[Updated: Jun. 30] — On Kickstarter: a $179 and up, open source “CutiePi” tablet that runs a Linux- and Qt-based stack on a quad-core, 1.2GHz Raspberry Pi CM3+ Lite. You also get an 8-inch, 1280 x 800 touchsceen, a 5000mAh battery, a 5MP camera, and USB and micro-HDMI ports.

Taiwanese startup CutiePi, Which has been teasing details about its 8-inch, Raspberry Pi Compute Module based CutiePi tablet since last August, went live on Kickstarter and is well on its way to meeting its $35K goal. The $169 super early bird package is gone, but you can get $179 early bird before you are locked in at $198. There is also a $91 package that gives you two of the tablet’s carrier boards without the Raspberry Pi CM3+ modules.

CutiePi
(click images to enlarge)

The CuteiPi features a CutiePi UI shell based on Qt and Raspberry Pi OS (the latest version of Raspbian). The tablet is OSHWA-certified for open source hardware compliance.

The CutiePi uses the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+, which has the same quad -A53 Broadcom BCM2837B0 SoC found on the Raspberry Pi 3B+. Due to the lack of a PMIC, you won’t get the 0.2GHz boost to 1.4GHz that you get on the SBCs, but it’s otherwise the same, including the 400MHz VideoCore IV GPU. CutiePi offers a PMIC on its carrier board and also adds an STM32 MCU.

The CutiePi adopts the $25 “Lite” version of the CM3+. Like the other models, it provides 1GB LPDDR2 RAM, but it lacks flash memory. Instead it provides circuitry for connecting to a microSD slot, which is the sole storage connector on the CutiePi except for the single USB 2.0 host port.

CutiePi and detail view
(click images to enlarge)

The 213 x 134 x 12mm tablet has an 8-inch, 1280 x 800, IPS screen with 5-point multi-touch capability. The 5000mAh battery charges from a USB Type-C port and lasts up to five hours when set to 50 percent brightness.

RPi CM3+

The table is equipped with a micro-HDMI port, 6x GPIO pins, 802.11b/g/n with Bluetooth 4.0, and a handle that doubles as a stand. Other features include a 5-megapixel camera, a gyroscope, a 2W speaker, and a sleep/wake button.

The CutiePi shell will ship with applications including typing a command in terminal, connecting to a WiFi hotspot, and logging into webpages. The tablet will also support Raspberry Pi OS on its own via XWayland.

Other open-spec, Linux-based tablets include Pine64’s $100 and up, 10.1-inch PineTab. The tablet runs Ubuntu Touch on an Allwinner A64 with 2GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, mini-HDMI, 2x USB, dual cams, and an M.2 slot, and offers an optional $20 keyboard.

 
Further information

The CutiePi is available on Kickstarter through Aug. 14 for $179 (early bird) or $198, rising to $198, a discount from the expected $229 retail price. There is also a $91 package that gives you two of the tablet’s carrier boards. Shipments are expected in Q4 2020. More information may be found on the Kickstarter page and CutiPi website.