Been pining for a premium version of the PinePhone? Well, you’re are in luck — one has just been announced.
PinePhone Pro Specs
| Display: | 6-inch (1440×720) IPS with Gorilla Glass 4 |
|---|---|
| CPU: | Rockchip RK3399S @ 1.5 GHz (2x A72, 4x A53) |
| Graphics: | ARM Mali T860 |
| RAM: | 4GB LPDDR4 |
| Storage: | 128GB eMMC |
| Cameras: |
13 MP Sony IMX258 (rear) 5MP OmniVision OV5640 (front-facing) |
| Ports: |
microSD card slot USB C (including video) 3.5mm audio Pogo pins |
| Battery: | 3000mAH (replaceable) |
| Price: | $399 |
PinePhone Pro is billed as “the fastest mainline Linux smartphone on the market” and packs some serious performance upgrades compared to the original PinePhone.
More powerful, the new model comes outfitted with a six-core ARM processor, 4GB RAM, and 128GB internal memory. Physical hardware privacy dip switches are also included as standard.
At the heart of the PinePhone Pro is the Rockchip RK2299S. This 1.5GHz chip is a modified version of the SoC used in the PineBook Pro.
‘Alternations’ to the chip include support for the PinePhone Pro’s suspend state. This “allows the smartphone to receive calls and SMS messages while preserving battery”, say Pine64.
“The PinePhone Pro is not a second-generation PinePhone, but rather a higher-end PinePhone,” the company adds. “The original PinePhone isn’t going away anytime soon either – in fact, we have thousands of units in the pipeline.”
The improved performance of the pro model will lend itself well to ‘docked’ mode, with web surfing, HD video watching, and even a bit of light photo editing all said to perform well on the device.
Although the PinePhone Pro is a smidgen bigger (160.8 x 76.6 x 11.1mm) than the original (160.5mm x 76.6mm x 9.2mm) the device is backwards compatible with PinePhone case accessories, like the upcoming physical keyboard case.
Pre-orders for the PinePhone Pro developer edition go live today, October 1 5 but — keep this in mind — these versions are intended primarily for OS developers and hardware hackers and not enthusiasts or end users.
Non-developers who want a PinePhone Pro should wait for the PinePhone Pro Explorer Edition. This will be available to pre-order later this year and will be ‘geared towards tech-savvy end-users’ (i.e. the likes of you and me).
Price? $399. This is minus additional costs and fees like shipping, import tax, etc.
To whet your hardware loving appetites, here are some renders of the new PinePhone Pro courtesy of Pine64, including a size comparison with the existing PinePhone:
