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> I want one of these Linux handhelds so much but they all have these clicky push button keyboards.

As someone who has programmed ESP32s, I doubt that they can run Linux. The ones I have (Risc-V versions) just don't have the RAM necessary, nor a memory management unit.

Maybe once they start coming with 32MB of RAM and an MMU it'll feasible to put a stripped-down Linux kernel on it.

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Zephyr is similar to Linux inasmuch as a small RTOS can be. Runs on ESP32 pretty well and it's even a Linux foundation project.

To be fair, “as much as a small RTOS can be” means “not at all similar” from a perspective of someone who wants a Linux handheld with a keyboard.

640KB memory might be enough for everybody, but not for what most take for granted on Linux.

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