It’s been nearly 7 years since Pine64 (remember them?) introduced the PineTime (remember that?), a FOSS-friendly smartwatch priced under $30 and aimed at tech tinkerers and open hardware hackers.
Now, it’s time for take two.
Revealed in a community update recapping its activities at FOSDEM 2026, Pine64 has announced an updated version is on the way, with an AMOLED display, built-in GPS, blood oxygen sensing and a rotating digital crown (with an extra button).
The new Pro model will use what Pine64 says it a “custom chip”, although it doesn’t provide further detail. The original PineTime was built around a Nordic nRF52832 ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller with integrated Bluetooth, 64KB of RAM and 512KB of flash.
Individual components can be powered down independently, something the original couldn’t do, which Pine64 says will improve battery life (along with the AMOLED screen, as displaying black is more resource efficient).
While the original PineTime was not as fashionable as an Apple Watch, as capable as those low-end smartwatches sold in petrol station forecourts or popular beyond tinkering circles, it was FOSS-friendly and cheap – there to do what anyone with the know how wanted.
Pine64’s model is generally to focus on providing low-cost hardware and leave the software-side to the community. Work on the device was taking place at FOSDEM, per the event recap, which is a good sign that things are in place.
PineTime Pro pricing is TBD
Price and release dates are as-yet unknown. Pine64 is trying to figure out how best to approach it, noting “discussion on if we do fund raising by baking in a small offset cost into the devices; or if we do a service with costs for fund raising”.
However it is funded, the price of the PineTime Pro is likely to be north of that tempting sub-$30 figure the original PineTime went on sale for. Blame global economics and component price pressures – but if it can get under $50, it’d be a steal.
The DRAM shortage has already halted production of the PineTab 2, PineNote and PinePhone, and a question mark remains over whether a newer, more capable PinePhone will ever see release. Not all products are affected, including the PineTime line.
Also unknown is whether InfiniTime, the open-source firmware that’s been keeping the original model ticking along all these years, will run on the new version.
Pine64 (via Liliputing)