Choosing the right Rockchip SoC for a tablet, mini-PC, industrial HMI or smart device means balancing CPU/GPU performance, multimedia capabilities, memory and I/O features, power budget and cost. This hands-on comparison between the RK3566 vs RK3568 walks you through the hardware differences, real-world use cases, and guidance for product teams considering Rockchip-based customization.
Quick summary
RK3566 – cost-efficient, lower-clock midrange SoC for power-sensitive devices; RK3568 – higher-capability sibling with faster CPU/GPU top clock, broader I/O (PCIe/SATA/USB3) and stronger 4K multimedia support.
At-a-glance comparison table RK3566 vs RK3568
(Table is representative – exact clocks, NPU TOPS and I/O options depend on module/board vendors and firmware builds.)
Deep dive: architecture and performance
Both RK3566 and RK3568 are 22nm-class Rockchip application processors built around four ARM Cortex-A55 cores and an ARM Mali-G52 MP2 GPU. The differences are largely in clock targets, I/O, memory interface choices and multimedia/display subsystems. In practical terms:
- CPU/GPU – RK3568 is commonly validated at higher top clocks (up to 2.0 GHz) and tends to appear on boards with higher DRAM speeds; this translates to better single- and multi-thread throughput in synthetic tests and slightly higher GPU frame rates in the same thermal envelope. RK3566 usually targets lower clocks (typical module 1.8 GHz) and slightly reduced GPU clocks to hit lower cost/power targets.
- NPU (AI accelerator) – Both families support lightweight neural inference, but RK3568 variants often ship with a more capable NPU configuration on reference boards, making them a better fit for low-latency, on-device inference (voice, simple vision tasks). Exact TOPS numbers vary by firmware and vendor.
- Multimedia and displays – RK3568 includes a more feature-rich display pipeline (multiple output ports, HDMI 2.0 support, eDP, dual MIPI DSI options on many boards) and stronger 4K decode/DRM support in board implementations. If you need true 4K video playback, multiple displays or hardware video pipelines for conferencing/HMI, RK3568 is the safer choice.
I/O, storage and connectivity – the practical difference
Where RK3566 and RK3568 diverge most noticeably for product designers is in I/O:
- Storage & expansion: RK3568 reference designs commonly expose PCIe lanes and SATA on carrier boards – enabling NVMe storage or SATA SSDs for mini-PCs and NAS-like devices. RK3566 boards typically target eMMC/SD + USB storage or limited NVMe options on some modules.
- USB & networking: Both support Gigabit Ethernet and USB, but RK3568 solutions more often include USB3.0 x2/x3 and richer GigE PHY integrations in commercial SBCs.
- Camera & sensors: Both chips support multiple MIPI CSI lanes; RK3568 is often chosen for multi-camera setups due to more flexible CSI and display routing.
If your product roadmap requires NVMe, SATA, multiple high-res displays or heavy I/O concurrency, RK3568 simplifies board design – trading higher BOM and thermal considerations for capability.
Power, thermals and deployment considerations
RK3566 is the more power-friendly option for battery-powered tablets and e-readers where standby life and thermal simplicity matter. RK3568 draws more power under peak multimedia or PCIe/SATA activity and typically requires a more robust thermal design (heat spreader, small heatsink) in compact enclosures.
For industrial deployments, consider ECC-enabled DRAM options and temperature grade testing. Some RK3568 datasheets and board vendors highlight ECC on caches and stronger memory options for reliability; check the specific module datasheet for ECC support.
Software and ecosystem (RK3566 vs RK3568)
Rockchip chips are well supported by a growing open-source ecosystem (mainline kernel patches, vendor BSPs, Android images). RK3568 enjoys broader ecosystem attention in the community because it’s used in a wider set of multimedia devices and SBCs. That typically means more community images, drivers and third-party board support – a practical advantage when you need Linux/Android customization.
Also, read more:
RK3566 vs H700: SoCs Comparison
RK3568 vs H700: Practical Comparison
RK3588 vs RK3588S: In-Depth Technical Comparison
RK3688 vs RK3668: Rockchip’s Next-Generation Chips
Choosing: when to pick RK3566 vs RK3568
Decision logic for product teams:
- Choose RK3566 if:
- Low BOM and power efficiency matter (e-readers, simple tablets, IoT panels).
- You need basic 1080p video and a compact thermal solution.
- Your target storage is eMMC/SD or USB and you don’t need PCIe/SATA.
- Choose RK3568 if:
- You require 4K video, multiple displays or hardware video pipelines.
- Your product benefits from PCIe/NVMe or SATA (mini-PCs, OTT, multimedia tablets).
- You want a more capable NPU for on-device inference or richer I/O for industrial apps.
Real-world examples and benchmarks
Independent community and vendor benchmarks show RK3568 outperforming RK3566 in multicore and GPU workloads when both chips are given comparable memory and thermal headroom. However, in optimized low-power modes (and for strictly 2D UI work), the RK3566 holds its own and can deliver a noticeably better battery life profile. As always, measure on the exact module/board you plan to use – vendors sometimes underclock or reconfigure the same SoC for different product tiers.
We build on Rockchip – customization services
If you’re designing a tablet, mini-PC, industrial HMI, digital signage player or edge device and want a turnkey Rockchip-based solution, we offer:
- Custom hardware design (carrier boards, thermal design, enclosure integration) for RK3566 and RK3568 platforms.
- Firmware and software (Android builds, Yocto/Ubuntu images, bootloader customization, NPU/accelerator tuning).
- Camera, touch, display and sensor integration plus sourcing (MIPI cameras, LVDS/eDP panels).
- Manufacturing support and long-term supply management.
Tell us the product target (battery life vs multimedia, storage needs, number of displays/cameras) and we’ll recommend RK3566 or RK3568 + module, then deliver reference hardware and customized firmware. Contact us now!
Conclusion
RK3566 vs RK3568 is not a question of “better” in absolute terms – it’s a question of fit. RK3566 excels in cost-sensitive, low-power designs. RK3568 brings wider I/O, better 4K multimedia handling and stronger options for NVMe/SATA and multi-display systems. For most multimedia and mini-PC applications, RK3568 is the safer choice; for battery-focused, low-cost tablets and embedded devices, RK3566 is often the smarter, leaner choice. Evaluate the exact module/board you’ll use, perform power and thermals testing on your enclosure, and pick the SoC that matches your product’s priorities.
Sources
- Rockchip RK3566 Brief Datasheet (Rockchip) – PDF: https://rockchips.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/RK3566-Brief-Datasheet.pdf
- Rockchip RK3568 Brief Datasheet (Rockchip) – PDF: https://rockchips.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/RK3568-Brief-Datasheet.pdf
