Sipeed, specialized in the marketing of open source hardware, announced its LicheePocket 4A. This small portable console has the particularity of operating using a RISC-V processor… an open architecture which is becoming more and more talked about.
Current portable consoles mainly belong to two large families: those equipped with an x86 chip (Steam Deck, Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally, AYA Neo, GPD Win, etc.) and those equipped with an ARM processor (Nintendo Switch , Razer Edge, Logitech G Cloud…). With his LicheePocket 4A, however, Sipeed wants to chart his own course. This small console, which has a look quite similar to that of the first Aya Neo, relies on a RISC-V processor.
Although little known to the general public, this architecture open source is gradually gaining popularity, particularly in the server, AI and supercomputer markets, but also in the mobile world. We have already talked about it since it is increasingly arousing the curiosity of certain Tech giants, including Apple.
A portable console like no other
As stated WCCFTech, Sipeed has already launched a range of devices equipped with RISC-V chips, powered where appropriate by Linux. Among them, laptops, tablets, or even single-board computers. The LicheePocket 4A therefore completes this range to try to compete with other portable consoles with an approach open source which could, it is true, catch the eye of the most adventurous users.
In detail, this small console is equipped with a SOM (System-on-Module) LM4A Alibaba TH1520, engraved in 12 nm and launched at the beginning of last year. This chip includes four C910 cores based on the RISC-V architecture. Here it is coupled with 8 or 16 GB of LPDDR4x (depending on the configuration chosen), while the console’s storage can reach 128 GB in internal eMMC memory. In terms of display, we find a small 7-inch HD panel (1280 by 800 pixels).
The connectivity section includes a MiniHDMI output, two USB-A 3.0 ports, a USB-C 2.0 port and a microSD card reader. The chassis of the console, for its part, mixes plastic and aluminum, we read, while the transparent controllers placed on either side of the screen are detachable. In total, the console does not exceed 25 x 11 x 3 cm for 630 grams and runs under Debian or Android.
Limited in terms of performance, the LicheePocket 4A is mainly reserved for the emulation of old titles and retro-gaming. The GPU part of its processor is also limited to a computing power of only 50.7 GFLOPS. It is therefore not with her that you will roam the streets of Night City (Cyberpunk 2077).
Note that the console is currently only available by pre-order… and that its price has surprisingly not yet been specified.