PINE64 Calls Time on the Linux Hardware Market, Ceases Production Until the AI Bubble Bursts - Hackster.ioPlease ensure that JavaScript is enabled in your browser to view this page.
Open hardware specialist PINE64 has announced that it is exiting the Linux single-board computer, phone, and tablet market — at least until the bursting of the artificial intelligence (AI) bubble and a drop in sky-high component prices.<br>"Due to the current DRAM/eMMC shortage, there isn't any plans to continue producing more Linux devices in the near future," PINE64 announced on the community Mastodon account this week. "Whether production continues or not depends on the pricing situation for those components after mid 2027. Devices like the PineNote and PineTab2 are currently estimated to run out of stock in three months time. Just pre-warning everyone in case people start asking when things are going to be in stock again."
PINE64 has announced it will cease production of its Linux-capable products until memory and storage component pricing improves. (📷: PINE64)
PINE64 is best-known for its open hardware phones, tablets, and single-board computers, though in recent years has begun diversifying into tools like soldering irons and power supplies. Its decision to cease production appears to have been forced upon it owing to the impact of the AI bubble: as the companies behind large language models (LLMs) promise to build increasingly-large data centers for all the compute required to train and run them, pricing for memory and storage has been skyrocketing — as anyone who has tried to buy a Raspberry Pi single-board computer in the last year will know only too well.<br>Those component costs mean that PINE64 is unable to produce further hardware without increasing the selling price to unsustainable levels — leaving the company no choice but to halt production and sell-through existing stock. When that's out, that's it: no more Linux-compatible hardware will be produced until component pricing returns to sensible levels, which component makers and market watchers predict could take years.
The company's microcontroller-powered devices, like the pictured PinePower, remain in production. (📷: PINE64)
The move doesn't mean PINE64 is exiting the hardware market altogether, though. The company will continue to produce and sell its microcontroller-based devices, which are less impacted by memory component costs, including the PineTime smartwatch, PinePower desktop power supply, and Pinecil soldering iron. "All in all it's a bit bleak for the Linux devices," the company admits, "but in the meantime PineStore still have a great lineup of MCU powered devices which will continue to expand with more exciting devices."<br>More information is available in the Mastodon thread.
tablet<br>single board computer<br>linux<br>smartphone<br>microcontroller
Gareth Halfacree<br>Freelance journalist, technical author, hacker, tinkerer, erstwhile sysadmin. For hire: [email protected].
Follow
Comments<br>Please log in or sign up to comment.
Latest articles
Sponsored articles
Related articles
Latest articles<br>Read more
Related articles