# Buy? or not? I have a question **URL:** \ **Category:** uConsole\ **Tags:** feedback, hardware\ **Created:** [November 4, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/buy-or-not-i-have-a-question/20333 "2025-11-04T01:26:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ldj050101](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/ldj050101/32/14558_2.png) [@ldj050101](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/ldj050101)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/buy-or-not-i-have-a-question/20333/1 "2025-11-04T01:26:56Z")
Hello, I’m thinking about buying uconsole. The environment will be used in the ubuntu xfce environment, how long is the runtime when the 18650 battery is fully charged? And I want to change the mini hdmi to full sized hdmi, is there a way to modify it without changing the design? I’m also curious about my experience using arch Linux! ---
**Author:** ![MarkoeZ](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/markoez/32/12584_2.png) [@MarkoeZ](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/MarkoeZ)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/buy-or-not-i-have-a-question/20333/2 "2025-11-04T02:51:05Z")
Hi! How long the batteries lasts depends on many variables. Which PI version are you using, which batteries, potential hardware mods or plug ins, and most importantly what software you will be running. And I dont think there is a mod for a full sized HDMI port yet, but i ended up just buying a 3 meter micro HDMI to full size HDMI cable. I first had a converter plug, but it was a bit too thick to be used beside the USB charging port. ---
**Author:** ![ldj050101](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/ldj050101/32/14558_2.png) [@ldj050101](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/ldj050101)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 5:34am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/buy-or-not-i-have-a-question/20333/3 "2025-11-04T05:34:20Z")
I think I’ll have to buy a cable The evaluation of the battery seems unfortunate, but I’m worried that the lightweight advantage of the product will be offset in owning the power bank Thank you for your good response. ---
**Author:** ![Toml\_12953](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/toml_12953/32/11925_2.png) [@Toml\_12953](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Toml_12953)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 6:09am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/buy-or-not-i-have-a-question/20333/4 "2025-11-04T06:09:09Z")
With a CM5 Lite (no on-board cache) I get a about 4 hours of continuous use The cache would knock time off that. ---
**Author:** ![white-round-square](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/white-round-square/32/10385_2.png) [@white-round-square](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/white-round-square)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/buy-or-not-i-have-a-question/20333/5 "2025-11-04T12:32:17Z")
> [@ldj050101](#): > > how long is the runtime when the 18650 battery is fully charged? 4-6h on cm4, you can have more if downclock. also there is an option to use lithium battery instead of 18650, but you have to source a special board for it. > [@ldj050101](#): > > lightweight advantage I wouldn’t call this aluminium block ‘lightweight’ 😃 > [@ldj050101](#): > > I’m also curious about my experience using arch Linux! > [@Arch Linux ARM for uConsole w/ RPi CM5](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/arch-linux-arm-for-uconsole-w-rpi-cm5/16382): > > It seems that there has been a few attempts to run Arch Linux ARM on a uConsole with RPi, but mostly back in CM3/CM4 days and haven’t been updated in a while. I got a CM5 with my uConsole, and rather than a Debian image, I really wanted an Arch Linux ARM machine. It was actually surprisingly easy – thanks to everyone, especially @Rex’s work, pretty much all I had to do was to package Rex’s kernel tree for Arch Linux ARM. I also ran into a known bug with wpa\_supplicant that broke Wi-Fi connectiv… ---
**Author:** ![mterencelao](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/mterencelao/32/9066_2.png) [@mterencelao](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/mterencelao)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 4:31pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/buy-or-not-i-have-a-question/20333/6 "2025-11-04T16:31:16Z")
Just a slight “correction”, in case you’re keen on a more bleeding edge kernel. @OuinOuin74 has provided a more recent kernel as provided on this topic: [Custom kernel 6.16.y for Arch Linux ARM](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/custom-kernel-6-16-y-for-arch-linux-arm/19340) As of time of this entry, the latest kernel provided is 6.17.6 ---
**Author:** ![white-round-square](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/white-round-square/32/10385_2.png) [@white-round-square](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/white-round-square)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2025, 4:32pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/buy-or-not-i-have-a-question/20333/7 "2025-11-04T16:32:43Z")
> [@mterencelao](#): > > As of time of this entry, the latest kernel provided is 6.17.6 he is just going to buy an unit, he has like 6 months ahead 😃