8 Linux Handheld Computers You Can Splurge On
8 Linux Handheld Computers You Can Splurge On
https://itsfoss.com/linux-handhelds/
Publish Date: 2026-07-12 02:39:00
Source Domain: itsfoss.com
As consumers, we are used to correlating handhelds with the big names like Valve’s Steam Deck, Lenovo’s Legion Go, and ASUS’ ROG Ally. But these machines are geared towards gaming and are priced like it too.
Lately, a different segment has been getting just as much attention. Indie creators and small hardware outfits who are shipping handhelds built around open hardware, swappable parts, and running full Linux distros.
We have picked out eight such handhelds that range from fully assembled devices to bring-your-own board kits that expect you to bring your own board, battery, and storage.
1. CardputerZero
M5Stack has kept its Cardputer line going since 2023, updating it every so often. The original ran on an ESP32-S3, and so did the follow-up, the Cardputer-Adv, just with a bigger battery and more sensors bolted on. Howeverm, neither of them ran real Linux.
The CardputerZero changes that. It swaps the ESP32 for a Raspberry Pi Compute Module Zero, which is equipped with a Broadcom BCM2837 with a quad-core Cortex-A53 running at 1GHz and 512MB of RAM.
You get a 1.9-inch non-touch LCD with HDMI output up to 1080p, a 46-key keyboard, and a 1500mAh battery to keep it running, all of which fits into an 84 x 54 x 23.1mm shell you could mistake for a fat credit card.
The Standard model throws in an 8MP camera and a full IMU sensor suite; features the cheaper Lite version drops entirely. Both variants keep Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and a built-in app store that lets you flash community firmware without requiring a computer.
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M5Stack’s offering has already pulled in over 10,000 Kickstarter backers.
2. Mecha Comet
The Mecha Comet looks like a chunky Android phone at first glance, until you notice the 40-pin magnetic connector running along the bottom edge. Snap on a QWERTY keyboard with a trackpad, a…
