PineVoice smart speaker is now available for $50 (Home Assistant speaker with RISC-V processor and mic kill switch) - Liliputing

Pine64 has launched its smart speaker, PineVoice, priced at $50, offering an open and privacy-focused alternative to mainstream devices like Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple HomePod. Unlike proprie... Read original →

PineVoice’s $50 entry—powered by a dual-core RISC-V BL606P (C906 + E907)—signals a strategic pivot from cloud-centric to locally autonomous smart speakers. This accelerates RISC-V adoption in audio SoCs, pressuring ARM-based vendors to loosen firmware restrictions. Its hardware mic kill switch aligns with EU DSA and U.S. state privacy laws, reducing compliance overhead, though reliance on Wi-Fi 4 and lack of Thread support may hinder Matter 2.0 integration. In response, Amazon and Google could open limited local APIs to retain privacy-conscious users. Over the next 18 months, such devices will catalyze a new standard: auditable, offline-capable, self-hosted smart home ecosystems—particularly resonant in developer-heavy markets like Taiwan, China; Europe; and North America.