piBrick PocketCM5 Turns the Raspberry Pi CM5 Into a Pocket Linux PC

A Real Pocket Computer, Built Around the CM5

Every so often a project comes along that reminds you why the maker scene is the most fun corner of computing. The piBrick PocketCM5, detailed on June 11, 2026, is exactly that kind of project: a smartphone-sized, fully open-source handheld kit that turns a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 into a genuine pocket Linux computer — complete with a physical keyboard and a sharp little AMOLED screen.

Designed by maker Ahmad Amarullah and released under the GPL-3.0 license, the PocketCM5 isn't a locked appliance. It's a hackable, buildable platform that runs standard Raspberry Pi OS and other desktop Linux distributions, with everything documented for tinkerers.

piBrick PocketCM5 Specs and Build

The heart of the device is a Raspberry Pi CM5 (or the cheaper CM5 Lite), giving it the same quad-core silicon enthusiasts already know. A secondary RP2040 microcontroller handles the input layer, converting the keyboard, trackpad, and controls into standard USB HID — so there are no custom drivers to wrangle, the inputs just work like any USB peripheral.

The display is the showpiece: a 3.92-inch AMOLED touchscreen at 1080x1240 resolution, 90Hz refresh, 500 nits of brightness, and 5-point touch under a custom Asahi glass front. Below it sits a BlackBerry BBQ20 QWERTY keyboard with an integrated trackpad, flanked by two side rotary encoders and five programmable buttons — a thoughtfully physical control scheme for a Linux machine you hold in two hands.

Storage and I/O punch well above the form factor. There's a microSD slot plus an M.2 NVMe socket (2230/2242) for fast SSD storage, USB 3.0 Type-C (for charging) and Type-A, a USB 2.0 Type-A, full-size HDMI and micro HDMI outputs, and a 3.5mm jack. Wireless comes via dual-band Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0. A 5,000mAh battery keeps it running, all packed into a roughly 145 x 80 x 19.6mm body weighing about 500 grams.

What It Costs to Build

Here's where the open-hardware ethos shines. The assembled kit sells for $240 on Tindie, bundling the AMOLED panel, mainboard, speaker board, the BBQ20 keyboard, and an SLA-printed enclosure. Builders bring their own CM5 module, heatsink, battery, storage, and OS image. For the more frugal and self-sufficient, sourcing the bill of materials independently runs closer to $172.

That pricing puts a capable, keyboard-equipped handheld Linux machine within reach of any weekend builder — and because it's open-source, the design can be remixed, repaired, and improved indefinitely.

Why This One's a Keeper

Plenty of single-board computers promise portability, but few deliver a true pocket form factor with a real keyboard and a screen this nice. The PocketCM5 scratches a very specific itch: a tinker-friendly, full desktop Linux device you can slip into a jacket pocket, SSH from on the train, and reflash on a whim. It's not trying to replace your laptop — it's celebrating the joy of owning and modifying your own hardware, the same spirit that animates the whole CM5 ecosystem. For makers, this is one of the most charming builds of the year.

Sources: CNX Software, "piBrick PocketCM5 — An open-source handheld Linux computer kit for Raspberry Pi CM5" (June 11, 2026); Notebookcheck, "piBrick Pocket-CM5: Raspberry Pi handheld with keyboard and AMOLED unveiled" (June 11, 2026); Lunar Computer, "piBrick PocketCM5 Turns the Raspberry Pi CM5 Into an Open-Source Pocket Linux Computer" (June 11, 2026).