PlanetPC XR1/XR2 are Arm Linux mini PCs based on Rockchip RK3568 or RK3588 processor respectively with a unique design featuring an integrated touchscreen display for control.
Planet Computers has designed several unique computing devices over the years such as the Cosmo Communicator 2-in-1 smartphone and computer or Astro Slide 5G transformer smartphone, and the British company has now come up with a mini PC preloaded with Ubuntu with a touchscreen screen interface, dual 4K/8K video output, dual Gigabit Ethernet and more.
PlanetPC XR1/XR2 specifications:
- SoC
- PlanetPC XR1 – Rockchip RK3568 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor up to 2.0 GHz with Arm Mali-G52 2EE, 0.8 TOPS NPU
- PlanetPC XR2 – Rockchip 3588 octa-core Cortex-A76/A55 processor up to 2.4 GHz with Arm Mali-G610 MP4 GPU, 6 TOPS NPU
- System Memory & Storage
- PlanetPC XR1
- 4GB LPDDR4
- 32GB eMMC flash
- Optional 512GB, 1TB, 2TB M.2 NVMe
- Optional up to 14TB SATA HDD or 2TB SATA SSD
- PlanetPC XR2
- 4GB LPDDR4, 8GB LPDDR4x, 16GB LPDDR5, or 32GB LPDDR5
- 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB eMMC flash
- Optional 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB M.2 SSD
- MicroSD card slot
- PlanetPC XR1
- Video Output
- PlanetPC XR1 – 1x HDMI port (4K)
- PlanetPC XR2 – 2x HDMI ports (4K and 8K) and VGA
- Video Input (XR2 only) – 4Kp60 HDMI input port
- Audio – Stereo speakers, built-in microphone, 3x 3.5mm audio jacks for headphones, microphone, etc…
- Display – 1424 x 280 color touchscreen display
- Networking
- 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports
- WiFI 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 module
- Optional 4G LTE/5G via SIM slot
- USB
- PlanetPC XR1 – 2x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 3x USB 2.0 Type-A ports, 1x USB 2.0 Type-C port
- PlanetPC XR2 – 4x USB 3.0 Type-A ports, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A port, 1x USB 3.0 Type-C port, 1x USB 2.0 Type-C port
- Misc – Power button, 16x RGB LED strip
- Dimensions – 29 x 26 x 6 cm
Both the PlanetPC XR1 and XR2 will ship with Ubuntu 20.04, and the company claims “zero configuration” as in Linux works out of the box, and support for Internet relay and VPN, network disk function, etc… It’s unclear whether the touchscreen display is customizable or you would have to go with the user interface defined by Planet Computers.
The PlanetPC XR2 is also the very first RK3588 mini PC that can actually be purchased with 32GB RAM. Others have claimed up to 32GB RAM support, but they did not offer their hardware for sale with that memory capacity. It should be noted that the XR2 port layout looks exactly the same as the port layout for the Firefly-ITX3588J motherboard.
Charbax also interviewed Planet Computers at MWC 2023, and they have the XR1 “running” on-site, but in the video, they only connected the power to demo the touchscreen display, and other ports are not used, so there may be more work to do on the Linux side for them to be ready to show it…
But I guess that’s OK because the XR1 and XR2 are not available yet, and are up for pre-orders on Planet Computers website or on Indiegogo crowdfunding platform. Pricing is on the high side with the PlanetPC XR1 starting at $613 and the PlanetPC XR2 at $773 in 4GB/32GB configuration on the company’s store, but it’s cheaper, albeit still pricey, on Indiegogo with the XR1 offered for $463 and the XR2 for $659, and if you’d like a Rockchip RK3588 mini PC with 32GB RAM and 512GB eMMC flash, you’ll be asked to pledge $1,189 and up. Shipping adds $30 to $72 depending on the destination country.
Based on the amount pledged on Indiegogo so far ($772), few people seem interested probably because of the price tag that is must higher than equivalent touchscreen-less Arm Linux mini PCs, and the mixed history of Planet Computers with their other crowdfunding campaigns that were quite popular, but deliveries were frequently delayed, and some users complain they have not received their reward after three years.
Via Liliputing
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I think that the design with a small touch screen serving as a complete bidirectional human interface is an excellent idea. It can address all usual monitoring/reporting/configuration problems that remain on such small devices. Of course that’s not really something new to those selling photocopiers and such devices which come with a display and small keyboard, the principle remains the same except that once configured the display can be used by the application to show useful info (e.g. date/time/weather/TV channel etc). Sadly the price means they will probably not sell more than 10 of them. But if they can start… Read more »
See like there’s quite a few upset backers from their previous indiegogo campaigns
Regarding the similarity in layout with Firefly’s board, the model name indeed appears on one of the stylized photos on the campaign’s site: “ITX-3588J”:
So yes, they’re integrating a Firefly board inside this enclosure. At least this should mean that the device will quickly be supported (at the same time as the firefly one), but that further reinforces the feeling of high price for making “just” an enclosure with a touch display.
sorry, I didn’t intend to make the image appear like this, I just wanted to paste the URL. Feel free to edit the comment if you know how to proceed :-/
I can’t change it easily. There must be some settings to automatically load image links. Let’s leave it that way for now.
OK thanks for confirming that I didn’t make an annoying mistake at least 😉
> ITX-3588J … At least this should mean that the device will quickly be supported (at the same time as the firefly one)
ITX-3588J was the first RK3588 non EVB board that appeared on Geekbench browser almost a year ago (usually Firefly are amongst the first with any new RK SoC). Of course Android 12 and most probably with the 5.10.66 we all love so much back then. Though no idea about Firefly’s skills transforming a vendor BSP into something usable with Linux.
The h96 max v58 costs lots less, yes its a TV box, but does a case with slim display add that much?
I’ve got an H96 device, one of the very first RK3399 device we could find (h96 max but apparently several of their devices are called like this). I could never reach a point where I’d have stabilized a DTB to make it run linux cleanly. The one provided was based on the BSP with totally different nodes than the later official ones, and I gave up. That thing now boots an android kernel on top of which the rootfs is a linux one and I’ve probably never reused it since I had the NanoPi-M4 and subsequent ones. TV boxes are… Read more »
Until the TV box designers wake up and allow a Linux etc boot..🙄🤔
More box sales.
If only Linux would need a set driver minimum to allow us of Linux name and brand. Per SoC market. A Linux approved usable minimum.
The H96 Max V58 gives you board, case, remote and power supply. Wish they would allow Linux boot too.
Money to be made surely?
They really don’t care. Think about it for a moment, it’s likely less than 1% of their sales and easily 10% of the trouble. For the same trouble they’d rather sell 10% more than 1% more. We all “bricked” an SBC or a repurposed device at least once and annoyed everyone possible to get the missing info to unbrick it. This doesn’t happen with their target customers, and even if it eventually does, there’s no indicator saying that it’s the device that’s broken, so the victims just wander on forums asking other users for ideas, who blame them for not… Read more »
It’s an interesting device and nice to see somebody make something other than a low effort SBC, however the high price reflects the cost of making it locally as Planet got burned by logistics on their past projects. That price is likely to put off most from backing it, also their FAQ on project page needs a lot more detail, more questions answered in video than on FAQ page.
Yeah at this price they would probably have more success just selling the 3D model and BOM at a much lower price so that others can make it themselves. This way they get rid of the logistics and take no risk.