Mecha Comet Linux handheld raises over $1 million on Kickstarter

The Mecha Comet, a modular Linux-based handheld computer, has successfully raised $1,198,844 through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. This total significantly exceeded the project's original $50,000 goal, attracting 3,346 backers.

The device is designed as a hybrid between a smartphone and a portable terminal, featuring a 4-inch AMOLED display and an open hardware architecture. It offers two hardware configurations based on NXP System-on-a-Chip (SoC) options: a base model with the i.MX 8M Plus (2.3 TOPS NPU) and a high-performance version with the i.MX 95 (8 TOPS NPU). Users can choose between 4 GB or 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB or 128 GB of eMMC storage.

Key features include physical kill switches for the microphone, camera, and Wi-Fi to enhance privacy, as well as a SIM slot for mobile data. Connectivity options include USB-C, two additional USB ports, mini-HDMI, and a 3.5 mm jack. The device supports modular extensions such as a backlit keyboard, a gamepad, and an I/O breakout board. It is expected to ship in October or November and will run a custom, hardware-optimized Linux distribution.