A Single-Board Computer (SBC) is a complete computer built on a single circuit board, including memory, input/output, and a microprocessor. They are often preferred by hobbyists, manufacturers, and researchers because of their small form factor and affordability. In recent years, the market for SBCs has significantly expanded, and the competition has driven down the prices. So, what is the cheapest Single-Board Computer (SBC)?

The Raspberry Pi Zero is arguably the cheapest SBC on the market. It was launched in 2015 and has since then remained one of the most popular SBCs worldwide. The Raspberry Pi Zero is a tiny board measuring 65mm x 30mm x 5mm and comes with many features that make it an ideal option for beginners and experts alike.

The Raspberry Pi Zero has a Broadcom BCM2835 SoC with a single-core 1GHz ARM11 CPU and 512MB of RAM. It has a mini-HDMI port, two micro-USB ports (USB On-The-Go host, as well as a USB slave port), and a 40-pin header. The Pi Zero doesn’t come with Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Bluetooth connectivity, but that can easily be added with an adapter or through the GPIO pins.

The Raspberry Pi Zero W, launched in 2017, is a slightly more expensive option but comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. It is a bit larger than the original Pi Zero, measuring 65mm x 30mm x 5mm and comes with 512MB of RAM.

Other cheap and popular SBCs include the Orange Pi Zero, Banana Pi M2 Zero, and FriendlyARM NanoPi Duo2. However, they may come with fewer features or require additional add-ons to make them competitive with the Raspberry Pi Zero.

Overall, the Raspberry Pi Zero is the cheapest and most popular SBC on the market. It has a vast community of developers and enthusiasts, an active ecosystem of add-ons, and tutorials/demonstrations for many applications. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, the Raspberry Pi Zero is a great option for small projects or prototypes.