Mecha A Portable Linux

Mecha Comet: A Modular Pocket Computer for Hackers

Smartphones are great. They’re technological marvels, cramming a huge amount of computing power and a ton of functions into very compact packages that are much more affordable than they have any right to be.

But they also feel kind of “meh,” you know? And their existence has all but destroyed the pocket computer market.

Thankfully, Mecha Comet is a promising new option in that underserved market.

Mecha Comet is not just a smartphone with a Blackberry-style keyboard, nor is it simply a fancy enclosure for an SBC. It is a fully featured pocket computer with swappable modules to suit user needs and upgradable hardware to enhance performance.

Mecha Comet Device

Hardware Overview

The base Mecha Comet unit features:

3.92” AMOLED display with capacitive touch
Mainboard built around NXP i.MX 8M or i.MX 95 SoM
RAM options: 2GB / 4GB / 8GB
Storage options:
- 64GB or 128GB eMMC
- Swappable microSD or NVMe SSD
4100mAh lithium battery

Sensors & Connectivity

Mecha Comet includes a rich set of built-in peripherals:

8MP camera
Motion sensor
Haptic feedback motor
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
3.5mm audio jack

Modular Expansion System

Modules snap onto the front of the device, just below the screen.

Launch Modules

Tactile keyboard
Gamepad
I/O board

The I/O board is particularly exciting, as it enables hardware hacking and expansion, making Mecha Comet especially appealing to makers and developers.

Operating System & Openness

Ships with Mechanix, a custom Linux 6.12–based distribution
Fully open software — run any ARM64-compatible OS or software
Open hardware design
Hacking and modification are actively encouraged

Limitations

The device uses ARM64, which may limit compatibility
That said, ARM64 support today is far better than it used to be

Kickstarter & Pricing

The Mecha Comet Kickstarter campaign has already:

Raised $620,000+
Backed by 1,800+ supporters

Early Bird Offer

i.MX 8M Plus
2GB RAM
64GB eMMC
$189 USD

📦 Estimated shipping: May