Shows the strength of the pinephone. Release something cheap, quick and hackable rather than try to deliver everything. It’s been a really impressive project so far!
They're doing CE batches which run about a month each but the underlying hardware is the same for all of them. Just follow their blog (https://www.pine64.org/blog/) and wait for the announcement for the next batch preorder.
Not quite the same; they're now selling two slightly different versions. One has 2GB of RAM, while the other has 3GB RAM and is usually marketed under a "Convergence" label. For example, the UBports CE and the pmOS hardware has some slight revision that changes your ability to connect with the phone over Ethernet. I believe that the upcoming Manjaro CE will have the same distinction between models.
The Pinephone is one of the most disappointing things I have ever bought. I'm an old Nokia N900 fan who was so enthusiastic about getting a new open phone, but the Pinephone’s CPU is extremely underpowered in terms of running the only interface that is both libre and has any real future (i.e. Phosh on Mobian – Ubuntu Touch is based on moribund 2014-era code, and Sailfish’s UI isn’t libre). Scrolling is ragged, opening new windows is painfully slow, and it is easy to make the device start swapping. Also, the Pinephone screen and case feel very cheap.
For me, the Pinephone is at best a tech preview for the sort of experiences you might get to have on the Librem when it becomes available.
Yeah I ordered one 15 months ago and had to start using a flip phone. I can't wait any longer though, I am going to have to get a different smartphone :(