● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 negative
Pine64 halts production of Linux devices until at least mid-2027 due to memory shortages
Key points
- Pine64 ceased production of all Linux devices due to DRAM and eMMC shortages.
- The halt affects SBCs, PinePhone, PineTab2, and PineNote, until at least mid-2027.
- Microcontroller-based products like PineTime and Pinecil are not affected.
- Pine64 sells hardware near cost, preventing it from absorbing higher component prices.
Production Halt Announced
Pine64 has announced a complete halt in the production of its Linux-based devices. This decision, communicated via its official Telegram news channel, is a direct result of persistent shortages in DRAM and eMMC components. The company stated there are no plans to resume production of these devices in the near future, with the stoppage expected to last until at least mid-2027.
Affected Product Lines
The production halt encompasses Pine64's entire range of Arm and RISC-V single-board computers, the PinePhone family, the PineTab2 tablet, and the PineNote e-reader. Remaining stock of PineNote and PineTab2 is projected to last approximately three months. However, microcontroller-based products such as the PineTime smartwatch, PineVoice smart speaker, and Pinecil soldering iron will continue production as usual. Software support for existing Linux hardware will also continue.
Impact of Memory Shortage
The ongoing memory crunch, driven by AI demand, has significantly increased prices for components like DDR5 kits and eMMC modules. Phison CEO Khein-Seng Pua reported in February that 8GB eMMC modules increased from $1.50 to $20 within a year. TrendForce noted in April that the eMMC/UFS segment faces the tightest supply gap in the NAND market due to production capacity overlap with higher-margin enterprise SSDs.
Pine64's Pricing Strategy
Pine64 typically sells its hardware at near-cost prices, operating as a community service. This business model leaves no margin to absorb the increased component costs. Unlike other small-board makers like Raspberry Pi and Framework, which have raised prices to mitigate component cost increases, Pine64 has opted to halt production entirely, making it the first named vendor to discontinue a product line rather than repricing it. The mid-2027 timeline aligns with current supply forecasts.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Pine64 has stopped manufacturing all Linux-based devices, including single-board computers, phones, and tablets, citing ongoing DRAM and eMMC shortages. This decision impacts its full lineup of Arm and RISC-V Linux hardware, with production not expected to resume until at least mid-2027. The company, which sells hardware near cost, stated it cannot absorb increased component prices, making it the first vendor to halt an entire product category due to the memory crunch.