Radxa ROCK Pi E: OpenWrt Compatibility Report
The Radxa ROCK Pi E runs OpenWrt 25.12.1 on the rockchip/armv8 target, and has been supported since 24.10.0. Its WiFi 5 (AC) wireless on the rtl8xxxu driver rates fair for open-source driver support (0.60/1.0), installation is rated moderate, and it is still sold new.
Hardware data and retail listings last checked .
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Specifications
| SoC | Rockchip RK3328 |
|---|---|
| CPU | 4 cores @ 1300 MHz |
| RAM | 1024 MB |
| Ethernet ports | 2 |
| USB | 1x 3.0 |
| WiFi generation | WiFi 5 (AC) |
| Radios | 2.4GHz: b/g/n · 5GHz: a/n/ac |
| WLAN hardware | Optional Realtek RTL8821CU |
| WLAN driver | rtl8xxxu |
| OpenWrt target | rockchip / armv8 |
| Package architecture | aarch64_generic |
| Current release | 25.12.1 |
| Supported since | 24.10.0 |
| Install method | SD card, see git-commit |
| Install difficulty | moderate |
| Power supply | 5V, 2A via USB Type-C |
| Device type | Home router |
| Estimated throughput | 1000 Mbps |
| Availability | available |
Installing OpenWrt on the ROCK Pi E
Installation on this device is rated moderate. Expect to use a recovery mode, TFTP or a vendor tool rather than a plain web upload. Documented methods: SD card, see git-commit.
Flashing third-party firmware can brick a router and usually voids the warranty. Always check that the firmware image matches your exact hardware version.
Hardware versions
The ROCK Pi E ships in several hardware revisions with different chipsets. Match the version printed on your device label before flashing.
| Version | Target | Current release | WLAN hardware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base version shown above | rockchip/armv8 | 25.12.1 | Optional Realtek RTL8821CU |
| V3/0 | rockchip/armv8 | 25.12.1 | Optional WiFi 4 |
Other routers to consider
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Ubiquiti UniFi UK-Ultra
Not sure which fits? Take the 60-second quiz.