Could Mecha Comet's Linux PC-Phone Hybrid Be the Future of Linux Smartphones?

The useful part

3,346 backers pledged $1,198,844 on Kickstarter to build the (modular) handheld Linux computer, the Mecha Comet. It's slightly bigger and heavier than your smartphone, with a 4-inch AMOLED display and loaded up with things like microphones, speakers, a SIM tray, two USB ports and a mini HDMI port. There's three separate kill switches for wifi, microphone and camera — plus a "boot mode" switch for the SD card, and even three pins for instant access to its debug console.

How it works

• You're also getting an NPU built right into the SoC, which opens up the possibility for on-device AI workflows — something not possible in budget smartphones.
• They're all open hardware, and founder Shoaib Merchant says "I'm looking forward to more community designs over the upcoming months." He shows the screen in action in a video on Kickstarter, demonstrating...
• It's now expected to ship in October or November (and is still available for preorder).
• Snap-in extensions include a keyboard (with programmable colors for its backlit keys), a gamepad, and a special IO Breakout that exposes the 40 pogo pins for modules, sensors, and MCUs.
• For me, that's the most innovative gadget I've seen in the Linux hardware space in a long time...

What to take from it

It's powerful enough to run most Linux terminal apps, which opens up a lot of possibilities.