Waveshare PocketTerm35 is a portable handheld terminal for the Raspberry Pi 4 or 5 single board computers featuring a 3.5-inch touchscreen display and a built-in QWERTY keyboard.
The device also features Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.0/2.0 ports from the Raspberry Pi SBC, gaming buttons, a built-in stereo speaker, a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB Type-C port for power, and an optional 5,000 mAh battery.
PocketTerm35 specifications:
- Compatible SBC – Raspberry Pi 4 Model B and Raspberry Pi 5
- MCU – Raspberry Pi RP2040 MCU for keyboard, brightness, and volume
- Storage – Optional 64GB microSD card with OS
- Display – 3.5-inch 640 × 480 IPS display with 5-point capacitive touch; toughened glass panel, 6H hardness
- Audio
- Built-in 8Ω 2W stereo speaker
- 3.5mm audio jack
- Networking – Gigabit Ethernet ports (on Pi 4/5)
- USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports, 2x USB 2.0 ports (on Pi 4/5)
- User Input
- 67 keys QWERTY silicone keyboard
- D-Pad
- X, Y, A, B, L, R, Start, and Select buttons
- Misc
- Power button – Short press to turn on, double-press to turn off
- Reset and BOOT buttons
- Battery level LEDs
- Power
- USB-C charging port
- 2-pin battery header for optional 5,000 mAh Lithium battery
- UPS power management supports simultaneous charging and operation
- Dimensions – 168.5 x 93.5 x 37 mm (thickness: 21.6 to 37 mm)
- Case material
- CNC-machined aluminum front cover
- PC + ABS plastic back cover
The PocketTerm35 is designed to run Raspberry Pi OS, and you’ll find an assembly guide for the kits without Raspberry Pi SBC, software configuration instructions (changes to config.txt and DTBO update), and basic hardware details on the documentation website. They’ll also soon release a image with the changes, but it’s not available for download just yet.
config.txt changes:
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1 2 3 4 |
dtparam=i2c_arm=on dtoverlay=waveshare-35dpi-4b dtoverlay=waveshare-35dpi-5b dtoverlay=dwc2,dr_mode=host |
I was about to say the PocketTerm35 reminds me of the Pilet portable computer, just with a smaller 3.5-inch display, but the massively delayed project has just announced a switch from Raspberry Pi 5 to Raspberry Pi CM5, to the anger of backers. Other Raspberry Pi 5 handheld computers, like the PiBoy DMGx, have quite a different design.
It looks especially well-suited for (retro) gaming with the choice of buttons, but can also be used as a terminal device and a portable HMI controller, although the small 3.5-inch display might not be suitable for everybody.
The PocketTerm35 is sold as a kit or a complete system in four configurations:
- PocketTerm35-Pi4 – With Raspberry Pi 4B 2GB, 64GB microSD card with Raspberry Pi OS, and a 5,000mAh Lithium battery
- PocketTerm35-Pi5 – With Raspberry Pi 5 1GB, 64GB microSD card with Raspberry Pi OS, and a 5,000mAh Lithium battery
- PocketTerm35-RPI-ACCE – Without Raspberry Pi board and microSD card, but the 5,000mAh lithium battery is included
- PocketTerm35-RPI-ACCE-EN – Minimal system without Pi, microSD card, or battery
You’ll find the Raspberry Pi 4/5 handheld for $87.99 to $179.99 on the Waveshare store. It used to be on AliExpress a few days ago, but it’s now out of stock, and might soon show up on the company’s Amazon store.
Thanks to Thomas for the tip.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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The piBrick pocketCM5 at OSHWLab is also worth checking out
The piBrick looks superior.
It’s better in terms of specifications, but it’s based on CM5 instead of Raspberry Pi 5, you’d need to build it yourself, and it’s more expensive.
Actually, you can get assembled units from the designer
Wakeshare PocketTerm32 -> Waveshare PocketTerm35 on the first line.
My first instinct was also “why did they use a full RPi4/5 rather than a slimmer CM or Zero?” but having the Ethernet and USB ports of the RPi is useful, though they should have gone all the way and exposed one of the HDMI ports, I guess.
Wonder how long the battery lasts in typical usage scenarios? I don’t think the RPi is quite optimised for running on battery.
After checking the official docs both in English and Chinese (they’re finally online now), it seems that the pocketterm uses only one hdmi port and one usb port, i.e. it looks like *all* GPIO are free.
For buyable uconsole-style devices, this is a first. Insert a low-end Pi (including a zero with some creative cabling), and enough builtin keyboard/touch for SOME interactive input when hacking.
For editing stuff on the pocketterm though, I’d use ssh from an actual desktop linux. Or vncviewer with X11vnc exporting xvfb and thus running a virtual desktop on the pocketterm, incl. opengl and everything.
Strangely the pocketterm seems to be a Dremel-It-Yourself device:
No slots nor any breakout-prepared sections are visible in the images for gpio-access.
Which is kinda strange: Without gpio access, it’s merely another mediocre me-too device…
Hm. I’m hope my reading of the docs and images is correct…
There’s a new image in the assembly guide which shows pogos connecting to pins 2-7 (and none of the others):
(pins 2,4,6; harmless): 5V/GND to power the pi.(pins 3,5; likely harmless): GPIO2+3 I2C1 SDA+SCL: likely battery state and/or the rp2040 for the keyboard. Should be usable for other I2C devices assuming no address conflict.But this one needs checking or maybe playing with wires:
(pin 7) GPIO4 (1wire/gpio0, battery temperature sensor maybe?). If 1wire, it seems shareable with other 1wire devices.
Updated summary: Still mostly free GPIOs and thus more hackable than all others I remember :).
I’d love to know whether there’s room for the M2 HAT and an SSD in the case. If so, I’m in.
Yeah was wondering the exact same but so far no mention of that in any of the articles online reporting about it. Anyone else know? May have to go ahead with a buy since wanting a Pi handheld for a while now that doesn’t require gambling with my money (cough.. Pilet) and Waveshare is well established.
I think it should be possible to attach the active cooler, but an M.2 HAT with SSD on top is unlikely to fit or will be really tight. Check the assembly guide photos or the short video below.
https://docs.waveshare.com/assets/medias/Pocketterm35-Pi5-Install-7-1-9ef94f381a9be8e593da7713561934e4.mp4
They’ve just updated their documentation to include the fact that it would fit the following: https://www.waveshare.com/pcie-to-m.2-board-e.htm
That’s wild.
Damn, its only been a few days while waiting for pay day to clear, but now all online stores shows every versions as out of stock. Curse all you greedy CNXers!
Why in the world would you put a full sized pi in a handheld device instead of a computer module.
Shift, ctrl, alt modifiers should also be on the back for a handhled device. I almost thought they got this keyboard usability thing right, when I saw the back, but nope.
You have 2 typing fingers when handheld at best, and you’ll not do three-key combos with those, and these are surprisingly common.
this is not cyberdeck ;(