⚡ Walnut Pi CM2: a cut-price Compute Module 5 clone on an Allwinner chip

The Walnut Pi CM2 is a Raspberry Pi Compute Module-format module powered by the Allwinner T527, an octa-core Cortex-A55 (4 × 1.8 GHz + 4 × 1.42 GHz) with a Mali-G57 MC1 GPU, a 2 TOPS NPU and up to 4 GB of LPDDR4, CNX Software presents it. Electronically it is the Walnut Pi 2B SBC transplanted into the CM form factor: two 100-pin B2B connectors expose HDMI 4Kp60, MIPI DSI/CSI, USB 3.0, PCIe Gen2 and Gigabit Ethernet thanks to an on-module PHY, with optional Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

The "CM5 clone" exercise already has a history — Radxa's RK3588S modules and others — and CNX Software recalls the two structural limits. First, performance: the T527 remains behind the Broadcom BCM2712 (4 × Cortex-A76) in the CM5. Second, compatibility: like previous attempts, the CM2 is only partially electrically compatible with the CM5, and above all it cannot run Raspberry Pi OS — Walnut Pi OS (Debian 12), Ubuntu, Android and Home Assistant images are provided instead.

The argument remains price, in a market where the memory-price surge is hitting Raspberry Pi modules hard, and the 2 TOPS NPU, Wi-Fi 6 and on-module Ethernet are genuine additions for industrial designers wanting a 55 × 40 mm, 9.6 g design. As always, the battle will be won on long-term support and documentation.

Sources: CNX Software — Walnut Pi CM2, Walnut Pi wiki.