Jetson Orin Nano vs NX vs AGX Power Consumption (2026)
Published April 2026
Complete power consumption comparison across the Jetson Orin family. Which module fits your power budget? Side-by-side data for idle, inference, and peak power across all modes.
For detailed Orin Nano power analysis, see the Jetson Orin Nano power consumption benchmarks.
Quick Answer
The three Jetson Orin platforms span a wide power range:
- Orin Nano — 4.5W idle, 8–12W typical, 28W peak (MAXN Super). Best efficiency per watt.
- Orin NX 16GB — 7W idle, 14–20W typical, 50W peak (MAXN). 2× the streams at 2–3× the power.
- AGX Orin 64GB — 12W idle, 40–60W typical, 75W peak. Maximum throughput for heavy workloads.
Choose Orin Nano for 1–6 cameras at tight power. Orin NX for 6–16 cameras. AGX Orin for 16+ cameras or heavy models.
Platform Specifications
All three platforms use NVIDIA's Ampere GPU architecture. The key differences are compute scale, memory, and power envelope. Data from NVIDIA Jetson module specifications.
| Spec | Orin Nano (Super) | Orin NX 16GB | AGX Orin 64GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOPS (INT8) | 67 | 157 | 275 |
| GPU Cores | 1024 | 1024 | 2048 |
| Memory | 8GB LPDDR5 | 16GB LPDDR5 | 64GB LPDDR5 |
| Memory BW | 102 GB/s | 102 GB/s | 204 GB/s |
| Default TDP | 15W | 25W | 40W |
| Max TDP | 25W (MAXN Super) | 25W (MAXN) | 60W (MAXN) |
| Max Streams 1080p | ~6 | ~12 | ~20 |
| Cost | ~$249 | ~$599 | ~$1,999 |
| Cooling | Passive or active | Active recommended | Active required |
Power Consumption Comparison
Measured power draw across workload scenarios. All measurements at 1080p with TensorRT INT8 inference.
| Scenario | Orin Nano | Orin NX | AGX Orin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idle (no inference) | 4.5–5.5W | 7–10W | 12–15W |
| Light inference (MobileNet) | 6–8W | 10–14W | 18–22W |
| Medium inference (YOLO11n) | 8–12W | 14–20W | 25–35W |
| Heavy inference (YOLO11m) | 13–16W | 20–30W | 40–55W |
| Maximum load (MAXN) | 20–28W | 30–40W | 50–75W |
Planning estimates based on measured per-mode power profiles. See the detailed Orin Nano power benchmarks for methodology.
Performance Per Watt Analysis
The Orin Nano delivers the best power efficiency for lightweight models, while the NX and AGX trade efficiency for absolute throughput.
| Metric | Orin Nano | Orin NX | AGX Orin |
|---|---|---|---|
| TOPS per watt (at default TDP) | 4.5 | 6.3 | 6.9 |
| Streams per watt (YOLO11n, 1080p) | ~0.4 | ~0.5 | ~0.5 |
| Cost per stream | ~$42 | ~$50 | ~$100 |
| Best efficiency at | 1–4 cameras | 4–12 cameras | 12–20 cameras |
The Orin NX actually has the best TOPS-per-watt ratio at its default power mode. However, the Orin Nano wins on absolute power draw — critical for battery, PoE, and outdoor deployments where total wattage matters more than efficiency ratios.
Power Modes Across Platforms
Each platform supports multiple power modes via nvpmodel. The range and default differ significantly:
| Platform | Available Modes | Default | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orin Nano | 5W, 7W, 10W, 15W, 25W Super, MAXN Super | 15W | 5W | 25W (uncapped) |
| Orin NX | 10W, 15W, 20W, 25W, MAXN | 25W | 10W | 25W (uncapped) |
| AGX Orin | 15W, 30W, 40W, 50W, MAXN | 40W | 15W | 60W (uncapped) |
The Orin Nano has the widest mode range (5W to 25W) — a 5× span. The AGX has a 4× span (15W to 60W) but at a much higher baseline. For detailed mode comparison on the Orin Nano, see 15W vs MAXN Super benchmarks.
Deployment Scenario Guide
Battery / Solar Powered
Use Orin Nano at 5W or 10W mode. A 20 Wh battery provides 2–4 hours at 5–10W. The Orin NX at minimum 10W mode drains batteries faster with no efficiency advantage for light workloads. The AGX is impractical for battery operation.
PoE Powered (802.3af/at)
Use Orin Nano at 15W mode. Standard PoE (802.3af) delivers 12.95W — enough for the Nano at typical inference. PoE+ (802.3at) at 25.5W supports MAXN Super. The Orin NX exceeds 802.3at for most workloads. See power per camera estimates for multi-camera PoE budgeting.
Indoor Multi-Camera (8–16 cameras)
Use Orin NX at 25W mode. Handles 8–12 streams at 1080p/15fps with headroom. The Nano maxes out at ~6 streams. The AGX is overkill and wastes power unless you need 16+ cameras or heavy models.
Large-Scale (16+ cameras)
Use AGX Orin or consider multiple nodes. The AGX handles up to 20 streams at 1080p. Beyond that, the System Designer can model multi-node architectures automatically.
Decision Matrix
| Cameras | Power Budget | Environment | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | ≤15W | Any | Orin Nano (15W mode) |
| 4–6 | ≤25W | Indoor/outdoor | Orin Nano (MAXN Super) |
| 6–12 | ≤40W | Indoor | Orin NX (25W mode) |
| 12–20 | ≤60W | Indoor | AGX Orin (40W mode) |
| 20+ | Any | Indoor | Multi-node or edge server |
For exact sizing, use the Hardware Selector to compare platforms for your specific workload.
Estimate Power for Your Deployment
Use the EdgeAIStack tools to calculate exact power requirements for your camera setup.
FAQ
Which Jetson module uses the least power?
The Jetson Orin Nano uses the least power: 4.5–5.5W at idle, 8–12W during typical inference. The Orin NX starts at 7–10W idle; the AGX Orin at 12–15W.
Which Jetson has the best performance per watt?
The Orin NX has the best TOPS-per-watt at its default power mode (6.3 TOPS/W). However, the Orin Nano uses the least absolute power, which matters more for battery, PoE, and outdoor deployments.
Can I run Jetson AGX Orin on PoE?
No. The AGX Orin draws 40–75W, which exceeds all standard PoE budgets. Only the Orin Nano fits within standard PoE (802.3af) at 15W mode.
How much more power does the AGX Orin use compared to the Orin Nano?
At typical inference loads, the AGX Orin draws 3–4× more power than the Orin Nano (40–60W vs 8–16W). The AGX delivers roughly 4× the compute (275 vs 67 TOPS), so power scaling is roughly proportional to performance.
Size your Jetson deployment
Use the Hardware Selector to compare platforms for your workload. Then use the System Designer for a complete architecture recommendation.
For complete power benchmarks on the Orin Nano, see the Jetson Orin Nano power consumption guide.