Jetson Nano Differences Between Jetson Nano A02, B01, and 2GB Versions
Since the Jetson Nano price skyrocketed, it has had a huge impact on teams relying on it as their primary development platform. We’re taking a fresh look at the different Jetson Nano variants — choosing the right board at the lowest cost is the smartest resource strategy. This article covers the differences between the Jetson Nano A02, B01, and 2GB versions to help you make a more informed choice.
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Specification Comparison
| Variant | A02 | B01 | 2Gb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo |  |  |  |
| GPU | 128-core Maxwell | 128-core Maxwell | 128-core Maxwell |
| CPU | Quad-core ARM A57 @ 1.43 GHz | Quad-core ARM A57 @ 1.43 GHz | Quad-core ARM A57 @ 1.43 GHz |
| Memory | 4GB 64-bit LPDDR4 25.6 GB/s | 4GB 64-bit LPDDR4 25.6 GB/s | 2GB 64-bit LPDDR4 25.6 GB/s |
| Storage | microSD | microSD | microSD |
| Video Encode | 4K @ 30, 4x 1080p @ 30, 9x 720p @ 30 (H.264/H.265) | 4K @ 30, 4x 1080p @ 30, 9x 720p @ 30 (H.264/H.265) | 4K @ 30, 4x 1080p @ 30, 9x 720p @ 30 (H.264/H.265) |
| Video Decode | 4K @ 60, 2x 4K @ 30, 8x 1080p @ 30, 18x 720p @ 30 (H.264/H.265) | 4K @ 60, 2x 4K @ 30, 8x 1080p @ 30, 18x 720p @ 30 (H.264/H.265) | 4K @ 60, 2x 4K @ 30, 8x 1080p @ 30, 18x 720p @ 30 (H.264/H.265) |
| Camera | 1x MIPI CSI-2 DPHY lane | 2x MIPI CSI-2 DPHY lanes | 1x MIPI CSI-2 DPHY lane |
| Networking | Gigabit Ethernet, M.2 Key E | Gigabit Ethernet, M.2 Key E | Gigabit Ethernet (no M.2 slot; Wi-Fi only via 802.11ac USB adapter) |
| Display | HDMI, DisplayPort | HDMI, DisplayPort | HDMI |
| USB | 4x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0 Micro-B | 4x USB 3.0, 1x USB 2.0 Micro-B | 1x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 2.0 Micro-B |
| Power | 5V 4A DC 5.5 x 2.1mm barrel jack | 5V 4A DC 5.5 x 2.1mm barrel jack | USB-C 5V ± 5%, 3A |
| Other I/O | GPIO, I2C, I²S, SPI, UART | GPIO, I2C, I²S, SPI, UART | GPIO, I2C, I²S, SPI, UART |
| Dimensions | 100 mm x 80 mm x 29 mm | 100 mm x 80 mm x 29 mm | 100 mm x 80 mm x 29 mm |
| MSRP | $89 | $99 | $59 |
| China Price (2022-06-12) | ¥1699 | ¥2200 | ¥1499 |
Hardware Differences
From the table above, we can see that the older 4GB A02 Jetson Nano and the newer B01 Jetson Nano differ only in that the A02 lacks a second CSI camera connector. The Jetson Nano 2GB, on the other hand, has a noticeable reduction in memory (2GB vs 4GB) and several interface differences. The 2GB model drops the DisplayPort output, leaving only HDMI for external display connectivity. The USB configuration also changes — there’s only one USB 3.0 port and one USB 2.0 port. For wireless connectivity, the 2GB model has no M.2 slot, so Wi-Fi is only possible via a USB 802.11ac adapter.
Software Installation Differences
Since JetPack 4.4.1, the Jetson Nano images for A02 and B01 have been interchangeable. There’s a discussion about it here on the NVIDIA forums. Although I haven’t tested this myself recently, I do recall that versions before 4.3 could not be mixed. To this day, the 4GB and 2GB images are still not interchangeable, so this is something to keep in mind if you need to migrate a system. The screenshot below shows that JetPack 4.5.1 still uses separate images for the 4GB and 2GB models.
Fortunately, NVIDIA’s Docker images run seamlessly across different Jetson Nano variants, so using Docker as a standardized development environment is highly recommended.
Additionally, because the Jetson Nano 2GB has less memory, its Ubuntu uses the more memory-efficient LXDE desktop environment, meaning the desktop experience differs between the 4GB and 2GB models. The 2GB version requires more aggressive memory optimization — it’s even better to skip the desktop environment entirely to save memory. See this article for details: “Jetson Nano Complete Setup Guide”.
Conclusion
If you don’t need dual cameras, the A02 is a perfect substitute for the B01. However, A02 boards are becoming increasingly scarce on the market — you may only find them on the second-hand market. The 2GB model is also a solid choice: if you don’t have specific memory requirements, a well-optimized 2GB Jetson Nano delivers nearly the same performance as the 4GB version and serves as an excellent alternative to the B01.
