The prototype version of PinePhone is already in the hands of developers and a new batch is shipping in January 202012, hardware won't change much from now on.
| Feature | Hardware | Comments | TODO |
|---|---|---|---|
| System on a chip | Allwinner A64 Quad Core9 | * The bootloader should be fully free software7 including ARM Trusted Firmware8. * The code should be upstream already7. |
TODO: * Look at the code. |
| GPU | Mali 400 MP2 GPU1 | * A "pipe" driver is in Linux since 5.2 * Has (very early) support in Mesa. |
TODO: * Regularly check kernel and Mesa status. |
| Modem | Quectel EG-25G1 with2 worldwide bands4 | * The EG-25G is an international version of the EC25. * Runs GNU/Linux18. * USB connection for data and I2S connection for audio18. * Audio connected to both PCM interfaces on the A6414. * PCM audio still experimental: sending to the modem works fine, receiving produces mangled samples14. |
TODO: * How supported is the AT support? * How supported is the QMI the protocol? * What's the similarity with the EC-25? |
| GNSS1: GPS, GPS-A, GLONASS4 | |||
| WiFi | RTL8723cs3 | * Requires a nonfree loadable firmware3. * Connected via SDIO18. |
|
| Bluetooth: 4.0, A2DP1 | * Requires a nonfree firmware3. * Connected via UART18. |
TODO: * Check if it really requires that firmware or if it has some ROM code that could be used? |
|
| USB – C1 (Power, Data and Video Out) | * USB 2.09 * Serial console is only available in the headphone connector (activated by the 6th contact on the dipswitch10) |
||
| RAM | 2GB of LPDDR3 RAM | * Initialized by u-boot SPL18. | TODO: * Check if it meets Android 9 requirements |
| Main Camera | Single OmniVision OV6540, 5MP, 1/4″, LED Flash1 | * Mainline driver5 * No firmware required5 * There's an optional non-free firmware for the auto-focus18. |
|
| Selfie Camera | Single GC20351, 2MP, f/2.8, 1/5″ | ||
| Storage | Bootable Micro SD1 16GB eMMC1 |
* Boot order: MicroSD -> eMMC6 | |
| Sensors accelerator, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, ambient light1 | TODO: * Which chips are used? |
||
| LCD panel and touchscreen | 5.95″ LCD 1440×720 18:9 aspect ratio (hardened glass) |
Probably works with free software11. | |
| Power Management IC (PMIC) | AXP80313 | ||
| Power Management coprocessor | AR10015 | * The proprietary firmware can be replaced with Crust16. * Allows deep power-saving modes and later wake-up. * Use case: receive signal from modem to wake-up device17. |
Kernel and bootloader are available at https://gitlab.com/pine64-org
They are a fork of sunxi-next through MoeIcenowy.
Current upstreaming path looks like this: pine64 > sunxi-next > linux-next > torvalds
Patches relevant to all A64 devices should be directly sent to sunxi-next.
Patches only relevant to PinePhone should be sent to pine64.
Downstream projects such as UBports and postmarketOs gather efforts there for future upstreaming.
Support for several features (e.g. modem PCM audio, power management) still needs to be upstreamed to mainline Linux.
The PinePhone has 6 hardware switches19 that allow turning on/off different hardware components: modem, WiFi/Bluetooth, microphone, rear camera, front camera and headphones. Unfortunately these are located under the back cover, which needs to be taken out to operate them.
PinePhone Brave Heart Schematic
PinePhone Brave Heart Changes
PinePhone Exploded Diagram of Brave Heart edition PinePhones
1 Some specifications are available at the device page and wiki page.
2 PinePhone discussion in Replicant's mailing list: https://lists.osuosl.org/pipermail/replicant/2019-July/001997.html
3 From #replicant channel on Freenode:
<MoeIcenowy> The Wi-Fi changed to RTL8723CS (this chip also does BT), which needs non-free firmware to be feed
4 From #replicant channel on Freenode:
<MoeIcenowy> The GNSS should be also done by EG25-G
5 From #replicant channel on Freenode:
<MoeIcenowy> The OV5640 camera doesn't need firmware and its driver is mainlined
6 From #replicant channel on Freenode:
<MoeIcenowy> The boot order is strictly MicroSD->eMMC, which is set in the A64's boot ROM
7 From #replicant channel on Freenode:
<MoeIcenowy> The bootloader (U-Boot SPL + ATF + U-Boot) is free software, all mainlined now (and the downstream dirty U-Boot cannot boot upstream Linux kernel)
8 From #replicant channel on Freenode:
<MoeIcenowy> https://github.com/ARM-software/arm-trusted-firmware
9 Allwinner A64 Datasheet: http://files.pine64.org/doc/datasheet/pine64/A64_Datasheet_V1.1.pdf
10 PostmarketOS Pinephone page: https://wiki.postmarketos.org/wiki/PINE64_PinePhone_(pine64-pinephone)#Serial_console
11 From #replicant channel on Freenode:
01:48 <adjtm> GNUtoo, lukasz confirmed me that the lcd doesn't require proprietary firmware to be uploaded
01:49 <adjtm> the conversation between pine64 staff about the lcd that someone posted on irc was probably before deciding in
the last lcd
12 PINE64 December 2019 Update: https://www.pine64.org/2019/12/05/december-update-thank-you-for-2019/
13 From Xalius on PINE64 IRC. Details at: https://linux-sunxi.org/AXP803
14 From Xalius.
15 https://linux-sunxi.org/AR100
16 https://github.com/crust-firmware/crust
17 From Xalius.
18 PinePhone Misconceptions: https://www.pine64.org/2020/01/24/setting-the-record-straight-pinephone-misconceptions/
19 PinePhone at PINE64 wiki: https://wiki.pine64.org/index.php/PinePhone#Killswitch_configuration