Recently, technical parameters of Rockchip’s next-generation mid-range AIoT processors, the RK3572 and RK3538, have gradually emerged in developer communities and investor communications. Positioned respectively for industrial HMI (Human-Machine Interface) and consumer electronics markets, the two chips further complete Rockchip’s full-series chip matrix from high-end flagship to entry-level, providing embedded core board manufacturers with a richer selection of options.
According to currently disclosed information, the RK3572 adopts an octa-core ARM architecture with integrated 4 TOPS NPU compute, targeting mid-range HMI and industrial control scenarios. The chip supports multi-channel display output and touch interfaces, demonstrating strong competitiveness in industrial displays, self-service terminals, and smart retail devices. Compared to the flagship RK3588, the RK3572 achieves better cost-performance by trimming some high-end interfaces while maintaining sufficient AI compute, and is expected to become the new “sweet spot” solution in the industrial control domain.
The RK3538 is aimed at consumer electronics and lightweight AIoT applications, featuring a quad-core Cortex-A55 architecture with a focus on low power consumption and low cost. The chip supports 4K video decoding and basic AI inference capabilities, making it suitable for TV boxes, smart speakers, and entry-level security cameras. The launch of the RK3538 will create a high-low pairing with the RK3568, covering a broader consumer electronics market.
From an industry impact perspective, the arrival of the RK3572/RK3538 will further consolidate Rockchip’s leading position in the domestic embedded chip sector. For core board manufacturers, this means achieving full product line coverage from entry-level to high-end within a single technology system, reducing the cost and risk of cross-platform development. Junyi Microelectronics will closely monitor the mass production progress of the RK3572/RK3538, and plans to launch corresponding core boards and development kits immediately after the official release, providing customers with hardware platforms for rapid adoption.
Source: Rockchip Official, CNX Software