A Debian-Based Distro and Hardware Upgrades Come to the PINE64 RISC-V Tablet

PINE64 has quietly upgraded the PineTab-V tablet, with it now shipping with a new Debian-based Linux distribution developed by StarFive and some new hardware. This new addition to the PINE64 tablet family kicks things up a notch in terms of both utility and software compatibility.

Earlier, the PineTab-V didn't come installed with an operating system and was only available for developers and early adopters back in 2023.

In terms of hardware, this updated model adds a new accelerometer, a fix for a slow charging issue, an LED status indicator light, and a unique identifier for the PineTab-V in the EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

The last bit helps the bootloader, OS, or firmware identify that the device is a PineTab-V, allowing for proper hardware detection and configuration.

PineTab-V Specifications

While what's underneath the upgraded PineTab-V is mostly similar to the previous version, here's a refresher of the specifications:

• SoC: StarFive JH4110.
• CPU: 64-bit quad-core 1.5 GHz SiFive U74 RISC-V.
• GPU: Imagination Technology BXE-4-32.
• RAM: 8 GB LPDDR4 SDRAM.
• Display: 10.1 inch 1280×800 IPS.
• Battery: 6000 mAH Li-Po.
• Camera: 5 MP primary with LED flash, 2 MP secondary.
• Storage: 128 GB eMMC module, supports expansion microSDHC and microSDXC cards up to 2 TB.
• Connectivity: Dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 ax/ac/b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.2.
• Ports: 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack, 1x stereo loudspeaker, 1x USB 3.0 port (front 3.0, rear 2.0), 1x USB Type-C 2.0 port (can be used for charging or debugging), and USB 2.0 docking port.

The StarFive JH7110 SoC (System on Chip) that powers this tablet is a quad-core RISC-V processor that, while not that powerful, is good enough for general tasks. If you're someone who is into experimenting with non-mainstream processor architectures, then you will appreciate that the PineTab-V is one of the most accessible RISC-V devices out there.

What got me most interested in this updated tablet is the Debian-based distro that has been tweaked specifically for RISC-V, giving users a stable foundation with access to thousands of supported packages.

To me, the PineTab-V feels like a small yet notable leap towards making RISC-V more accessible in the mainstream.

🛒 Getting the PineTab-V

The PineTab-V will cost you $225 with the current community pricing in place. Though the listed retail price is $299.99, and I am not sure when the promotional offer will end.

PINE64 also mentions that there might be 1-3 dead pixels on the LCD screens and requests buyers that this device is for development and evaluation purposes only.