PINE64, a well-known name in Linux hardware, has announced that it does not plan to produce more Linux devices for now because of ongoing DRAM and eMMC shortages.
“Hi everyone! Just a quick reminder that due to the current DRAM/eMMC shortage, there isn’t any plans to continue producing more Linux devices in the near future.”
In a message on its official Telegram news channel, the company said that shortages of these parts have made it hard to keep producing devices. Whether production will start again depends on DRAM and eMMC prices after mid-2027.
Right now, PINE64 expects its current stock of PineNote and PineTab2 to last about three more months. After that, the company does not know when these devices will be available again.
The good news is that not all PINE64 products are affected. The company says it will keep making PineTime, PineVoice, and Pinecil as usual because these use different parts and are not impacted by the current memory and storage shortages.
Work on the new PineTime Pro is still moving forward. PINE64 says the demo firmware already supports the display, touchscreen, motion sensor, GPS, buttons, heart-rate sensor, battery charger, vibration motor, microphone, and speaker. Some issues remain before the project reaches the pilot batch, but development has not stopped.
However, PINE64 called the current situation for its Linux devices “a bit bleak.” But this update is not entirely unexpected.
Just last month, PINE64 talked about the future of the PinePhone after releasing full 3D model files for both the PinePhone and PinePhone Pro. The company called this release a “final hurrah” for the current PinePhone generation, but emphasized that many mobile Linux projects still support these devices.
PINE64 was also careful when talking about a possible PinePhone successor. A PinePhone2 is not off the table, but the company says it is not planning one right now. PINE64 explained that making a new device would be a major financial risk, and no system-on-chip on the market meets their needs for such a phone.
On top of that, PINE64 said the original PinePhone was mainly created as a development platform to help move the mobile Linux ecosystem forward. The company believes it has mostly reached this goal, as the community is now focusing on bringing Linux to Android smartphones, which offer better performance at lower prices.
Finally, it is important to note that PINE64 is not leaving Linux or ending software support for its current hardware. The company is simply pausing new Linux device manufacturing until the parts market improves.
