Pine64

Pine64 is a Hong Kong-based technology organization that designs, manufactures, and sells affordable computing and electronics products, with a strong emphasis on Linux, open-source software, repairability, community development, and access to documented hardware. Its product range has included single-board computers, notebook computers, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, wireless earbuds, soldering irons, and other embedded devices. The organization operates through Pine Store Limited and was previously associated with Pine Microsystems, a Fremont, California-based company. The brand emerged from the low-cost single-board-computer movement. Its first major product was the Pine A64, introduced through a Kickstarter campaign in December 2015. The board used a 64-bit ARM processor and was positioned as a competitively priced alternative to products such as the Raspberry Pi. The campaign raised more than US$1.7 million, but the project was affected by delays and shipping problems. Despite those difficulties, the Pine A64 established the company’s basic formula: inexpensive hardware, relatively capable specifications, Linux compatibility, and community participation in software support. Pine64 expanded from the original A64 family into compute modules and cluster-oriented hardware, including the SoPine A64 and Clusterboard. It subsequently introduced Rockchip-based products such as the Rock64 and RockPro64, followed by the Allwinner-based Pine H64 and the Star64, its first single-board computer using a RISC-V processor. These products have served developers, hobbyists, educators, hardware experimenters, and users interested in alternative personal-computing platforms. The organization also applied the same approach to portable computers. The Pinebook was a very low-cost ARM notebook announced in 2016 and produced from 2017. It was designed primarily as an inexpensive Linux computer rather than a premium laptop. The PineBook Pro, announced in 2019, offered a more capable Rockchip platform and a larger notebook form factor at a substantially higher price while remaining positioned below mainstream laptops. Manjaro Linux was later announced as its default operating system for shipping units. Pine64’s mobile-device work has been particularly influential within Linux hardware communities. The PinePhone was designed as a community-oriented Linux smartphone intended to support mainline Linux and multiple mobile operating-system projects. An early-adopter BraveHeart edition was released in 2020, followed by Community Edition releases that incorporated software and hardware development from participating projects. The PinePhone Pro, announced in 2021, increased processing capability, memory, storage, and camera specifications. Pine64 also introduced the PineTab and PineTab 2 tablets, and the PineNote, an E Ink tablet with a Wacom-compatible digitizer intended for writing and experimentation. Beyond computers, the brand has developed devices such as the PineTime smartwatch, PineBuds wireless earbuds, and Pinecil open-source soldering irons. PineTime moved from developer availability toward consumer release in 2021. Pinecil uses a RISC-V-based microcontroller and open-source IronOS firmware, making it part of Pine64’s broader effort to combine low prices with accessible firmware and community modification. The organization has also explored smart-speaker hardware using a RISC-V system-on-chip. Pine64’s market identity is less centered on polished mass-market consumer electronics than on accessible, community-supported hardware. Products can involve unfinished software, limited production runs, changing components, shipping constraints, and varying levels of support. The company’s appeal lies in giving developers and enthusiasts physical platforms on which to build alternative operating systems and open-source applications. Its history also illustrates the practical challenges of producing inexpensive hardware for a global customer base, including crowdfunding fulfillment, logistics, component shortages, and software maturity.

Pine64 originated as Pine Microsystems in Fremont, California, under founder TL Lim, who had previously been associated with digital-media-player products sold through Syabas and Cloud Media. The organization entered the single-board-computer market in 2015 with the Pine A64. The board was designed around a 64-bit Allwinner ARM platform and competed on price and processing capability with established hobbyist boards. A Kickstarter campaign launched in December 2015 and raised more than US$1.7 million. The campaign generated substantial interest, but manufacturing, fulfillment and shipping problems delayed delivery for some backers and became an important early lesson for the company. The first Pine A64 boards shipped in 2016. The product family included versions with different memory capacities, optional eMMC storage modules and compatibility with several Linux distributions and other operating systems. Pine64 later developed the SoPine A64 compute module and the Clusterboard, which allowed multiple modules to be combined into a compact cluster. It also introduced long-term-supply versions of the A64 boards, intended to provide availability through 2022. In 2017, Pine64 broadened its hardware strategy with Rockchip-based boards. The Rock64 targeted general-purpose single-board-computer users and offered features including Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 and HDMI 2.0. The RockPro64 provided a more powerful Rockchip RK3399 platform, PCI Express connectivity and optional storage expansion. These products reinforced Pine64’s reputation as a supplier of inexpensive development hardware, although reviews also identified challenges involving production quality, software support and customer assistance. Pine64 entered the notebook market with the Pinebook. Announced in 2016 and produced from 2017, the Pinebook used the same general ARM platform as the original Pine A64 and was sold as an inexpensive Linux-oriented netbook. It was distributed through a build-to-order process and could require buyers to wait for an order code. The product attracted attention because it made a complete Linux laptop available at a price normally associated with entry-level development boards. The KDE community used Pinebook hardware while improving Plasma for ARM desktops. The PineBook Pro followed in 2019. It used the Rockchip RK3399 platform, offered a more conventional notebook design and was priced above the original Pinebook while remaining inexpensive relative to mainstream laptops. In 2020, Pine64 announced that Manjaro Linux would ship as the default operating system. The product was part of Pine64’s effort to make ARM Linux computing more practical for everyday users while retaining a developer-friendly architecture. Pine64 began developing a Linux smartphone in the late 2010s. The PinePhone was intended to support mainline Linux and multiple community-led mobile operating systems rather than lock users to one proprietary software platform. The BraveHeart edition reached early adopters in February 2020. Later Community Editions incrementally refined the hardware and helped coordinate work across Linux mobile projects. The device became a notable platform for experimentation because numerous operating systems and desktop environments could be tested on one openly documented phone. The company expanded its mobile portfolio with the PineTab tablet, announced in 2020, and the PineNote E Ink tablet, announced in 2021. PineNote combined a high-density E Ink display with a Wacom digitizer and was aimed at developers and users interested in open tablet software. PineTab 2 was announced in 2022 as a successor to the original tablet, whose availability had been affected by logistics and component-supply problems. Pine64 also diversified into wearable and workshop products. PineTime began as a developer-focused smartwatch project and was released for consumers in 2021. PineBuds were developed as true wireless earbuds intended to use open-source firmware. Pinecil, an open-source soldering iron, used a RISC-V microcontroller and IronOS firmware, supporting both barrel-jack and USB-C Power Delivery input. Pinecil version 2 launched in 2022 with a different microcontroller and improvements to heating performance. The organization additionally announced RISC-V-based smart-speaker hardware. Corporate arrangements changed during this period. Pine Microsystems Inc. was dissolved in January 2020, while Pine Store Limited had been incorporated in Hong Kong on December 5, 2019. Product fulfillment has involved warehouses in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and ordering terms have at times referred to Malaysian law. Pine64 remains best understood as a community-oriented hardware organization whose products bridge embedded development, Linux computing and consumer electronics. Its commercial model depends on relatively small production runs and international direct sales, which can expose customers to shipping delays, import charges, component changes and software that is still under development.

• 2022

  PineTab 2 announced

  [1]Pine64en.wikipedia.org

  Pine64 announced a successor to the original PineTab.

• 2021

  PineTime consumer release

  [1]Pine64en.wikipedia.org

  Pine64 moved its open smartwatch from developer availability toward consumer release.

• 2020

  PinePhone BraveHeart edition

  [1]Pine64en.wikipedia.org

  The first early-adopter PinePhone edition was released.

• 2019

  PineBook Pro announced

  [1]Pine64en.wikipedia.org

  Pine64 announced a more capable Rockchip-based Linux notebook.

• 2017

  SoPine, Clusterboard and Rock64 introduced

  [1]Pine64en.wikipedia.org

  Pine64 expanded into compute modules, cluster hardware and Rockchip-based single-board computers.

• 2017

  Pinebook production began

  [1]Pine64en.wikipedia.org

  The low-cost ARM Linux notebook entered production through a build-to-order process.

• 2016

  Original Pine A64 boards released

  [1]Pine64en.wikipedia.org

  The first Pine A64 single-board computers entered the market with Allwinner A64 processors and multiple memory configurations.

• 2015

  Pine A64 crowdfunding campaign

  [1]Pine64en.wikipedia.org

  Pine64 launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Pine A64, raising more than US$1.7 million.

Affordable, community-oriented, Linux-compatible and open-source-friendly hardware for developers, hobbyists, educators and technically engaged users.

• Single-board computer · 2015

  Pine A64

  Pine64’s first major product, the Pine A64 is an ARM-based single-board computer using the Allwinner A64 system-on-chip. It includes HDMI, USB, MicroSD and Ethernet connectivity, with higher-memory A64+ versions supporting a broader range of operating systems. Optional eMMC modules provide additional storage. The family established Pine64’s focus on inexpensive hardware for Linux users, developers and hobbyists.

• Single-board computer · 2017

  Rock64

  The Rock64 is a Rockchip RK3328-based single-board computer offering up to 4 GB of RAM, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, HDMI 2.0, MicroSD storage and expansion interfaces. It was intended as a more capable successor-class alternative to earlier low-cost ARM boards and supported Linux and other community-maintained operating systems.

• Single-board computer · 2018

  RockPro64

  The RockPro64 uses the six-core Rockchip RK3399 platform and is designed for more demanding development and storage applications. Alongside standard display, USB, Ethernet and MicroSD interfaces, it provides an open-ended PCI Express x4 connection. Pine64 offered accessories including SATA expansion and wireless modules, making the board suitable for experimentation, servers and custom embedded systems.

• Notebook computer · 2019

  PineBook Pro

  The PineBook Pro is a Linux-oriented ARM notebook built around the Rockchip RK3399. It was positioned as a more usable and powerful successor to the original Pinebook while retaining a low-cost, developer-friendly design. The hardware has been associated with several Linux distributions, and Manjaro Linux was announced as the default operating system for shipping units.

• Smartphone · 2020

  PinePhone

  The PinePhone is a Linux smartphone designed around mainline-kernel support and community-developed mobile operating systems. Rather than depending on one proprietary platform, it enables users and developers to test multiple Linux distributions and desktop environments. Its editions, including BraveHeart and later Community Editions, progressively incorporated community feedback and software support.

• Smartphone · 2021

  PinePhone Pro

  The PinePhone Pro is a higher-performance successor to the PinePhone. It uses a binned Rockchip RK3399 processor and adds more memory, additional storage and higher-resolution cameras. It retains the broader PinePhone goal of supporting Linux mobile software and community experimentation rather than presenting itself as a conventional locked-down smartphone.

• Smartwatch · 2021

  PineTime

  PineTime is a low-cost smartwatch based on Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF52832 microcontroller, with Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity, a 240-by-240 color display and open-source software development. It began as a developer product and later became available for consumers, offering an accessible platform for experimenting with wearable firmware.

• Soldering iron · 2020

  Pinecil

  Pinecil is an open-source soldering iron using a RISC-V-based controller and IronOS firmware. It accepts power through a DC barrel connector or USB-C Power Delivery and is designed to heat compact soldering tips efficiently. Version 2 introduced a different microcontroller and lower tip resistance, improving heating speed and performance compared with earlier versions.

• E Ink tablet · 2021

  PineNote

  PineNote is an E Ink tablet built around the Rockchip RK3566. Its high-density display includes a Wacom digitizer layer for stylus input, making it suitable for note-taking experiments, software development and open tablet research. The product extends Pine64’s community-hardware approach into low-power reading and writing devices.

• Tablet · 2020

  PineTab

  The PineTab is a Linux tablet based on technology related to the PinePhone. It uses a 10-inch display and can be paired with a detachable backlit keyboard. Unlike the PinePhone, it does not include a cellular modem or the same hardware kill-switch arrangement. Availability was affected by logistics and component constraints.

• 2022

  Introduce PineTab 2Generation change

  Background

  The original PineTab had been heavily affected by shipping delays and component shortages.

  Action taken

  Pine64 announced the PineTab 2 as a successor tablet.

  Aftermath

  The announcement continued Pine64’s effort to offer open Linux tablet hardware despite supply-chain constraints.

  Source

• 2019

  Develop a community Linux smartphoneProduct launch

  Background

  Pine64 aimed to provide a phone compatible with mainline Linux and multiple established Linux-on-phone projects.

  Action taken

  The company announced the PinePhone and subsequently released an early-adopter edition followed by Community Editions.

  Aftermath

  The PinePhone became a platform for numerous Linux mobile operating systems and community-led hardware and software work.

  Source

• 2017

  Expand from Allwinner boards to Rockchip platformsStrategy

  Background

  After the Pine A64, Pine64 sought to serve a wider range of development and computing workloads.

  Action taken

  It introduced the Rock64 and later the RockPro64, adding higher-performance processors and expanded connectivity.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened Pine64’s single-board-computer range and supported more demanding community projects.

  Source

• 2015

  Use crowdfunding to launch Pine A64Product launch

  Background

  Pine64 used Kickstarter to finance and validate its first single-board computer in a competitive low-cost development-board market.

  Action taken

  The company offered Pine A64 boards through a December 2015 crowdfunding campaign that raised more than US$1.7 million.

  Aftermath

  The campaign established the Pine64 brand but was followed by delays and shipping problems during fulfillment.

  Crowdfunding raised. More than US$1.7 million (December 2015 Kickstarter campaign)

  Source

• 2021.08.16

  Reported2021.08.16

  PINE64 announces planned PineNote e-reader offering[3]PINE64宣布计划推出PineNote电子阅读器finance.sina.com.cn

  PINE64 announced plans to offer early adopters its PineNote open-source Linux e-reader later in 2021 for $399; the article describes it as supporting a Wacom stylus.

Read more

1. 1Pine64en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Pine64 official websitepine64.org
3. 3PINE64宣布计划推出PineNote电子阅读器finance.sina.com.cn