The Creoqode Lyra+ is a handheld gaming PC with a 7 inch QLED IPS touchscreen display, stereo speakers, dual rumble motors, built-in game controllers, a 6,000 mAh battery, and support retro games through emulation or modern gaming via game streaming.

Unlike many of the handheld gaming PCs we’ve seen over the past year or two though, the Lyra+ does not have an x86 processor and it doesn’t run Windows or Valve’s Linux-based Steam OS. Instead it’s powered by a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4.

Update: Creoqode cancelled the Lyra+ on August 11, 2022 citing the increased cost of materials. The Lyra+ crowdfunding campaign has been scrapped and the company currently has no plans to bring the device to market. 

That means that the heart of the system is a removable module with a Broadcom BCM2711 1.5 GHz ARM Cortex-A72 CPU, VideoCore graphics, 4GB of LPDDR4-3200 memory, and support for WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Creoqode ships the Lyra+ with 32GB of storage, but that’s user upgradeable since the module uses a microSD card for storage.

While a Raspberry Pi CM4 isn’t going to deliver the same level of performance as, say, the AMD Aeirith chip featured in Valve’s Steam Deck, it should be good enough for emulating classic game consoles like the Nintendo 64, PlayStation 1 or PlayStation Portable, or Sega Dreamcast. And Creoqode is positioning the Lyra+ as a game streaming solution: you can use it as a wireless controller and display for an Xbox, PlayStation, or PC with remote play/in-home streaming support. There’s also support for game streaming services like Google Stadia or Xbox Cloud Gaming.

You can also use the Lyra+ as a general-purpose computer for web surfing, media consumption, or keeping up on your email or social media by using the built-in touchscreen or connecting USB or Bluetooth accessories like mice and keyboards. There’s also an HDMI port that lets you connect an external display either for PC usage or for mirroring your games on a larger display.

In case the + didn’t give it away, this is actually the second member of the Lyra family. The first model was introduced in 2019 and began shipping to backers of a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign in early 2020.

The new model has a larger display, twice the battery capacity, an updated design, and support for a Rasberry Pi CM4, which is significantly more powerful than the CM3 that powered the original Lyra.

But the price has also gone up substantially. While the first-gen Lyra sold for £149 ($180) and up during crowdfunding, the Lyra+ will cost twice as much. It will be available for pre-order through a new Kickstarter campaign soon for £299 ($380), which is 35% off the suggested retail price of £459 ($560).

Like the original, the new Lyra+ will be available in two versions: a DIY kit that takes about 15 minutes to assemble from parts, or an RTG (Ready to Go) model that comes fully assembled, but which costs a little more.

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15 replies on “Creoqode Lyra+ is a handheld gaming PC with a Raspberry Pi CM4 inside”

  1. Seems that they have screwed over their previous Kickstarter backer…

    That would be the one reason to not but anything from them. Not to mention, steam deck just absolutely nuked it in price and value.

  2. “You can also use the Lyra+ as a general-purpose computer for web surfing, media consumption, or keeping up on your email or social media by using the built-in touchscreen or connecting USB or Bluetooth accessories like mice and keyboards.”

    In this use case, wouldn’t you want a handheld PC that could run Windows? Or are the Windows handhelds somehow unable to do this? I don’t understand how this handheld is closer to a general purpose computer than others.

    1. I never meant to imply that this makes it different from other handheld gaming PCs, just that it is a PC and not just a game console, like some other models already on the market. While it won’t run Windows, it supports the Raspberry Pi OS, which is a Linux distribution that can be used for desktop computing.

      1. Thanks for explaining that. Such an interesting segment. It would be nice to know if any of the handhelds allow the Dpad/joystick and buttons to be mapped to function as a mouse for non-gaming apps.

  3. This looks like a brilliant product…. if it was like $150. At this price point they’ll sell like 4 of them in total.

  4. Shouldn’t this have built-in 4G/5G if they’re positioning this for playing “AAA games on the move” via streaming? Even then, it’s way too expensive. Better to just attach a controller to your smartphone that most people already have which also has cellular data for that streaming on the move use case.

    Also, yeah, the ABXY button order is wrong for the platforms they’re targeting.

  5. At that price it’s dead on arrival, never mind the Steam Deck, even the incoming alternatives from AYA and AYN running low end Alder Lake parts can beat it handsomely, why should anyone spend more money for a device that delivers less performance?

    1. This was my first thought as soon as I saw the price. I would be the first person in line to grab one of these, but I couldn’t see myself paying more than $199 if I felt like donating to their cause, but seriously…even at that price, you’re getting ripped off. Don’t think so? Just compare it to the Loki Zero that is on pre-order right now as well. There is no comparison. It runs Windows, Linux and Steam OS. Which is the better deal?

      For me and If I’m being forthright…anyone paying over $149 for this is throwing money away. I love the item and the concept…can’t do anything with that price.

      It is simply…ridiculous.

      Best Regards,
      Steven B.(Liquid Cool)

  6. Lmao these people are insane. One of the worst-priced products I have ever seen and for what? A streaming device that is only capable of running ARM Linux apps natively? Pffft okay. I can’t wait to run LibreOffice and Tux Cart on a 560 dollar handheld.

    1. This will be able to run Batocera! Thousands of games in a beautiful interface.

      1. I mean, fair, but a cheaper handheld would do the same. I know this has a 7 inch QLED display, so that’s cool, but still, this seems nuts.

  7. This is really expensive for something that won’t outperform the Ayn Odin.

    There are gaming handhelds out there with this level of performance for under $100. Look at the RG351P.

    There’s also some options that can handle PS1 and Dreamcast properly for under $60.

    Also, most of their use cases they’ve listed are complicated by the fact that they are using a Nintendo-style ABXY layout. That doesn’t sound ideal for game streaming, or using it as a wireless controller for Xbox.

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