piBrick Pocket-CM5: Raspberry Pi handheld with keyboard and AMOLED unveiled

The Raspberry Pi is a versatile single-board computer that is also offered in various model versions, including as a particularly flat Compute Module that lacks conventional ports and is therefore usually operated with a dedicated PCB, or carrier board. The piBrick Pocket-CM5 is a new DIY handheld PC based on the Raspberry Pi CM5 that users can build themselves and that is available under the GPL 3.0 license.

In addition to the Raspberry Pi CM5, suitably adapted PCBs are also required. These are provided as templates and can then be manufactured by a suitable supplier. A BBQ20 keyboard is used, which is intended to allow relatively fast text input. This keyboard also includes a trackpad. A 3.92-inch AMOLED display is installed, which can process up to five touch inputs at the same time and is connected via MIPI-DSI. The resolution is relatively high at 1080 x 1240 pixels, which could have a positive effect on interface usability. Even so, the 560-nit display is still significantly smaller than that of a smartphone. Video outputs are available.

There is also a rotary control on the side, along with five buttons. A 5,000mAh battery is used, which means the system can also be used on the go. Stereo speakers and a microphone are included, and there is also a headphone jack. An SSD can be installed, while a microSD card can also be used depending on the Raspberry Pi CM5 model version. Sensors and actuators can be connected via GPIO. The parts are listed at around $172, although this is likely to depend heavily on the specific Raspberry Pi version used.