life and video behaviour matter more than heavy I/O.
Software & community
- Both chips, RK3568 vs H700, run Android and Linux variants on community boards, but RK3568 has a broader industrial ecosystem (SBC vendors, industrial modules). H700 has a lively niche community in retro handhelds. If long-term industrial support, vendor images, and peripherals matter, RK3568 often wins.
When to choose which
- Choose RK3568 if you need stronger I/O/connectivity (dual GigE, PCIe), more flexible memory and storage options, or an SoC tuned for industrial/edge applications (tablets, mini-PCs, gateways, digital signage).
- Choose Allwinner H700 if your primary needs are efficient 4K video playback, a lower-cost BOM for handhelds or console-style devices, and you don’t require heavy expansion or dual GigE. H700 is common in handhelds and cost-sensitive multimedia boxes.
Sources / further reading (RK3568 vs H700 useful links for specifications & design)
- Rockchip RK3568 brief datasheet (official / distributor PDFs).
- Radxa / RK3568 datasheet pages and board examples (Radxa / Rockchip community builds).
- Allwinner H700 whitepaper / product brief (Allwinner official document).
- Comparative writeups and side-by-side pages (CNX Software).
- Examples of H700 devices and community pages (retro handheld listings).
Conclusion – main takeaways
The RK3568 and Allwinner H700 are both effective quad-core SoCs but target different niches. RK3568 is the better choice for industrial, connectivity-heavy and expansion-oriented devices (tablets, mini-PCs, gateways, signage), while H700 is a compact, cost-efficient multimedia/gaming platform used heavily in handhelds and low-cost set-top devices for 4K playback. Match the SoC to your product priorities: I/O and long-term industrial support (RK3568) vs. lowest BOM and optimized 4K video playback for consumer handhelds (H700).
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