Computer vision & AI
- Real-time object detection (YOLO family)
- People counting and traffic analytics
- Defect detection on production lines
- License plate recognition (ALPR)
- Smart camera and CCTV analytics
ALPON X5 AI vs ALPON X4: Device Comparison
Two industrial edge computers, one shared platform. The ALPON X5 AI adds a 25 TOPS DEEPX DX-M1 NPU and a faster Cortex-A76 processor for on-device AI inference. The ALPON X4 keeps the proven Cortex-A72 stack for IoT gateway, telemetry, and remote-monitoring workloads.
Choose the ALPON X5 AI if your workload involves computer vision, model inference, or any AI workload — it has a 25 TOPS DEEPX DX-M1 NPU, a Raspberry Pi CM5 (Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz), NVMe SSD support, and 2× Gigabit Ethernet. Choose the ALPON X4 for general-purpose IoT gateway, telemetry, and remote-monitoring workloads where an AI accelerator is not required. Both devices share the same ALPON Cloud platform, the same 9–30 V DC input, and the same fanless aluminum enclosure. Intelligented by DEEPX. Built on Raspberry Pi.
The headline differences in three numbers per device.
Raspberry Pi CM5 · DEEPX DX-M1 NPU
Raspberry Pi CM4 · gateway-focused
If you can answer "yes" to any of the following, the choice is clear.
The ALPON X5 AI is not a drop-in replacement for the ALPON X4. The two devices share the same ALPON Cloud platform, but they differ in dimensions (X5 AI is 12 mm taller), processor architecture, and I/O layout. Validate your antenna, mounting, and power assumptions before swapping.
Every spec from the official datasheets, side by side. Highlighted rows are where the two devices differ.
| Specification |
ALPON X5 AI
Edge AI Computer
|
ALPON X4
Edge IoT Computer
|
|---|---|---|
| AI Acceleration | ||
| AI Accelerator | DEEPX DX-M1M.2 2280, on-board | None |
| AI Performance | 25 TOPSINT8 inference | Not applicable |
| NPU Memory | 4 GB on-chipDedicated, does not share system RAM | Not applicable |
| NPU Power | 2–5 WMin/max under AI workloads | Not applicable |
| System | ||
| Compute Module | Raspberry Pi CM5 | Raspberry Pi CM4 |
| Processor | Broadcom BCM2712Quad-core Cortex-A76 @ 2.4 GHz (Armv8) | Broadcom BCM2711Quad-core Cortex-A72 @ 1.5 GHz (Armv8) |
| Memory | 8 GB or 16 GBLPDDR4-4267 with ECC | 8 GBLPDDR4 (optional 2 GB / 4 GB) |
| Storage | eMMC + NVMe SSDCM5 eMMC (optional) plus NVMe | 32 GB eMMCOptional 8 GB / 16 GB |
| Real-Time Clock | CR1220 coin cell | CR1220 coin cell |
| Connectivity | ||
| Cellular | 4G / LTE Cat 4 (Global) | 4G / LTE Cat 4 (Global) |
| eSIM (eUICC) | Remote profile mgmt | Remote profile mgmt |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 / 5 GHz, 802.11 b/g/n/ac | 2.4 / 5 GHz, 802.11 b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth 5.0 / BLE | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet | 2× Gigabit EthernetRJ45 | 1× Gigabit Ethernet + 1× 100 MbpsRJ45 |
| GNSS / GPS | GPS/GNSS + cellular geolocation | GPS/GNSS + cellular geolocation |
| LTE Data Rate | 150 Mbps DL / 50 Mbps UL (theoretical) | 150 Mbps DL / 50 Mbps UL (theoretical) |
| Input / Output | ||
| USB | 2× USB 3.0 + 1× USB-C OTG | 2× USB 2.0 + 1× USB-C PD |
| Display | HDMI 2.0, up to 4K @ 60 Hz | HDMI 2.0, up to 4K @ 30 Hz |
| Camera Interface | 1× 4-lane MIPIDSI/CSI over mini HDMI | None |
| GPIO | RJ45 breakoutI2C, UART, SPI, 5V, GND | 6× RPi GPIO pins5V output, 1A max |
| User Buttons | 2× programmable | 2× programmable |
| LED Indicators | 4 LEDs1× user RGB, 1× power, 2× status | 4 LEDs1× RGB, 1× cellular, 1× connection, 1× power |
| DIP Switches | Boot/Burn, Watchdog | Boot/Burn, Watchdog |
| Power | ||
| Input Voltage | 9–30 V DC, 27 W | 9–30 V DC, 27 W |
| Power Options | USB-C PD · Screw terminal · PoE+ (optional) | USB-C PD · Screw terminal · PoE+ (optional) |
| USB Output | 5 V DC, 1.8 A totalUSB 3.0 | 5 V DC, 1 A totalUSB 2.0 |
| Mechanical & Environmental | ||
| Dimensions | 100 × 100 × 45 mm3.93 × 3.93 × 1.77 in | 111 × 100 × 33 mm4.37 × 3.93 × 1.30 in |
| Weight | ~457 g (1 lb) | ~457 g (1 lb) |
| Enclosure | Aluminum, fanless, passively cooled | Aluminum, fanless, passively cooled |
| Protection Class | IP40 | IP40 |
| Operating Temperature | −20 °C to +60 °C | −20 °C to +60 °C |
| Storage Temperature | −40 °C to +85 °C | −40 °C to +85 °C |
| Mounting | Desk, DIN rail, wall (optional) | Desk, DIN rail, wall (optional) |
| Security | ||
| TPM 2.0 | Infineon SLB 9670VQ2.0 | Infineon SLB 9670VQ2.0 |
| Hardware Watchdog | Yes | Yes |
| Software & Platform | ||
| Operating System | ALPON X5 AI OSRaspberry Pi compatible, with DEEPX runtime | ALPON X4 OSRaspberry Pi compatible |
| ALPON Cloud | Full support | Full support |
| Fleet Management | Yes | Yes |
| OTA Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Container Deployment | Docker (ARM64) | Docker (ARM64) |
| Multi-Network Failover | Ethernet → Wi-Fi → LTE | Ethernet → Wi-Fi → LTE |
Specifications are taken from the official ALPON X5 AI and ALPON X4 datasheets. Some variants may ship with different memory, storage, or PoE options. See the ALPON X5 AI Specifications or ALPON X4 Specifications pages for variant detail.
Workloads where each device fits naturally.
Once you onboard a device, the platform experience is identical. Learn it once, use it for either fleet.
Common questions when choosing between the ALPON X5 AI and the ALPON X4.
Yes, under AI workloads. The DEEPX NPU adds 2–5 W on top of the system baseline. Both devices accept the same 9–30 V DC input and the same 27 W USB-C PD power supply, so power-supply sizing usually does not change.
If your workload is a containerized ARM64 service that does not depend on X4-specific GPIO pinouts, it will run unchanged on the ALPON X5 AI. AI inference code and DEEPX runtime calls are ALPON X5 AI only.
The cellular, Wi-Fi, and GNSS antennas use the same connectors on both devices and are interchangeable. Mounting kits and the IP67 outdoor antenna are also shared.
Not directly. The ALPON X5 AI is 12 mm taller (45 mm vs 33 mm) due to the DEEPX module and PCIe switch. The footprint (100 × 100 mm) is similar but not identical to the ALPON X4 (111 × 100 mm). Re-validate any custom enclosure or panel cutout.
Yes. The ALPON X4 remains an actively supported product. It shares the same ALPON Cloud platform, OTA pipeline, and security update cadence as the ALPON X5 AI. AI-specific OS components such as the DEEPX runtime are exclusive to the ALPON X5 AI image.
For new IoT-only projects without AI workloads today and no AI roadmap in 12–24 months, the ALPON X4 is the cost-effective choice. If there is any chance the project will add vision, inference, or model deployment later, the ALPON X5 AI is cheaper to design in than to retrofit.
If your workload involves any kind of vision, inference, or model deployment, choose the ALPON X5 AI. Future-proofing your fleet for AI is cheaper than retrofitting later. For pure data-collection and gateway roles, the ALPON X4 remains the cost-effective option.