In modern embedded and industrial systems, Computer-on-Module (COM) solutions based on the SMARC 2.2 standard provide an efficient way to accelerate product development while maintaining flexibility and scalability.
Two popular options for industrial edge computing are RK3562J SMARC and RK3576J SMARC modules. While both follow the same SMARC 2.2 form factor and industrial design principles, they target different performance levels and application scenarios.
This article compares the two modules to help engineers and system integrators select the most suitable platform for their projects.
Both modules are built according to the SMARC 2.2 specification, using the MXM3 314-pin connector and compact 82 × 50 mm form factor.
This modular design provides several advantages:
Faster product development
Easier hardware upgrades
Lower development risk
Long lifecycle support
Developers can design a custom carrier board once and upgrade the performance simply by replacing the SMARC module.
The biggest difference between the two modules lies in the processor architecture and computing performance.
The RK3562J module integrates:
Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 @ 2.0 GHz
Mali-G52 GPU
0.8 TOPS NPU
This architecture focuses on low power consumption and cost efficiency, making it ideal for embedded control and basic edge computing applications.
The RK3576J module delivers significantly higher performance with:
4× Cortex-A76 + 4× Cortex-A55 big.LITTLE architecture
Mali-G52 MC3 GPU
6 TOPS AI NPU
This makes the module suitable for AI inference, machine vision, and high-performance edge computing.
Edge AI performance is another key differentiator.
| Module | AI Performance |
|---|---|
| RK3562J | 0.8 TOPS |
| RK3576J | 6 TOPS |
The RK3576J provides over 7× higher AI computing capability, enabling advanced workloads such as:
real-time video analytics
object detection
AI quality inspection
smart transportation systems
Meanwhile, RK3562J is more suitable for lightweight AI tasks such as sensor data processing or simple inference models.
The multimedia capabilities also differ significantly.
The module mainly focuses on embedded display applications, supporting LVDS display interfaces and basic multimedia features.
RK3576J offers a much stronger multimedia subsystem, including:
HDMI 2.1 output
eDP display interface
MIPI-DSI display support
8K@30 video decoding
4K@60 video encoding
These capabilities make it ideal for applications such as:
AI video analytics
smart surveillance
digital signage
industrial vision systems.
| Feature | RK3562J | RK3576J |
|---|---|---|
| RAM | LPDDR4 / LPDDR4X | LPDDR5 / LPDDR5X |
| Capacity | 2GB / 4GB | 2GB–16GB |
| Storage | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
The RK3576J supports next-generation LPDDR5 memory and larger capacities, which significantly improves performance for AI workloads and high-bandwidth applications.
Both modules provide rich industrial interfaces through the SMARC connector.
Gigabit Ethernet
USB 2.0
UART
I2C
SPI
MIPI-CSI camera interface
RK3576J Interfaces
Dual Gigabit Ethernet
USB 3.0 + USB 2.0
Multiple UART / I2C / SPI
Dual MIPI-CSI cameras
HDMI / eDP / MIPI-DSI display
The RK3576J platform therefore provides higher bandwidth and more flexible expansion options.
Both modules are designed for industrial applications, offering:
Operating temperature: -40°C to +85°C
Standard SMARC 2.2 size (82 × 50 mm)
5V power input
industrial reliability
This makes them suitable for harsh environments such as factories, outdoor equipment, and transportation systems.
Best suited for:
Industrial controllers
HMI panels
IoT gateways
Data acquisition systems
embedded display terminals
Ideal for:
AI edge computing
Machine vision
Smart transportation
robotics controllers
intelligent video analytics
Although both modules share the SMARC 2.2 standard form factor, they target different levels of performance.
RK3562J SMARC focuses on cost-efficient industrial control and basic edge computing.
RK3576J SMARC is designed for high-performance AI and advanced multimedia processing.
Choosing the right module depends on the computing performance, AI requirements, and multimedia capabilities needed for your application.
