Affordable photoacoustic imaging is entering a transformative phase driven by convergence across photonics, electronics, and computation. Future systems are expected to combine compact light sources, low-power detection modules, and artificial intelligence–enabled processing into portable, cost-effective imaging tools. Emerging LED and laser-diode arrays, flexible acoustic detectors, and integrated driver–DAQ architectures are enabling real-time photoacoustic imaging/ultrasound fusion at the point of care. Simultaneously, advances in edge artificial intelligence and federated learning promise automated image enhancement, quantitative feature extraction, and adaptive acquisition even in resource-limited settings. Novel strategies such as the use of clinically approved exogenous dyes under low-fluence operation further expand imaging depth and safety, complementing the intrinsic functional contrast of photoacoustic imaging. The chapter explores these intersecting trends from hardware miniaturization and intelligent reconstruction to wireless hybrid and wearable designs, culminating in a forward-looking outlook on how affordable photoacoustic imaging could evolve into a ubiquitous diagnostic modality for global health over the next decade.