It's not strange to think that everything has already been invented in the "tablet format". In fact, if we look at the generic models available, we could almost take that as a fact. However, the Pilet project by Soulscircuit proposes to follow the route of modularity: on one hand, it combines the Raspberry Pi 5 with two 8,000 mAh batteries to guarantee 7 hours of autonomy, and on the other hand, a connector at the bottom enables the connection of secondary accessories such as a physical keyboard or a scroll wheel.
A refurbished sixth-generation iPad costs (more or less) 150 euros. Technically it's already six years old, but it supports the latest version of iPadOS without issues, and offers a much better experience than any Chinese tablet. Now, as you can imagine, an acquisition of this nature requires entering the sandbox of Apple, Samsung, or another similar manufacturer. What if we want something more flexible in "tablet format"? I'm not only referring to software, but also to hardware options. Maybe the Pilet project has the answer.
Pilet: A Console-Tablet with Raspberry Pi 5 and Modular Hardware
Pilet, previously known as "Consolo", is a tablet based on the Raspberry Pi 5, enabling the use of any compatible operating system. The RPi5 is not the most portable alternative in the world (5.1V at 5A with the official charger), but Pilet solves that detail with a pair of 8,000 mAh batteries, guaranteeing 7 hours of autonomy.
However, that's only half the story: Pilet supports the installation of special modules with a connector at the bottom. The images show us a module that includes a physical keyboard, touchpad, cursors, scroll wheel, and what appears to be a fingerprint reader. Unfortunately, the technical information ends there, and the content of the official page doesn't go beyond general aspects like an NVMe SSD, hybrid cooling (metal plate with a fan), VESA compatibility, support for the Hailo-8L module, battery management, and a stand that angles the Pilet.
Price, files, scripts, tutorials... all of that will have to wait. The page suggests that Pilet will not exceed $200, but with an open design, I imagine there will be room to bring that number down.
Official site: Click here
