Pilet Kickstarter begins: Raspberry Pi-based handheld allows ditching keyboard for gamepad in seconds

A new handheld PC based on the Raspberry Pi 5 is now being funded through a Kickstarter campaign. The device, called the Pilet, is offered in two versions: the Pilet 5 and the Pilet 7. The Pilet 7 unsurprisingly features a 7-inch display, while the Pilet 5 has a more compact 5-inch screen. The Pilet 5 includes a built-in keyboard and a trackpad, with an additional touch interface for easy navigation. According to the manufacturer, two modules are already in development for the Pilet 5: an NVMe module and an LTE module.

The Pilet 7, while larger, has a resolution of just 1280 x 800 pixels. Unlike the Pilet 5, it does not have an integrated keyboard, but one can be added via a detachable module. A gamepad module will also be available, enabling better control for gaming. The Raspberry Pi 5 provides sufficient computational power to handle retro games and less demanding Linux-compatible modern titles. Both the hardware and software of the Pilet are open source.

The crowdfunding campaign offers the Pilet 7 with an NVMe module at a starting price of $199. Provided the campaign proceeds as planned, delivery is scheduled for July 2025, but as with all crowdfunding projects, significant financial risks apply.