PlanetPC XR is a Linux mini PC with a touchscreen display and ARM processor (crowdfunding)

Planet Computers makes smartphones that look like pocket computers thanks to their QWERTY keyboards that are (just barely) big enough for touch typing. And they function like pocket computers thanks to support for both Android and Linux software.

Now the UK-based company is branching out by launching a line of compact desktop computers. The PlanetPC XR series mini PCs feature ARM-based processors from Rockchip, color touchscreen displays on the front, and Ubuntu Linux software. They’re expected to ship in September, 2023 and they’re up for pre-order from the Planet Computers website or you can reserve one for a lower price by backing the PlanetPC XR Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. Update: after raising less than 1/100th of the crowdfunding goal, it's unclear whether the PlanetPC XR1 or XR2 will ever actually be released.

Pre-order prices start at $610 for a PlanetPC XR1 with a Rockchip RK3566 quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of flash storage or $769 for PlanetPC XR2 with a RK3588 octa-core processor and the same amount of storage.

Early Bird backers of the crowdfunding campaign can reserve the same units for $461 and $656, respectively.

Planet Computers also offers the XR1 with up to a 2TB SSD or a 14TB hard drive, while the XR2 is available with up to 32GB of RAM, 256GB of flash storage, and up to a 2TB SSD.

Both models features 1424 x 280 pixel color touchscreen displays on the front that can be used to display system info or controls, but the computers are designed to connect to an external display or two.

There's also an RGB light strip with 16 LED lights along the bottom front panel to display status information, built-in stereo speakers and a microphone for use with voice assistants, voice calls, or other applications without the need for external hardware, and two Gigabit Ethernet ports as well as support for WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

But there are a few things that set the XR1 and XR2 apart. Not only does the XR2 have a substantially more powerful processor, but it also has additional ports. Here's a run-down of some key features for both models:

Planet Computers has run a number of successful crowdfunding campaigns in the past few years for products including the Gemini PDA, Cosmo Communicator, and Astro Slide. And by "successful," I mean that the company has achieved its fundraising goals and shipped hardware to at least some of its backers (although others are still waiting for rewards from the latest campaign which launched nearly 3 years ago).

But I’d still say that it's best to think of the PlanetPC XR1 and XR2 as enthusiast-class computers for folks that are willing to tinker to get the best possible experience out of these Linux PCs with ARM-based processors.

That's because while Planet Computers has a history of delivering highly unusual hardware, the company has a bit more of a mixed record with actually providing customer service and support. Planet Computers is positioning the XR series mini PCs as "zero-configuration" systems, which means that they should run Ubuntu out of the box. But that doesn't necessarily mean they’ll be able to run every Ubuntu application you throw at them, and it's unclear how well they’ll handle alternate operating systems.

The good news is that by tapping Rockchip's processors, Planet Computers can piggyback on the work of developers who have already ported a variety of GNU/Linux software to work with other devices featuring RK3588 and RK3566 processors. But by the same token, unless you really like the look of the XR series or want the touchscreen and light bar, you might be able to save some money by just picking up a single-board computer with the same chip and building your own mini PC.

Update: Charbax caught up with Planet Computers at Mobile World Congress, and got a look at the new PlanetPC XR series mini PCs.

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