Sipeed’s Lichee Pocket 4A Ushers in a New Era of Handheld Gaming

Speed Technology’s Lichee Pi 4A single-board computer is a rare find in the market of RISC-V single-board computers, a topic on which we have reported extensively. Beyond developing the Lichee Pi 4A itself, Speed Technology has also launched several devices based on it. According to Liliputing, the latest device is a handheld console named Lichee Pocket 4A.

The core component of this handheld is the RISC-V SoM LM4A, essentially a core board. It includes the Pingtouge Shadow 1520 RISC-V SoC, LPDDR4x memory, and eMMC flash storage. The handheld offers memory options of 8/16GB and storage capacities of 32/128GB.

The device features a 7-inch 1280 x 800 LCD touchscreen. In addition to the standard 3.5mm audio jack and speakers found on most handheld consoles, it also boasts a 5-megapixel camera. For connectivity, the Lichee Pocket 4A is equipped with two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, one USB 2.0 Type-C port (presumably for charging), and a MicroSD card slot. The handheld is powered by a 6000mAh battery.

In terms of design, the Lichee Pocket 4A takes inspiration from the popular Nintendo Switch, featuring a detachable controller design. Its dimensions are 18 x 11 x 37.5px, weighing 490g; with controllers attached, it measures 25 x 11 x 75px and weighs approximately 590-630 grams.

System-wise, the handheld offers a choice between Android or Debian, the reason why we refer to it as a Linux handheld. Although promotional images show the Lichee Pocket 4A running “Genshin Impact,” considering the game’s supported platforms (ARM, x86), it is unlikely to be running natively on the device.

Like the previously reported Lichee Pad 4A, the Lichee Pocket 4A is currently available for pre-order, with its price and release date yet to be announced.