Lichee Console 4A RISC-V mini laptop sells for $252 and up

Sipeed Lichee Console 4A is a RISC-V portable Linux console, that I would also call a RISC-V mini laptop, powered by an Alibaba T-Head TH1520 quad-core C910 processor and equipped with up to 16GB RAM and 128GB eMMC flash.

We first covered the device last August, but Sipeed had started taking pre-ordered by the end of October, and they’ve gone through the first batch of mass production, and should soon ship the mini laptops with the Aliexpress store showing December 31 as the release date, and we’re told some samples may have already been shipped in the first part of the month.

Sipeed Lichee Console 4A mini laptop

Lichee Console 4A specifications:

  • SoM – Replaceable Lichee LM4A system-on-module based on TH1520 quad-core RISC-V C910 processor with up to 16GB LPDDR4X, 128GB eMMC flash
  • Storage – MicroSD card slot, M.2 SSD support
  • Display – 7-inch 1280 x 800 LCD with capacitive touch
  • Video Output – 1x mini HDMI
  • User Input –  Capacitive touch, 72-key keyboard with “RedPoint” pointing stick
  • Camera – 2MP front-facing camera
  • Audio
    • 3.5mm headphone jack
    • MEMS MIC + stereo speaker
  • Networking
    • Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port
    • WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4
  • USB – 1x USB 3.0 Type-A port, 1x USB 3.0 Type-C port, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A port
  • Battery – 3,000 mAh @ 7.6V good for about 2 to 3 hours
  • Power Supply – 12V DC via power barrel jack or 5V via USB-C port
  • Power Consumption – Idle: 7~8W; under load: 11W
  • Dimensions – 18 x 14 x 2 cm (Aluminum Alloy Case)
  • Weight – 650 grams

RISC-V mini laptop

Lichee Console 4A block diagram
System block diagram

Sipeed provides both Debian and Android 13 images for the portable computer which you can find on the wiki along with a few more technical details. We are told the RISC-V mini laptop can be used for programming with VSCode, hardware design with KiCad, office works with LibreOffice, and it’s also possible to watch 4K video and play some retro games. Bear in mind that while software support for the RISC-V architecture has progressed a lot in the last few years, there’s still more work to do to make it more mature. So it should probably be seen more as a development kit than a RISC-V consumer product. I might receive one soon, and if so, I’ll be able to test it in more detail.

Sipeed Lichee Console 4A RISC-V terminals
Burn-in testing for a few Lichee Console 4A mini laptops

Sipeed is selling the Lichee Console 4A on Aliexpress for $252 for the barebone version without the Lichee LM4A module, meaning without processor, memory, and storage, for people who already own the module. So most people will probably pre-order a complete machine with one of the available configurations:

  • $355 with 8GB RAM and 32GB eMMC flash
  • $399 with 16GB RAM and 128GB eMMC flash
  • $459 with 16GB RAM, 128GB eMMC flash, and 1TB SSD
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21 Replies to “Lichee Console 4A RISC-V mini laptop sells for $252 and up”

    1. Yes I was thinking the same 🙂 For once, a small device with connectivity!
      I wouldn’t have placed the trackpad buttons there, rather on the edge like on older thinkpads so that they don’t hinder the space bar.

  1. The display is too small compared to the size of the device! look like a 2000 device… do u remember the asus eee ?

  2. Pass, on anything from aliexpress. sketchy name brands. stop buying half baked products and support your local businesses and companies.

    1. Better don’t ask your local busynesses and campanies where they get the products from that you are buying from them for full backed prices!

      1. I avoid products made in “chyna” as much as i can and there are plenty of alternatives to most things we buy. your sarcasm is so weak.

        1. It’s laudable to try to, but I think you would be disappointed by disassembling whatever you buy that’s not made there, to discover components that come from there anyway. The vast majority of batteries, many electronic components, even PCBs come from there. Even your locally-built laptop very likely contains 80-90% components made there that are imported and assembled locally. It’s just a matter of defining what you’re willing to accept and for what cause after all.

    2. For you is the problem just aliexpress or all online retailers (like amazon and stuff)? Also is it because it’s online, like if a local independent computer shop ordered a palate of these laptops would you feel better about purchasing from them instead?

          1. Unlikely. Many vendors design SO-DIMM modules but they all route the signals as they see fit.

            You may need to wait for Sipeed to make a compatible SoM for this to work.

  3. Love to see more risc-v adoption! The architecture will only get more viable the more people use it, its time we had an actually daily-drive-able open source alternative architecture.

  4. It’s way overpriced for this small form factor. Better buy some cheap 7″ netbook and install Linux, e.g.:

    • ASUS Eee PC
    • Everun Note
    • VIA NanoBook

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