Rockchip RK3688: Chipset for future gaming handhelds and single-board computers detailed with new ARMv9.3 CPU cores

Rockchip chipsets underpin many Raspberry Pi 5 (curr. $58.39 on Amazon) competitors, whether that be those from Banana Pi, FriendlyELEC, Orange Pi or Radxa. Additionally, less powerful options in the manufacturer's lineup are often found in affordable gaming handhelds like the ZPG GKD Bubble.

Now, Rockchip has provided insight into future single-board computers (SBCs) and potentially even new budget gaming handhelds by revealing a new entry in its burgeoning chipset portfolio. Specifically, Rockchip has announced the RK3688, which promises to provide strong AI acceleration thanks to an NPU with 16 TOPS of advertised performance. Moreover, the RK3688 possesses an ARM Mali-G310 GPU, MP3 versions of which feature inside smartphone chipsets like the Dimensity 7030.

On top of that, Rockchip has confirmed the inclusion of ARMv9.3 CPU cores. While the exact CPU cores inside the RK3688 remain unknown for now, CNX Software speculates that these could be the Cortex-A730 or Cortex-A735. Support for UFS 4.0 storage is also on board, as is LPDDR4, LPDDR4x and LPDDR5 RAM. Seemingly, the Radxa ROCK 6 could be one of the first devices to launch with the Rockchip RK3688; launch details for this SBC and other RK3688-powered devices remain unknown for now, though.