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Soulscircuit’s Pilet began as a pair of modular portable Linux computers built around the Raspberry Pi 5: a compact, controller-equipped 5-inch Pilet 5 and a larger, tablet-style 7-inch Pilet 7. Their Kickstarter campaign raised about $1.26 million in early 2025, but the July 2025 delivery target passed. In 2026, Soulscircuit said it was redesigning the system around the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5), a significant change from the standard Raspberry Pi 5 Model B originally promoted.
That makes Pilet an intriguing hardware concept—but, based on available reporting through August 18, 2026, a delayed and materially revised crowdfunding project, not a confirmed retail handheld. The original specifications and prices below describe the campaign pitch, not verified final production units.
What were the Pilet 5 and Pilet 7?
Pilet, originally known by the codename Consolo, was Soulscircuit’s attempt to bridge the gap between a DIY Raspberry Pi cyberdeck and a finished handheld computer. The concept combined a touchscreen, battery power, Linux-capable Raspberry Pi hardware, and a compact enclosure while retaining maker-oriented expansion options. The project was presented as a portable computer for tinkering, development, and gaming—not simply as a conventional plug-and-play gaming handheld. Soulscircuit’s product page describes the two form factors and planned features.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe campaign’s original computing platform was the Raspberry Pi 5 Model B. Soulscircuit promoted two sizes: the Pilet 5, with a compact, console-like layout and integrated controls, and the Pilet 7, a larger tablet-style system intended to work with optional modules such as a keyboard or gamepad. The difference matters for both use and expectations: one emphasized a small handheld footprint; the other offered more screen space for desktop-style Linux tasks.
#1 Best Overall
- The GamePi43 is a portable retro video game console based on Raspberry Pi, recalls you all the gaming pleasures in the memory. This accessory pack includes add-ons required to build your own GamePi43, excerpt for the Raspberry Pi and micro SD card.
- With 4.3inch IPS display, 800×480 pixels. 60 fps smooth gaming experience
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi B+/2B/3B/3B+.(Note PI is NOT included)
- Integrates battery charge circuitry, powered from 18650 lithium batteries (NOT included), plays anywhere anytime. Onboard Battery life indicator.
- Onboard speaker and earphone jack, listen to the familiar BGM from the old days. Volume and backlight adjustment keys, adjust the device status according to specific game, better experience.
Pilet 5 versus Pilet 7
| Model | Campaign-era design | Likely fit | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilet 5 | 5-inch compact handheld with integrated gaming-style controls | Terminal work, field diagnostics, compact Linux projects, and retro gaming | Smaller screen and a denser control layout |
| Pilet 7 | 7-inch tablet-style portable computer, with modular input accessories proposed | Browsing, coding, reading documentation, and longer desktop-like sessions | Larger and less pocketable; keyboard and gamepad modules were not necessarily included |
These were intended-use distinctions, not evidence of independently tested comfort or gaming performance. Accessory concepts—including a detachable keyboard, gamepad, camera, and cellular modem—were at different stages of development or tied to campaign goals. Do not assume every module was part of every pledge. Hackster’s launch coverage reported the campaign’s model and accessory details.
What the original campaign promised
The campaign-era pitch included a Raspberry Pi 5 Model B, touchscreen variants in 5-inch and 7-inch sizes, NVMe storage support, active and passive cooling, and VESA mounting compatibility. Soulscircuit also promoted two 8,000mAh batteries—16,000mAh combined—and claimed approximately seven hours of runtime. It listed support for a Hailo-8L AI module and described future expansion possibilities.
Those are original design descriptions and company claims, not a verified final specification sheet. In particular, seven hours should be read as Soulscircuit’s estimate, not a measured battery test. Runtime would depend on screen brightness, wireless use, workload, peripherals, fan activity, battery condition, and other factors. Likewise, a planned module or listed compatibility does not establish that it shipped in a particular reward.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Soulscircuit also said it would release hardware design files after the product was finalized or completed. That is an open-hardware ambition; it is not proof that complete schematics, CAD files, firmware, and licenses are already publicly available. The project should not be described as fully open hardware unless those materials can be confirmed.
Rank #2
- High-Resolution Display: The Game HAT features a 3.5-inch IPS screen with a 480x320 resolution, delivering vibrant colors and sharp visuals for an immersive gaming experience.
- Smooth Gameplay: With a 60Hz refresh rate, the display ensures smooth and fluid gameplay, minimizing frame drops and enhancing the overall user experience.
- Wide Raspberry Pi Compatibility: Compatible with Raspberry Pi models A+/B+/2B/3B/3B+/4B. Note that Raspberry Pi Zero/Zero W/Zero WH requires an additional HDMI cable.
- Portable Power Source: Equipped with integrated battery charging circuitry, the Game HAT is powered by a 18650 lithium battery (not included), allowing for portable gaming on the go.
- Integrated Audio Features: The module includes an onboard speaker and an earphone jack, enabling users to enjoy classic game soundtracks and audio effects directly from the device.
What the Kickstarter raised—and what the prices meant
BackerTracker’s record of the Kickstarter campaign lists a $20,000 goal, 2,777 backers, and $1,264,707 raised. It records the campaign as running from January 8 through February 7, 2025. Those figures describe the crowdfunding campaign, not units shipped or revenue from a retail launch. The campaign tracker record provides the totals and dates.
At launch, Hackster reported kit prices beginning around CA$289 for the Pilet 7 and CA$309 for the Pilet 5, with a battery add-on listed at CA$60. These were historical campaign prices, not current retail offers. The Raspberry Pi was not necessarily included in the kit price, and shipping was extra; what a backer received depended on the selected reward. No reliable current retail price for a completed Pilet was established in the available reporting through August 18, 2026.
If evaluating any campaign pledge or late offer, check the specific reward rather than relying on a headline price. Confirm whether it includes the compute board, battery, storage, assembled device, display, speakers, cooling, and controller hardware; whether shipping, taxes, or import duties are additional; and whether the reward is for a Pilet 5, Pilet 7, or accessory. The original advertised price should not be treated as an all-in cost.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallFrom launch to the CM5 redesign
- October 9, 2024: Raspberry Pi covered Pilet as an upcoming modular mini computer based on the Pi 5. Raspberry Pi’s article reflects the original platform concept.
- January 8–February 7, 2025: The Kickstarter campaign ran, according to BackerTracker’s record.
- July 2025: The original campaign reporting gave this as the expected shipping month. That target was missed.
- April 2026: Hackster reported that Soulscircuit was moving from the Raspberry Pi 5 Model B design to a Compute Module 5-based redesign, after substantial delays.
- August 18, 2026: The available evidence supports describing Pilet as delayed and revised. It does not establish that ordinary backers have received final production units.
By April 2026, reporting also described further foundational work, including case redesign and development of a display rather than simply using the hardware shown at launch. The available record therefore suggests more than a minor component swap.
Rank #3
- 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.
What changes when a Raspberry Pi 5 becomes a CM5?
Soulscircuit said the Compute Module 5 redesign would integrate the display, audio, NVMe interface, and battery electronics onto a single mainboard, reducing internal cables and connectors. That could make a compact enclosure easier to engineer. But the CM5 is not a standard Raspberry Pi 5 Model B: it is a small compute module designed to work with a carrier board, which determines how the system exposes ports and other interfaces. Raspberry Pi’s CM5 datasheet gives its module dimensions as approximately 55 × 40 × 4.7 mm.
That architecture makes the CM5 unsuitable as a drop-in replacement for a Pi 5 Model B in a design that expects the standard board. The carrier board is part of the product’s computer system, not just an adapter. Changing the module can therefore affect connectors, serviceability, the route to upgrades, and which accessories remain practical.
Hackster’s redesign report said the revised board had fewer USB ports and no wired Ethernet port compared with the prototype design. Those reported differences are important to a maker-focused computer, but they should be treated as reporting about the redesign—not as a final, independently confirmed production specification. Backers objected to the change from the standard Pi 5 platform and requested refunds; Soulscircuit characterized the change as an engineering redesign. The documented facts support describing this as a disputed, material departure from the campaign-era design, not declaring fraud.
Is the redesigned Pilet still the same product?
It retains the central idea—a portable, modular Linux computer—but the compute platform and board architecture changed after the original delivery target. For a customer who backed specifically because the Pilet used a standard Raspberry Pi 5 Model B, that is a meaningful difference. A CM5-based product may be more integrated, but it could also expose different ports and offer a different upgrade or replacement path.
Rank #4
- Not including the Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB), the Crowpi advanced version comes with the Raspberry Pi 5
- ELECROW Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5, CrowPi is equipped with a 9-inch HD touchscreen along with a camera; All the regular components used in DIY electronics are packed into the CrowPi development board, such as LCD, LED matrix, buzzer, light sensor, PIR sensor, ultrasonic sensor, IR sensor, etc
- Raspberry Pi Sensors: The Crowpi raspberry pi 5 programming kit is jam-packed with lots of buttons such as 19 different sensors in a tidy easy to use package; You don't have to wait and wire things
- Build Quality: Solid ABS shell and well made components in one place make it strong and convenient to travel
- Programming Lessons: This raspberry pi 5 learning kit ships with step by step instructions and provides 21 lessons to take you through identifying components reading code and running it in the terminal
As of the available August 2026 snapshot, Soulscircuit’s official page still described Pilet as a work in progress and continued to refer to Raspberry Pi 5 and the Kickstarter. That page, campaign history, or prototype images alone do not establish current retail availability, completed fulfillment, or that the final version will match the original pledge. Hackster’s reporting documents the redesign and delay; BackerTracker documents campaign totals and dates. None of those sources, on its own, verifies delivery of production units to backers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you buy or back a Pilet?
Do not treat the campaign price as a current offer or assume that the original feature list describes the redesigned product. Based on the available evidence, a cautious prospective buyer should wait for a clearly specified, independently verified production unit and a legitimate ordering route with stated shipping, warranty, and refund terms. If you are already a backer, compare the creator’s current written specification and proposed remedy with the exact reward you selected; do not assume a universal refund policy from reports about individual cases.
For a project with this level of redesign, verify the computer module and RAM, display resolution and brightness, battery chemistry and replaceability, charging and cooling, external USB and Ethernet, GPIO and camera access, NVMe support, included modules, operating-system support, warranty, and delivery terms. Ask whether the demonstrated prototype is the same configuration as the reward. These details determine whether the Pilet is the compact Linux machine you expected—or a substantially different build.
If you want the original standard-board architecture now, a DIY Raspberry Pi 5 cyberdeck gives you control over the display, battery, controls, enclosure, and replacement parts, but it requires integration work and is not a finished handheld. If you want a CM5 build, choose a compatible carrier board and plan the power, cooling, storage, and enclosure around it; CM5 is not a standalone Pi 5 board. Turnkey gaming handhelds may be more mature for playing games, while sacrificing some of the Pilet concept’s GPIO access and maker-oriented modularity.
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- BUILD YOUR OWN PORTABLE CYBERDECK – Turn your Raspberry Pi CM4 into a powerful handheld Linux computer. The uConsole combines a 5-inch IPS display, backlit QWERTY keyboard, and modular design, making it ideal for programming, networking, cybersecurity, remote administration, and DIY electronics projects.
- LATEST REV.5 MAINBOARD – Features the newest ClockworkPi v3.14 Rev.5 mainboard with improved stability and compatibility. Supports Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4) and includes WiFi + 4G LTE expansion capability for portable computing anywhere.
- PREMIUM HANDHELD LINUX COMPUTER – Equipped with a crisp 5-inch HD IPS display, ultra-portable backlit QWERTY keyboard, dual speakers, modular aluminum enclosure, and rechargeable battery module for an excellent mobile Linux experience.
- PERFECT FOR DEVELOPERS & MAKERS – Great for Linux enthusiasts, programmers, penetration testers, network engineers, embedded development, IoT projects, retro computing, SDR applications, and portable terminal use.
- WHAT'S INCLUDED – Includes Rev.5 mainboard, CM4 adapter, WiFi antenna, WiFi + 4G LTE module, 5-inch IPS display, backlit keyboard, battery module, dual speakers, enclosure, brackets, and assembly tools. 18650 batteries are not included. The Non-Core Kit does not include the Raspberry Pi CM4 or the 32GB microSD card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the Pilet campaign include a Raspberry Pi?
Not necessarily. The reported launch prices were for kits, and the Raspberry Pi 5 could be separate depending on the selected pledge. Check the exact reward rather than assuming the compute board was included.
Was the Pilet keyboard included?
Not necessarily. The keyboard and other expansion modules were optional concepts or tied to campaign goals; inclusion depended on the reward tier.
Is the Pilet open source?
Soulscircuit said it intended to release design files after completion or finalization. That promise does not establish that complete hardware and software files are currently available.
Can a standard Raspberry Pi 5 Model B be installed in the redesigned Pilet?
The reported redesign uses a Compute Module 5 and a custom integrated mainboard. It is not safe to assume a standard Pi 5 Model B will fit or work; the final configuration would need explicit confirmation.
Can Pilet backers get a refund?
Reports describe individual refund requests or cases, but that does not establish a universal refund policy or entitlement. Backers should consult their campaign communications and the terms applicable to their pledge.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
