Sipeed Lichee Book 4A is an affordable RISC-V laptop with upgradeable processor module

Sipeed’s LM4A computer module is a small board with a T-Head TH1520 RISC-V processor, an NPU with up to 4 TOPS AI performance, and support for up to 16GB of LPDDR4X memory and 128GB of eMMC storage. But what makes this computer on a module really interesting is that Sipeed has developed an ecosystem of products that support the module, so you can use the same module as a single-board PC, tablet, laptop, handheld game console, or cluster computer.

Now it looks like the company is planning to expand its modular ecosystem with a new laptop, which is already available for pre-order, and two new computer modules, each with different RISC-V processors, coming later.

Last year, Sipeed launched a 7-inch mini laptop case for the LM4A, the Lichee Console 4A. The new Lichee Book 4A has the same motherboard but puts it in a full-size laptop with a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 display and an M.2 2280 slot for an optional SATA SSD.

The processor and RAM are still supplied by the computer module. To start with, there are three ways to purchase the Lichee Book 4A:

• Barebones (without core board) for 189 US dollars
• LM4A module + 8GB RAM, 32GB eMMC storage for $298
• LM4A module + 16GB RAM, 128GB eMMC storage for $349

Note that these prices include a 20% pre-order discount, so expect retail prices to be slightly higher.

In addition, Sipeed plans to offer two more computer modules in the future, allowing users to switch between the following modules:

• LM3A with SpacemiT K1 Chip with 8 SpacemiT K60 CPU cores, a 2 TOPS NPU and up to 16 GB RAM
• LM4A with T-head TH1520 Chip with four SiFive C910 CPU cores, a 4 TOPS NPU and up to 16 GB RAM
• LM5A with ESCWIN EIC7700 Chip with four SiFive P550 CPU cores, a 20 TOPS NPU and up to 32 GB RAM

While none of these chips offer the same performance as the latest laptop processors from Intel, AMD or Qualcomm, they offer developers and enthusiasts a fairly inexpensive way to get their first taste of the emerging RISC-V architecture.

For reference, Sipeed says the LM3A’s processor offers speeds equivalent to an octa-core ARM Cortex-A55 processor, while the LM4A and LM5A are similar to quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 and Cortex-A75 CPUs, respectively.

While the RISC-V computer modules are the most interesting thing about the Lichee Book 4A, it is a fully featured (if rather cheap) laptop with a silver plastic chassis that measures 314 x 217 x 17 mm and weighs 1.3 kg.

Other features include:

• 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C port
• 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A port
• 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A port
• 1 x mini HDMI port
• 1 x 3.5mm audio jack
• 1 x microSD card reader
• 1 x 12 V DC power input
• 34 Wh battery
• WiFi 6
• Bluetooth5.4
• 0.3MP webcam

The laptop ships with support for Debian Linux, but since it’s a developer-focused device, I expect enterprising users will find ways to run other operating systems on it as well.