Open-hardware manufacturer Pine64 has released the Pine Voice, a $50 smart speaker built around a Bouffalo Lab BL606P RISC-V SoC with integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and Zigbee connectivity. The device features dual microphones, speaker output, and top-mounted controls for mute, playback, and volume adjustment, targeting developers working with Home Assistant setups.

The Pine Voice ships with firmware based on Alibaba's open-source Yo C platform, running the Wyoming Satellite protocol to function as a local microphone and speaker for self-hosted Home Assistant installations. However, the Wyoming protocol is deprecated, with developers recommending Linux Voice Assistant using ESPHome protocol instead. The hardware includes 32MiB embedded pSRAM, 16MiB flash, and 128KiB ROM storage.

This represents early-stage hardware requiring user patience and technical know-how. Pine64's approach prioritizes affordability and openness over polished consumer experiences, following their established model with Pine Phone, Pine Book, and other developer-focused devices. Users should expect quirks and performance limitations typical of Pine64's hardware-first philosophy.

Priced at $49.99, the Pine Voice competes with Amazon Echo Dot and discontinued Google Nest Mini on cost alone, but diverges significantly through local processing and open-source foundations. The package includes a USB cable, quick start guide, and 30-day warranty, positioning it as an experimental platform rather than a finished consumer product for DIY enthusiasts.