Mecha Comet: Exciting, open-source handheld launches with discount and plenty of creative freedom

We touched upon the Mecha Comet in a previous article, and now the device is available for pre-order. We would definitely classify it as a DIY product, but it can also be purchased by users without experience in hardware or software development. Both the handheld itself and the software can be extensively customized if desired. Mechanix provides its own customized Linux distribution for use.

The handheld features a 3.92-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a brightness of 550 cd/m² and a pixel density of 441 PPI. Image content can be output to an external display via HDMI. Two USB-C ports are on board, one of which is required to charge the 4,100 mAh battery. Depending on the model selected, an i.MX8M with four Cortex-A53 or an i.MX 95 with six Cortex-A55 cores is installed. The RAM is 2, 4 or 8 GB, and the eMMC storage amounts to either 64 or 128 GB.

An M.2 3042 port is on board, which can be used to retrofit a mobile modem, an SSD, an NPU or a LoRaWAN gateway. WiFi and Bluetooth are also available, as well as a motion sensor and a camera. Lastly, the handheld can be paired with a keyboard or a gamepad.

The Mecha Comet can be pre-ordered for least $189 as part of a crowdfunding campaign. Delivery is scheduled to begin in May 2026. Supporters should be aware that crowdfunding campaigns entail some risk, including the eventuality that the product may not work as advertised or may not make it to market at all.