Radxa has published the "Radxa Dragon Q6A" on their official page and Product Brief (Rev 1.4, updated October 24, 2025). This industrial SBC packs Qualcomm QCS6490, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, 3 MIPI CSI ports, and M.2 2230 NVMe into an 85×56mm form factor. However, AI performance and cooling requirements depend on OS/SDK and implementation conditions, so checking the official Docs before deployment is recommended.
Radxa has published the Radxa Dragon Q6A on their official page and Product Brief (Rev 1.4, updated October 24, 2025).
This industrial SBC packs Qualcomm QCS6490, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, 3 MIPI CSI ports, and M.2 2230 NVMe into an 85×56mm form factor.
However, AI performance and cooling requirements depend on OS/SDK and implementation conditions, so checking the official Docs before deployment is recommended.
Table of Contents
Specifications
| ■ Radxa Dragon Q6A | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Qualcomm QCS6490 (Kryo Prime 2.7GHz×1, Kryo Gold 2.4GHz×3, Kryo Silver 1.9GHz×4) |
| GPU | Adreno 643 |
| AI Accelerator | Hexagon DSP (HVX) + Hexagon Tensor Accelerator (up to 12 TOPS stated) |
| VPU | Up to 4K@60 decode (H.264, H.265, VP9), up to 4K@30 encode (H.264, H.265), etc. (per official Docs) |
| Memory | LPDDR5 5500MT/s, 4/6/8/12/16GB (configuration dependent) |
| Storage | microSD, eMMC/UFS modules (16–64GB / 128–512GB), M.2 2230 NVMe |
| Boot | Onboard QSPI NOR Flash (32MB stated). microSD/USB/eMMC/UFS/NVMe boot depends on image and SPI boot FW requirements |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax), Bluetooth 5.4 (BLE), 2 external antenna connectors |
| Wired LAN | 1GbE (PoE requires PoE HAT) |
| Video Output | HDMI (up to 4Kp30) |
| Display | MIPI DSI 4-lane ×1 |
| Camera Input | MIPI CSI 3 ports (4-lane×1, 2-lane×2) |
| Audio | 3.5mm 4-pole (headphone + mic input) |
| USB | USB 3.1: Type-A ×1 (HOST/OTG), USB 2.0: Type-A ×3 (HOST) |
| Expansion | M.2 M Key (PCIe Gen3×2, for NVMe), 40-pin GPIO, fan header (2-pin 1.25mm), power button, EDL button |
| Size | 85×56mm |
| Power | 12V input (USB-C or external 12V). Recommended: minimum 18W, 24W+ for full load |
| Supported OS | Official system images available. Product Brief mentions multiple OS options (details to be confirmed) |
| Accessories | Not confirmed in official primary sources |
QCS6490 + Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.4 + 3 MIPI CSI + M.2 NVMe packed into an 85×56mm board—the same size as Raspberry Pi—designed for industrial applications. The 12V input requirement and unconfirmed details about cooling, weight, and included accessories are points to verify before purchase.
Features
SoC and CPU
The Dragon Q6A is powered by Qualcomm QCS6490. With an 8-core configuration of Kryo Prime (1), Gold (3), and Silver (4), this SoC enables a "division of labor" design typical of edge devices—handling control processing, networking, and I/O while offloading AI and video processing to dedicated blocks (Hexagon).
AI Performance (Hexagon)
For AI, the board combines Hexagon DSP (HVX) and Hexagon Tensor Accelerator, with the official Docs stating up to 12 TOPS. However, TOPS figures vary depending on operation precision, models, and software stack, so it's safer to start from "whether it works for your use case." This subtly makes a difference.
For comparison, you could consider adding an external AI accelerator (like Hailo-8L) to Raspberry Pi 5, or opting for NVIDIA Jetson development kits. However, this board's differentiator is having "camera input, display, wireless, and storage expansion all integrated on the board," which is attractive for reducing wiring and component count when prototyping.
Memory and Storage
Memory is LPDDR5 (5500MT/s) with options from 4 to 16GB. Since this isn't an expandable type, you'll need to choose your configuration at purchase—it's wise to select with headroom based on your use case (resident services, log volume, image buffers).
For storage, you can choose from microSD, eMMC/UFS modules, and M.2 2230 NVMe. Starting evaluation with microSD, then switching to eMMC/UFS for production or reliability, or NVMe for read/write performance and logging—this flexibility to upgrade incrementally is a nice benefit.
The M.2 slot is M Key and explicitly stated as "2230 NVMe," so assuming SATA-based M.2 could be a pitfall. Planning for NVMe from the start is the safe approach.
Camera and Video I/O
MIPI CSI provides 3 ports total (4-lane×1, 2-lane×2), plus MIPI DSI (4-lane) and HDMI (up to 4Kp30). If you're building a device that handles camera input and display simultaneously, having "all these I/O options available" is quite helpful.
However, sensor compatibility, FPC form factors, and driver support aren't determined by SoC capability alone. If you have specific cameras or panels in mind, checking compatibility lists and setup procedures first is recommended.
Network and Expansion
Wireless includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 with 2 external antenna connectors. Wired is 1GbE, with PoE requiring a PoE HAT. For field deployment, deciding on power method (12V or PoE) early makes design smoother.
GPIO uses a 40-pin header with references to UART, I2C, SPI, PWM, etc. Voltage is 3.3V (tolerant to 3.63V), with a note about not connecting USB-UART's VCC line during UART debugging. This is a subtle but common source of accidents worth noting upfront.
OS and Setup (Watch Out for SPI Boot FW)
The official Docs provide Radxa OS system images, with separate images for microSD/USB/eMMC/NVMe and UFS.
Additionally, T4 and latest system images require the latest SPI boot firmware. The official Docs explicitly state "FW flashing is required if purchased before October 2025," so factor this into initial setup planning depending on purchase timing.
Note that FW updates change boot behavior, such as adding the default boot device order (USB > SD > NVMe > eMMC > UFS).
Boot firmware comes pre-flashed by default and normally doesn't need re-flashing, but having official recovery procedures available is reassuring.
Power and Thermal (Avoiding Issues)
Power input assumes 12V, fed via USB-C (12V input) or external 12V. For light loads, minimum 18W (12V/1.5A) is stated; for full load, 24W (12V/2A)+ is recommended—choosing with headroom is wise.
Fan header (2-pin 1.25mm) information is provided, but recommended heatsink/fan configurations and temperature conditions aren't confirmed from primary sources alone. When building into an enclosure, consider clearance and heat dissipation paths alongside dimension drawings—if your use case is defined, getting hands-on measurements early is recommended.
Appearance
Front, Side, and Back views are combined in one image, providing a quick look at connector placement and the board's underside. Useful for getting a sense of terminal layout and mounting without making detailed assumptions.
The interface diagram shows positions of M.2, CSI/DSI, USB, LAN, power input, etc. with numbered labels. For case design or wiring planning, reviewing this alongside the dimension PDF is recommended.
Summary
Radxa Dragon Q6A is an industrial SBC that packs Qualcomm QCS6490, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, 1GbE, 3 MIPI CSI ports, DSI, HDMI, and M.2 2230 NVMe into an 85×56mm form factor. For those looking to build "edge devices" that handle camera input and display simultaneously, this is a well-designed board.
It's suited for those who can design with 12V power in mind including enclosure and peripheral circuits, and who can proceed with validation following official Docs—including "OS images and SPI boot firmware." It's less suited for those who want cooling, accessories, and detailed compatibility information confirmed before making a purchase decision, as some items remain unverified.
Purchasing appears to be through Approved Partners rather than direct sales, so confirming regional distributors and inventory first is the practical approach.
| Vendor | Price (Reference) |
|---|---|
| Radxa (via Approved Partners) | Varies by distributor/configuration |
| Distributors (see list) | Varies by region/stock |
Related Links
- Radxa Dragon Q6A Product Page: https://www.radxa.com/products/dragon/q6a/
- Radxa Docs (Dragon Q6A): https://docs.radxa.com/en/dragon/q6a
- Product Brief (Rev 1.4, 2025-10-24): https://dl.radxa.com/q6a/docs/radxa_dragon_q6a_product_brief.pdf
- Quick Start: https://docs.radxa.com/en/dragon/q6a/getting-started/quickly_start
- Resource Downloads: https://docs.radxa.com/en/dragon/q6a/download
- Distributors / Approved Partners: https://radxa.com/distributors/
- 2D Dimensions (V1.21): https://dl.radxa.com/dragon/q6a/hw/radxa_dragon_q6a_2d_dimensions_v1.21.pdf
- UART Debug (VCC line warning): https://docs.radxa.com/en/dragon/q6a/system-use/uart_debug
- SPI Boot Firmware: https://docs.radxa.com/en/dragon/q6a/low-dev/spi_fw
Last verified: December 29, 2025 (JST)