DFRobot Launches LattePanda 3 Delta Pocket-Sized Hackable Computer

Computers & Mobile Electronics
DFRobot Launches LattePanda 3 Delta Pocket-Sized Hackable Computer

When the first maker-focused single-board computers (SBCs) from BeagleBoard and Raspberry Pi started appearing, it felt like a tiny revolution. While makers had been hacking on microcontrollers for decades, the prospect of a Linux-capable device with ample GPIO and connectivity brought new possibilities, applications, and accessibility. And while current-generation boards are often based around powerful 64-bit multicore Arm application processors, they still sometimes struggle to provide desktop-class performance or user experience. When DFRobot introduced the original LattePanda in 2016, they elected to base the board around the Intel architecture more common to desktop and laptop devices, which enabled support for Microsoft Windows 10 on a device not much bigger than a half-sized breadboard. And today the latest evolution of this genesis has been revealed in the form of the LattePanda 3 Delta.

lattepanda
How many interfaces? 42!

DFRobot describes the device as the “world’s thinnest pocket-sized hackable computer” which seems quite apt. Retaining the overall form factor and feature set of the previous generation, the v3 Delta received a performance boost in the form of the 11th-generation Intel Celeron N5105 processor – maybe not your first pick for a top-of-the-line gaming rig, but it’s got more cache alone than your average Arduino has total memory. And the Panda’s even got its own onboard Arduino of sorts in the form of an ATmega32U4 coprocessor, as found at the heart of the Leonardo. With 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 64GB of eMMC on-board storage (plus the ability to add more via M.2), the LattePanda is a formidable computing device. But the addition of extensive interface options is what makes it a maker’s delight. In addition to Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.2 and Type-C, HDMI and DisplayPort, the v3 Delta has 12 analog inputs and up to 23 digital inputs/outputs, plus UART, I2C, SPI and RS232. Additional conveniences like auto-on and a watchdog timer to restart when things get icky make this a solid choice for a plethora of applications.

lattepanda
Panda pinout

The LattePanda 3 Delta is available starting today from DFRobot and Digi-Key, with or without a Windows 10 license (instructions for installing the latest version of Ubuntu are available in the docs). We look forward to an in-depth hands-on review in our boards guide, and to seeing what kind of uses the community finds for this bear of a board!

Key Features and Specifications:

  • CPU: Intel Celeron N5105 @2.0-2.9GHz, 4 Core and 4M Cache
  • 8GB LPDDR4 @2933MHz RAM
  • 64GB eMMC
  • M.2 M key (support NVMe SSD), M.2 B key (support SATA SSD,4G & 5G Module)
  • WiFi 6 @2.4Gb/s
  • Bluetooth 5.2
  • Co-Processor: ATmega32U4
  • 2x USB 3.2 Gen1
  • USB 3.2 Gen2
  • USB Type C
  • USB 2.0 (pin header)
  • HDMI 2.0b, DisplayPort 1.4 via USB-C, eDP
  • Dimensions: 125mm × 78mm × 16mm
  • Operating System: Windows 10, Windows 11 or Linux
Discuss this article with the rest of the community on our Discord server!
Tagged

David bought his first Arduino in 2007 as part of a Roomba hacking project. Since then, he has been obsessed with writing code that you can touch. David fell in love with the original Pebble smartwatch, and even more so with its successor, which allowed him to combine the beloved wearable with his passion for hardware hacking via its smartstrap functionality. Unable to part with his smartwatch sweetheart, David wrote a love letter to the Pebble community, which blossomed into Rebble, the service that keeps Pebbles ticking today, despite the company's demise in 2016. When he's not hacking on wearables, David can probably be found building a companion bot, experimenting with machine learning, growing his ever-increasing collection of dev boards, or hacking on DOS-based palmtops from the 90s.

Find David on Mastodon at @ishotjr@chaos.social and to a far lesser extent on Twitter at @IShJR.

View more articles by David Groom

ADVERTISEMENT

Maker Faire Bay Area 2023 - Mare Island, CA

Escape to an island of imagination + innovation as Maker Faire Bay Area returns for its 15th iteration!

Buy Tickets today! SAVE 15% and lock-in your preferred date(s).

FEEDBACK