What is a SoM Board?

In the ever-evolving world of embedded systems, System on Module (SoM) boards have become a powerful and flexible solution for developers and companies building custom electronic devices. Whether you’re designing a smart home panel, industrial HMI, or an AI-driven edge device, SoM boards can dramatically reduce development time, risk, and cost.

What is a SoM Board?

A System on Module (SoM) is a compact, pre-engineered computing module that integrates the core components of an embedded system, such as:

CPU (Processor)
RAM (Memory)
Flash storage
Power management
Sometimes GPU, Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, and basic I/O

Unlike a single-board computer (SBC), which is typically ready-to-use as a standalone device, a SoM must be mounted onto a carrier board (also called a baseboard) that provides the specific I/O ports and connectors needed for a particular application.

How Does a SoM Work?

A SoM works like the “brain” of your product. Once paired with a customized carrier board, it forms a complete embedded computing platform tailored to your exact needs. Developers can focus on designing the I/O, interfaces, and enclosures without worrying about the complexity of CPU design and OS porting.

Here’s how a typical setup works:

The SoM handles processing and memory tasks.
The carrier board adds USB, HDMI, Ethernet, RS485, PoE, GPIO, and other custom interfaces.
The combined system runs an operating system like Android, Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Buildroot), or Windows, depending on the application.

Key Advantages of SoM Boards

Faster Time-to-Market
SoMs eliminate the need to build computing platforms from scratch. They come pre-certified and pre-tested, allowing companies to launch products faster.
Flexible Design
SoMs can be used across multiple projects by simply designing different carrier boards.
Reduced Development Risk
Since the core functions are handled by the SoM, developers reduce the chances of design failure.
Scalability
You can easily upgrade to a more powerful SoM (e.g., from RK3566 to RK3588) without redesigning the entire system.

SoM vs SoC vs SBC – What’s the Difference?

Feature	SoM	SoC	SBC
Form	Modular (soldered or pluggable)	Chip-level (requires PCB)	Complete board with I/O
Usage	For custom hardware builds	Embedded in SoM or board	Ready-to-use dev or end product
I/O Interfaces	Requires carrier board	Needs integration	Built-in ports
Customizability	High	Very High (chip-level)	Low to Medium

Common Use Cases for SoM Boards

Smart Home Panels
Industrial HMI Terminals
Retail Digital Signage
Medical Devices
Robotics and Drones
IoT Gateways
AI Edge Computing Devices

Portworld SoM Solutions

At Portworld, we provide high-performance, low-power SoM boards based on industry-leading platforms such as Rockchip RK3566, RK3568, and RK3588. Our modules support multiple operating systems and are fully customizable with OEM/ODM services.