10-27-2021, 08:44 AM
I doubt that the PinePhone will see less development as a result of the PinePhone Pro being around - except for maybe less work on the kernel, as it seems to be largely the same people working on the kernel for PinePhone and PinePhone Pro. Other than that, most software (all software that's not requiring specific hardware features the PinePhone Pro has) developed for the PinePhone Pro is going to work on the PinePhone, just a little slower.
With regards to upgrading: The main problem here is heat dissipation - the PinePhone Pro is thicker for a reason. This situation might be entirely different for the PinePhone 2 (currently the likeliest SoC for that is the RK3566, which is said to run quite cool). Still, it if you want better cameras, fitting those might also kill the dream of "I'll only upgrade the motherboard".
Making full upgradability possible mid-long term would likely require a different base design, that is more modular and flexible (e.g. like Fairphone do it, although they've also changed their device design four times already). But: Designing such a case, creating the molds etc. is extremely costly and thus unlikely to happen.
With regards to upgrading: The main problem here is heat dissipation - the PinePhone Pro is thicker for a reason. This situation might be entirely different for the PinePhone 2 (currently the likeliest SoC for that is the RK3566, which is said to run quite cool). Still, it if you want better cameras, fitting those might also kill the dream of "I'll only upgrade the motherboard".
Making full upgradability possible mid-long term would likely require a different base design, that is more modular and flexible (e.g. like Fairphone do it, although they've also changed their device design four times already). But: Designing such a case, creating the molds etc. is extremely costly and thus unlikely to happen.