This Raspberry Pi 5 handheld turns Linux into a pocket-sized workstation

There is a certain kind of computer that refuses to disappear: the small, physical, purpose-built terminal. Not a phone, not a tablet and not quite a laptop, Waveshare’s PocketTerm35 belongs squarely in that lineage. It wraps a Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 5 inside a compact handheld shell with a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a thumb keyboard, battery support and enough ports to make it feel like a real machine rather than a novelty gadget or ideal for hackers.

A Pi in your hands

At the heart of the PocketTerm35 is a familiar idea: take a standard Raspberry Pi board and build a complete computer around it. Unlike handhelds that rely on smaller Compute Module boards, this design accepts a full Raspberry Pi Model B, making it more accessible to users who already own a Pi 4 or Pi 5.

That decision gives the device much of its appeal. The PocketTerm35 is not a closed gadget with fixed internals. It is closer to a portable enclosure, display, keyboard and power system for the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. The PocketTerm35 keeps the Raspberry Pi’s biggest strength intact: flexibility. Users can run Raspberry Pi OS or other Linux-based systems, connect peripherals and treat the machine as a portable development box rather than a sealed consumer device.

Small screen, serious intent

The front of the unit is dominated by a 3.5-inch IPS display with a 640 × 480 resolution. It uses optical bonding and supports five-point capacitive touch input, giving the handheld a more modern feel than old-school serial terminals or basic Pi screen kits.

Below the display sits a 67-key silicone QWERTY keyboard designed for thumb typing, with a number row, arrow keys and extra navigation controls. The same compact body supports either a Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 5, allows for a battery pack of up to 5,000mAh, and keeps practical connections within reach, including USB-A, Ethernet, USB-C charging, microSD access and a headphone jack. On the software side, it is designed for Raspberry Pi OS and other Linux-based systems. This is not a keyboard for writing long documents, but it is exactly the sort of keyboard that makes sense for SSH sessions, Python scripts, configuration files and command-line troubleshooting.

Built for workbenches, server rooms and field bags

PocketTerm35’s shape tells you what it wants to be. At 168.5 × 93.5 × 37mm, it is roughly phone-height, but far thicker and wider than any modern handset. Pocketable may be a generous description. This is more jacket pocket, tool bag or backpack gear than slim everyday carry.

That thickness does come with benefits, though. The enclosure exposes the Raspberry Pi’s useful I/O and includes practical touches such as status LEDs, a rear speaker grille, boot and reset buttons, and expansion access. The PocketTerm35 makes the most sense as a portable Linux terminal for SSH access, network checks, coding experiments, Raspberry Pi development, retro-computing projects and quick field diagnostics where a laptop feels like too much machine.

A smarter shell

One of the more interesting details is the onboard RP2040 microcontroller. Rather than making the Raspberry Pi handle every button, brightness control and keyboard function directly, Waveshare uses the RP2040 for supporting tasks such as keyboard input, display brightness, volume control and power-related functions.

That helps the PocketTerm35 feel less like a loose collection of parts and more like a finished handheld. Assembly appears to follow the maker-friendly pattern expected from a Raspberry Pi accessory: the Pi fits into the rear shell, ribbon cables connect the display and power system, and the front plate closes the unit.

Battery power makes it portable

Battery power is what turns the idea from a desktop curiosity into a portable tool. The higher-end bundles include a 5,000mAh battery, while the design supports charging over USB-C. The unit also uses UPS-style power management, allowing it to operate while charging.

That is important, because a handheld Linux box without reliable power handling quickly becomes a desk ornament. With battery support and status LEDs, the PocketTerm35 starts to make sense as a grab-and-go diagnostic machine: plug into a network, SSH into a server, test a script, check logs or poke at a project without hauling out a laptop. Existing Raspberry Pi owners will likely be drawn to the lower-cost accessory kits, while buyers who want a more complete handheld can choose bundles with the Pi board, storage and battery included.

Not a laptop, not a phone

The PocketTerm35 is unlikely to tempt someone shopping for a small laptop. Its screen is too small for comfortable desktop work, and its body is too chunky to compete with a phone. But that is not really the target. This is a device for Linux users, network tinkerers, Raspberry Pi hobbyists, retro-computing fans and anyone who wants a self-contained terminal with real ports. It is the sort of computer that makes sense in a lab, server room, makerspace or backpack full of cables.

Verdict: a cyberdeck without the soldering marathon

The appeal of the PocketTerm35 is not that it invents a new category. It is that it packages a familiar maker fantasy into something relatively clean and obtainable. For years, Raspberry Pi fans have built DIY cyberdecks, portable terminals and handheld Linux boxes from 3D-printed parts and wiring diagrams. Waveshare has simply turned that idea into a product. It will not replace a laptop, and it probably will not fit comfortably in most trouser pockets. But as a compact Raspberry Pi command station, the PocketTerm35 has a clear identity: practical, hackable, slightly odd and very much built for people who know exactly why they want one. The PocketTerm35-Pi5 starts at $148.99 in a bundle that includes a Raspberry Pi 5, a 64GB system card and a battery. Waveshare also offers a Raspberry Pi 4B-compatible version, priced at $179.99.

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