Yes—you can build a handheld Raspberry Pi computer with a touchscreen and physical keyboard. Taylor Hay’s BlackberryPi pairs a Raspberry Pi 4 with 8GB of memory, a 4-inch touchscreen, a BlackBerry keyboard and trackpad, a battery, and a custom 3D-printed enclosure. It is a maker project rather than a ready-to-buy computer: reproducing it means sourcing parts, soldering a connection, installing Linux, and making a case.
What is the BlackberryPi?
The BlackberryPi is a compact Linux computer designed to bring back the feel of a small, dedicated device instead of another touchscreen-only slab. Australian maker Taylor Hay combined a Raspberry Pi and BlackBerry input hardware in a custom enclosure. Hackster.io describes the project as an easy-to-build handheld Linux machine, though the build still involves sourcing components and soldering. Read the Hackster.io project profile.
Its appeal is the combination: a touchscreen for visual interaction, a physical keyboard and trackpad for input, and Raspberry Pi hardware for Linux experimentation and GPIO-based projects. It is also substantially bulkier than a phone because the computer, screen, battery, wiring, and keyboard must all fit inside the case.
What parts does the featured build use?
| Part | Featured choice | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Computer | Raspberry Pi 4 with 8GB memory | Runs the Linux system; the profile says other Raspberry Pi models may also work. |
| Display | Pimoroni HyperPixel 4.0 Square, 4-inch touchscreen | Provides the visual interface and touch input. |
| Keyboard and pointer | BlackBerry Q10 keyboard and trackpad sourced from a BlackBerry 9900 | Provides physical typing and cursor control. |
| Battery | 10,000 mAh lithium-polymer battery salvaged from an inexpensive power bank | Powers the portable build; the source does not report measured runtime. |
| Battery indicator | Seven-segment LED display | Shows battery information. |
| Storage and operating system | SD card with Kali Linux installed | Provides system storage and the Linux environment. |
| Enclosure | Custom digitally designed, 3D-printed case | Holds the components together; the project profile notes that the completed design is somewhat large. |
The project profile does not publish a complete-device weight, total parts cost, or battery-life measurement, so those figures cannot be reliably inferred from the component list.
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#1 Best Overall
- The PocketTerm35 is a handheld computer designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi 4B and Pi 5.
- It provides a complete Linux desktop experience, enabling you to enter commands, run development tools, or execute daily computing tasks directly in the terminal at any time.
- Features a compact 93.5 × 168.5 × 37 mm design, equipped with a 3.5inch 640 × 480 optical bonding touch display. Portable and lightweight, it is an ideal tool for geeks, developers, and electronics enthusiasts.
- Suitable for terminal operations, command-line input,and graphical interface browsing
- Supports seamless switching between Batt and external power,enhancing system reliability. Supports handheld gaming, compatible with the RetroPie system
How the build comes together
- Fit the computer and display. The build centers on a Raspberry Pi 4 and the HyperPixel touchscreen. Other Pi models may be possible, but the project profile does not specify a compatibility list.
- Connect the keyboard. The keyboard’s USB connection is soldered directly to pads on the Raspberry Pi. This is a hardware modification, not simply plugging a USB keyboard into an external port.
- Set up storage and Linux. Kali Linux is installed on the system’s SD card.
- Design and print the case. The enclosure is modeled digitally to accommodate the board, display, keyboard, battery, indicator, and wiring, then 3D-printed. The amount of space those parts require is why the finished handheld is not phone-sized.
Hay reports that the keyboard and mouse are surprisingly pleasant to use. That is an encouraging observation about this build, not a controlled ergonomics comparison with other portable computers.
Is it a practical portable computer for hacking?
It can be a useful portable Linux machine for experimentation, particularly for someone who values physical keys and Raspberry Pi hardware access. Kali Linux is the featured operating system, and the Pi platform offers GPIO for hardware projects. The direct-soldered keyboard connection and custom enclosure also mean that building and modifying the device are part of the project, rather than incidental steps.
Rank #2
- RASPBERRY PI CM5 COMPATIBLE: Designed to work seamlessly with the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5, offering a powerful handheld computing experience. CM5 not included.
- 4-INCH TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY: Features a responsive 4" touchscreen for intuitive navigation and interaction, making it ideal for portable projects and on-the-go use.
- NVME SSD SLOT: Equipped with an NVMe SSD slot for fast, expandable storage, allowing you to run demanding applications and store large files with ease.
- DUAL USB 3.0 PORTS: Includes two USB 3.0 ports for high-speed data transfer and connectivity with a wide range of peripherals and accessories.
- ALUMINUM CASE WITH FULL QWERTY KEYBOARD: Built with a durable aluminum enclosure and a physical QWERTY keyboard, combining sturdy construction with convenient text input.
It should not be treated as a laptop replacement on the evidence available. The profile describes the parts and assembly but gives no measured runtime, total cost, device weight, or controlled performance comparisons. A 10,000 mAh battery capacity alone cannot establish how long this particular configuration runs: runtime depends on the complete device and how it is used.
What to consider before building one
- Portability: The design is handheld, but the complete assembly is relatively large compared with a smartphone.
- Fabrication and wiring: You need a way to make the custom case and to solder the keyboard’s USB connection to the Pi.
- Parts compatibility: The featured design names specific keyboard and display components. The profile does not establish that every alternative part will fit or work without changes.
- Power expectations: The stated battery capacity is 10,000 mAh, but no runtime test is reported.
- Budget: A completed-device cost is not published, and the required fabrication and individual components make a reliable total impossible to state from the article alone.
A different pocket-sized Pi idea
For a much smaller portability experiment, The MagPi has shown a Raspberry Pi Zero W used as a Bluetooth tag that slips into a pocket. That is a different kind of project, not a keyboard-equipped Linux handheld. See The MagPi’s Raspberry Pi Zero W Bluetooth tag project.
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Best Value
- 1. Barebones Kit for Raspberry Pi CM4 – Made for users who want to add their own Raspberry Pi CM4 module to a portable handheld Linux computer kit.
- 2. Multiple Configurations Available – Choose from with WiFi-only or WiFi + 4G LTE connectivity options.
- 3. 5 Inch QWERTY Handheld Design – Features a 5 inch IPS display, compact QWERTY keyboard, mini trackball, speakers, and handheld cyberdeck-style layout.
- 4. ClockworkPi v3.14 Rev 5 Mainboard – Uses the ClockworkPi v3.14 revision 5 mainboard platform with CM4 adapter support for Raspberry Pi CM4 users.
- Important Package Note – Raspberry Pi CM4 module, 18650 batteries, TF card, SIM card, and cellular service plan are not included.
Rank #4
- The PocketTerm35 is a handheld computer designed specifically for the Raspberry Pi 4B and Pi 5.
- It provides a complete Linux desktop experience, enabling you to enter commands, run development tools, or execute daily computing tasks directly in the terminal at any time.
- Features a compact 93.5 × 168.5 × 37 mm design, equipped with a 3.5inch 640 × 480 optical bonding touch display. Portable and lightweight, it is an ideal tool for geeks, developers, and electronics enthusiasts.
- Suitable for terminal operations, command-line input,and graphical interface browsing
- Supports seamless switching between Batt and external power,enhancing system reliability. Supports handheld gaming, compatible with the RetroPie system
Rank #3
- 1. ClockworkPi v3.14 mainboard revision 5, (Optional) Raspberry Pi CM4 104000 lite (ARM Cortex-A72 quad-core, 4GB LPDDR4, WIFI 2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac wireless + Bluetooth 5.0, BLE) Adapter for RaspberryPi CM4 computing module to the mainboard.
- 2. WIFI gain antenna for CM4 computing module. Ext. module. Standard HD 720p 5.0-inch IPS screen
- 3. Clockwork ultra-portable QWERTY Backlit keyboard
- 4. Dual speaker, Shells and bracket system & 2.5mm Hex key
- 5. 32GB high-speed TF-card with clockworkOS*
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