Microcontroller or Single-Board Computer?

Choosing the right brain.

A single-board computer runs a full operating system, has gigabytes of memory and a network stack. A microcontroller runs one program directly, starts in milliseconds and sips power.

Pick a board computer for video, databases or web servers. Pick a microcontroller for precise timing, battery life, low cost and reliability. Many products use both, with the small chip handling sensors and the larger one handling the interface.