a tablet and a hybrid computer running Linux

2023-08-28 03:21:00

The British company Starlabs announces the upcoming release of a 12.5-inch tablet under Linux, which turns into a touchscreen laptop with a keyboard. Prices start at just under €500 and the first deliveries are expected by the end of October or the beginning of November.

StarLite 5 is announced. It’s about a tablette tactile compatible Linux, featuring a very large 12.5-inch screen. Target audience: students, Linux users and developers. The tablet relies entirely on open-source software and firmware.

Technically, there is an Intel Alder Lake N200 processor (4 cores), 16 GB of RAM (LPDDR5), a 512 GB SSD hard drive and a UHD graphics chip. The screen resolution goes up to 2,880 by 1,920 pixels. The announced autonomy is 12 hours, with an integrated battery of 38W. The built-in USB-C charger goes up to 65W, which guarantees a very fast charging.

Two 2K cameras are integrated, one on the front, one on the back. The speakers are stereo and the tablet has 2 microphones. Bluetooth 5.1, headphone jack, micro HDMI and slot for a memory card (microSD) are offered as standard. Small disappointment: no Wi-Fi 6 (but Wi-Fi 5).

Firmware updates for the BIOS, onboard controller, and SSD are simplified by using LVFS (Linux Vendor Firmware Service).

As an option, you can opt for a detachable backlit keyboard. It supports international keyboards, including the AZERTY (French) format. Very good news. Count 100€ for this additional equipment.

Pre-orders open

The tablet is available for pre-order. The price (for France) is of 496,80€ HT. VAT is estimated at 80€. This is an introductory price. The final price should be 710€, but that seems relatively high compared to the iPad and the Galaxy Tab by Samsung. Delivery is expected in 8-9 weeks, which brings us to the end of October 2023 in the best case. Stocks still seem limited at launch.

Choice of operating systems

Stay at choose your operating system. Starlabs offers to pre-install for you a linux system certified: Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, elementary OS, Linux Mint, MX Linux, Zorin Linux or Manjaro. The tablet is compatible with Linux, whatever distribution you choose, upon installation or later.