UK The Short Answer
Both are NVIDIA Ampere-generation Jetson modules, but they sit at different tiers. The Orin NX gives up to 157 TOPS in a compact, low-power module; the AGX Orin roughly doubles the compute to 275 TOPS, with more memory, more I/O, and a higher power ceiling, in a larger module. The AGX Orin is the choice when the application outgrows the NX, not by default.
Where the AGX Orin Pulls Ahead
Beyond TOPS, the AGX Orin carries up to 64 GB of memory against the NX maximum of 16 GB, a higher power budget, and more native high-speed I/O. That matters for fusing many real-time sensor streams or running larger models. It also uses a different, larger module connector, so the two are not interchangeable on the same carrier board.
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Memory-bound models 32 to 64 GB runs larger or multiple models the NX cannot hold.
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Many sensors More native I/O fuses additional cameras and real-time streams.
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Headroom The higher power ceiling sustains heavier, concurrent workloads.
Choosing Between Them
If a single model and a handful of cameras fit comfortably on the Orin NX, there is no need to pay for the AGX Orin in size, power, and cost. When the workload, the memory, or the I/O outgrows the NX, the AGX Orin is the next step. Our full guide, Jetson Orin NX vs AGX Orin, compares them in depth.