How to Build a Cheap Android PC with Inexpensive Parts

Want a working Android PC? You can try installing Android on your PC or laptop, but consider yourself lucky if it works! However, some cheap parts work without problems.

Here are some parts you can use to build an Android PC.

Operating Systems

Before looking at the hardware, consider the operating systems on sale. You have several options when it comes to running an Android computer.

Phoenix OS: The best installable version of Android — as of 2018 — is Phoenix OS. Installation can be a little tricky. Read our Phoenix OS installation guide. to save you time and effort .
Android-x86 Project : Android-x86 Project can install Android on PC. While it’s not optimized for a desktop interface, it’s relatively easy to install.
Android for ARM: Some single board computers come with installable versions of Android, such as the Raspberry Pi.
Chromium OS Currently, Chromium OS (the installable version of Chrome OS) cannot run Android apps. However, Android support is expected.

The Best Parts for Building an Android PC

Since Android uses many Linux drivers, some parts of the computer work with x86 versions of Android. Unfortunately, Android is not fully compatible, which causes problems.

Of these parts, the motherboard and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card are the most important. The motherboard determines if your build will run, and the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card determines if your device will connect to the internet.

Single Board Computers

build android pc - single board computers

If you just want an all-in-one computer that runs Android, you can only opt for a Single Board Computer (SBC). We’ve rounded up the best SBC devices and almost all of them are Android capable.

On the other hand, only a few of them seem to be able to run on modern versions of Android. Many for some reason do not have better support than Android 4.4 (KitKat). Exceptions to this rule include the following SBC models:

Raspberry Pi 3: Although the Raspberry Pi 3 is by no means the best Android SBC on this list, it will receive the longest period of support and operating system updates. And with the latest incarnation (at the same price of $35), expect a long support cycle. (There are other operating systems you can install on Raspberry Pi operating systems.)
Orange Pi Prime: The Orange Pi Prime is a compact board with 2GB of RAM.
Banana Pi M3: This is the most powerful SBC listed here. However, it comes with a hefty price tag of over $100.
Rock64: The Rock64 would be the perfect SBC, except it lacks built-in wireless. This means that you will either need to use an Ethernet connection for data transfer or you will need a USB dongle.
Asus Tinkerboard: The Tinkerboard is a solid alternative to the Raspberry Pi 3. It has strong Android support and overall good specs.

Motherboard

The most complex component of your computer is its motherboard. This is the only part that alone determines whether your build will boot with the Phoenix OS installed. You can also check if your existing PC will run Phoenix OS by simply burning a bootable Phoenix OS USB and running it.

If it boots, then you can install Phoenix OS. Of the components I’ve personally tested, Atom-based motherboards (particularly the Q1900 system-on-a-chip) provided the best Phoenix OS compatibility.

Working motherboards tested (some have problems)

ASRock Q1900-ITX : Q1900-ITX worked great. I tested its sleep function, screensaver, HDMI audio, and most of its ports — except parallel ports — on Phoenix OS.
ECS KBN-E1/2100 (with serious problems) A: Like most AMD Embedded Boards, the HDMI audio on the KBN-E1/2100 did not work or sleep or activate the screensaver. The rest of the board worked fine.
MSI AM1-ITX (with serious problems) A: Another AMD board, AM1I HDMI Audio, did not work or sleep or activate the screensaver. Everything else worked fine.

Motherboards that should work without problems

ASRock Q1900B-ITX: There is nothing crazy about the Q1900B-ITX. This is a standard Bay Trail motherboard, otherwise it is almost identical to the motherboard I successfully installed Android on. It’s actually even easier and shouldn’t have any problems. It uses the same audio chipset as Q1900, Realtek ALC662.
ASRock Q1900M microATX: This is a microATX motherboard, not mini-ITX. This means it requires a microATX case. Otherwise, it uses the same processor and sound chipset as the Q1900-ITX, which means it should be fully compatible.
ASRock Q1800B-ITX: This motherboard (sold at Newegg for $55 since Feb 2018) should work as it uses the same audio chipset (ALC662) and a slightly older but similar processor as the Q1900.
ASRock Q1900DC-ITX: This is the DC version of the Q1900-ITX motherboard, which means it should work because it has the same sound chipset and processor. It also doesn’t require a power supply. Unfortunately, this is hard to find at an affordable price.
GIGABYTE GA-J1800N-D2H: This motherboard also uses ALC662 chipset and Bay Trail (not Braswell) processor. It must be compatible.

Motherboards that could work

ASRock J3455B-ITX: This motherboard uses an Apollo Lake processor but is otherwise similar to the Q1900 series specs. This means that it uses an Intel processor along with a Realtek chipset. However, it uses a slightly different Realtek chipset than the Q1900, so audio might be an issue.
ASUS PRIME J3355I-C: This motherboard features an Apollo Lake processor which means it is still up to date but not guaranteed to be compatible with Phoenix OS.

There are several general compatibility rules. Most new Atom based motherboards should work properly. I tested Phoenix OS on an ASRock Q1900-ITX motherboard. The Bay Trail processor and Realtek ALC662 audio chipset are known to work properly with Android. This means that similarly configured motherboards should also work correctly. The ALC792 and ALC892 chipsets may or may not work properly, which may require the use of Bluetooth speakers.

Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo card

Older Intel Atom motherboards use PCIe, mSATA, or mini-PCIe ports for Wi-Fi card slots. Laptops also include these cards, although sometimes replacing them can be a huge hassle. Like many upgradeable computer components, mini-PCIe wireless cards may have compatibility issues when used with Linux or Android (which is based on Linux).

I recommend trying whatever device you have and — if that doesn’t work — buying a model with proven Linux support as an upgrade. If you’re building from scratch, you’ll need to buy an Intel wireless card. For mainstream mini-PCIe cards, Bluetooth compatibility is standard.

Of the models I’ve tested, the best includes Intel’s budget line with an 802.11ac card. While the Intel 7260 series Wi-Fi cards work great in Phoenix OS, I recommend the Intel 3160 for its combination of low price and decent performance.

build android pc - wifi bluetooth combo board

The Intel 3160 is a version of the Intel 7260 1 (1 antenna, each capable of transmitting and receiving). It is designed for budget laptops and, for the most part, works on almost all Linux distributions. In my experience, it’s perfect for Android. Note that the Intel 7260 works just as well with better performance. Both are very good options.

I compared it to other wireless cards and to be honest, you won’t see much of a performance difference between the dual band N card and the 3160. However, you will notice that the 3160 runs without issue. , including Bluetooth. Just make sure you have two SMA connectors and antennas. Otherwise, you may experience connectivity issues, especially for Bluetooth.

You may be wondering why Bluetooth is so important. A functional Bluetooth card means that if your 3.5mm speakers don’t work, you can use a Bluetooth speaker. If the USB keyboard and mouse do not work, you can use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. The point is, if you have a working Bluetooth card, you need to worry less about compatibility issues with other hardware.

Parts of an Android PC that don’t matter

The other parts don’t matter as far as the performance and compatibility of the drivers. For the most part, I would recommend using the smallest and cheapest components. The smaller and less energy intensive your assembly, the more roles it can perform, for example, a computer or a set-top box.

Computer case

As far as Mini-ITX miniature computer cases go, the best options include two SMA Wi-Fi connector holes inside the case. There are several reasons why you need holes for SMA connectors in your case.

First, most budget motherboards with embedded processors do not have built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This requires drilling holes in the I/O shield to support Wi-Fi connectors. Second, both Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo cards require two separate antennas. One antenna may be experiencing wireless connectivity issues. At the very least, this will reduce the connection distance and coherence.

There are only a few cases I would recommend for an Android build, and they’re not exactly amazing. They are generally good enough to support some uses.

M350: The M350 can store one 2.5″ drive along with the front USB device. Overall, it is very durable, a bit heavy, and sufficient for most people’s needs. On the downside, it only includes one SMA connector port, which means you’ll have Bluetooth issues if you’re using a wireless card with two antennas.
Antec ISK110 : The ISK110 is a pretty solid case that combines plastic and metal. It has several disadvantages. While it can store two 2.5-inch drives, it lacks dedicated SMA holes, forcing you to use a dongle for wireless connectivity. It also includes an integrated 80W PicoPSU, the best deal out of small Mini-ITX cases.
MX500: This is arguably the best Mini-ITX chassis available. It supports two 2.5″ drives and includes three SMA holes. Unfortunately, I’ve never built this system before, so I can’t say anything about its quality.

RAM

The least important component for an Android PC is RAM. Some motherboards use a feature known as dual channel RAM for better GPU performance. Unfortunately, almost all embedded motherboards do not support dual-channel memory.

This way, you can often get by without using just one flash drive. Either 2GB or 4GB works fine, and RAM speed is pretty much irrelevant. At the very least, most users won’t notice the performance difference between fast and slow RAM.

The only thing to look out for (besides generating RAM like DDR3) is Small Outline DIMM (SO-DIMM) versus Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM). Some smaller motherboards, such as the Mini-ITX, use SO-DIMM laptop RAM. Double check if your motherboard supports it.

Data disk

Android is designed for solid state drives (what is an SSD?) and doesn’t take up much disk space when installed. Also, Android apps tend to be quite tiny.

Unless you’re building an Android gaming PC, a 16GB SSD is more than enough for most users. However, if you already have a hard disk drive (HDD), feel free to use it. Just don’t expect fast execution.

If you’re looking for a drive at a bargain price, the 64GB Adata SP600 drive is currently an affordable entry-level SSD.

Power supply and adapter

I prefer to use the cheapest power supply unit (PSU): picoPSU. PicoPSU uses a combination of low power consumption, efficiency and low cost. If your build draws 20 watts of power or less when you’re active, you can use the cheapest picoPSU class, which costs about $40 for both the adapter and power supply.

I recommend pairing an 80W PicoPSU with a 60W adapter.