Don’t call it a smartphone, this is a real pocket Linux PC

While the tech giants seem locked in an unstoppable race toward ever-thinner devices and gigantic displays, the CES 2025 gave us a decidedly countercurrent vision, capable of making the hearts of pure computing enthusiasts race.

This is a concept that challenges today’s conventions: a pocket-sized computer often 16 millimeters thick, equipped with a display of only 3.4 inches.

At first glance it might seem a step back, but the Mecha Comet represents a breath of fresh air for those seeking a real work tool and not just a portal to social media.

Mecha Comet is the pocket-sized, modular Linux PC

We are used to smartphones with screens easily exceeding 6.5 inches. These panels are exceptional for passive consumption of content, such as scrolling video feeds or watching clips on YouTube. However, the user experience collapses drastically when moving to active production.

Whether it’s writing code, drafting a long document, or emulating old videogames, the touch interface becomes the main obstacle. Virtual keyboards and on-screen controllers occupy half of the display, reducing the visible area to a tiny strip and offering a frustrating user experience, devoid of any tactile feedback and prone to continual typing errors.

It is here that the Mecha Comet proposes its revolution. Although it remains a prototype awaiting funding, this device presents itself as a pocket Linux computer that justifies its thickness with an excellent set of I/O ports and an ingenious modular system.

The top front section houses the touch display, while the lower half is completely reconfigurable thanks to a magnetic latch.

The user can connect a physical QWERTY keyboard for terminal or scripting sessions, or a gamepad to enjoy the classics of the NES and Game Boy with the precision of physical keys. When work or gaming ends, the modules can be removed, returning the device to a more compact form.

An open and repairable ecosystem

The philosophy behind the Mecha Comet goes far beyond simple magnetic accessories. Its creators designed the device so that it can also function as a phone, thanks to the ability to integrate a 4G modem, but the real strength lies in the open-source nature of the project.

The specifications of extensions are open, allowing the community to develop their own modules, which could theoretically include a second screen to extend the visual area.

The aesthetic and functional approach is a homage to robust technology from the 1990s and 2000s. The device features a chassis that communicates solidity, a removable battery, the much-missed headphone jack, and an extreme repairability, symbolized by the presence of a hex key housed behind the rear cover to open the device.

For a Linux user, this hardware represents the physical equivalent of software freedom: total control, customization and no closed box.

Cutting-edge software at the heart

Under the sturdy shell you’ll find extremely up-to-date and powerful software, designed for developers and tinkerers. The distribution chosen to power this little beast is called Mechanix.

It’s a operating system built on solid and modern foundations: the bootloader is entrusted to U-Boot 2025.04, while the kernel is the recent Linux 6.12.

All of it is based on the architecture and packages of Fedora 43, ensuring stability and access to the latest open-source technologies.

A tool for enthusiasts, not for the masses

It is important to note that the Mecha Comet does not aim to replace smartphones in everyone’s pockets. The convenience of virtual keyboards for the average user remains unbeatable in terms of immediate portability.

However, this device positions itself as a versatile platform for specific niches. It can serve as a home automation hub, as a portable server to move from room to room, or as an educational console for younger users.

Although the enthusiasm is palpable, prudence is mandatory. At present this is a prototype destined for a Kickstarter campaign, with all the risks that come with it.

Nevertheless, the professionalism shown in the technical documentation and the clarity of the vision suggest that the Mecha Comet could transform from a simple concept into reality, proving that there is still room for innovation and modularity in a market already saturated with devices that all look the same.