Waveshare PocketTerm35: Full-Keyboard Linux Terminal Powered by Raspberry Pi 4/5

Waveshare PocketTerm35: Pocket-Sized Linux Power, Raspberry Pi at the Core

Released in mid-April 2026, the Waveshare PocketTerm35 solves a problem that Raspberry Pi enthusiasts have cobbled together solutions to for years: how do you take your Pi somewhere useful without dragging along a monitor, keyboard, HDMI cable, and power adapter? The PocketTerm35 answers that with a 93.5 × 168.5 × 37 mm enclosure that turns your Pi 4 or Pi 5 into a self-contained handheld Linux terminal, no external peripherals required.

What the PocketTerm35 Actually Includes

The enclosure centers around a 3.5-inch IPS touchscreen with 640×480 resolution and optical bonding — the same technique used in quality smartphones and ruggedized industrial displays to eliminate the air gap between the glass and the LCD, improving readability in daylight and reducing glare.

The keyboard is a 67-key silicone QWERTY layout designed for both development work and terminal navigation. But Waveshare made a hardware choice here that is worth calling out: the PocketTerm35 also includes a full set of gaming controls — a D-pad, X/Y/A/B face buttons, L/R shoulder buttons, and Start/Select. This doubles as a capable retro gaming handheld when the mood strikes.

Power and Connectivity

Power comes from an integrated 5,000 mAh lithium battery pack with USB-C input. The UPS management system allows simultaneous charging and operation — you can keep the terminal running while plugged into a power bank or wall adapter without interrupting your session.

Connectivity inherits whatever your Pi brings:

• Gigabit Ethernet via the Pi's native port
• USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports accessible from the enclosure
• WiFi via the Pi's onboard wireless (Pi 5 brings WiFi 5)
• Camera and GPIO interfaces remain accessible through the enclosure design

Four Configurations, One Core Concept

Waveshare offers the PocketTerm35 in four configurations depending on your Pi preference:

• PocketTerm35-Pi4 Kit: Pi 4B 2GB, 64GB microSD, 5,000 mAh — ~$88
• PocketTerm35-Pi4: Pi 4B 4GB, 64GB microSD, 5,000 mAh — ~$130
• PocketTerm35-Pi5 Kit: Pi 5 1GB, 64GB microSD, 5,000 mAh — ~$105
• PocketTerm35-Pi5: Pi 5 4GB, 64GB microSD, 5,000 mAh — ~$180

All configurations ship with Raspberry Pi OS pre-loaded and ready to boot.

The Use Case Is Specific, But Real

The PocketTerm35 is a developer tool first — a diagnostic companion for field deployments, a debug terminal for remote infrastructure, a Pi-powered handheld for embedded development, or simply a compact Linux machine you can fit in a jacket pocket.

What makes it more useful than a generic Pi enclosure is the combination of genuine keyboard, wired networking, battery capacity, and optical bonding display. These are not afterthought specs — they are the details that separate a useful field tool from a novelty device.

At $88 entry, the PocketTerm35 is reasonably priced for what it delivers. Single-board computer enthusiasts looking for a take-anywhere Linux terminal should put this on the shortlist.

Sources: CNX Software (April 14, 2026), Liliputing (April 2026), Hackster.io (April 2026), Waveshare official product page (April 2026)