Flipper launches a DIY cyberdeck called Flipper One to reclaim the personal PC

At a glance:

• Flipper, the maker of the controversial Flipper Zero, is building a small Linux-based PC called Flipper One with a Rockchip RK3576 processor, targeting a ~$350 price point via Kickstarter later this year.
• The device adds Wi-Fi 6E, Ethernet, 5G (via M.2 module, eSIM or physical SIM), a PCIe expansion slot, and a D-pad interface aimed at non-technical users who want plug-and-play profiles for travel routing, media streaming, or emergency use.
• Flipper CEO Pavel Zhovner says the goal is to make a more open, customizable PC in an era of cloud subscriptions and vendor-locked hardware — echoing the same DIY ethos that made the Flipper Zero both beloved and controversial.

A new chapter for the hacking-tool company

Flipper co-founder and CEO Pavel Zhovner has a straightforward diagnosis for why the modern PC feels less personal: manufacturers have locked down hardware and pushed cloud subscriptions, killing the curiosity-driven tinkering that defined home computing in the 1990s. His remedy is Flipper One — a palm-sized Linux computer that the company is billing as a "network multitool" but is, in effect, a full-on PC built to be as customizable as you need it to be.

The device is still in development and not yet available for purchase, but Zhovner walked Gizmodo through the specs in a video interview. The Flipper One runs on a Rockchip RK3576 processor, which he claims outperforms a Raspberry Pi 5 in multi-core CPU workloads, though it falls slightly behind in single-core tasks. The company is sharing its entire development process online and asking the community to contribute ideas for the user interface.

Physically, the Flipper One is roughly the size of a fist and a half in length, width, and girth — nearly twice the dimensions of a Flipper Zero. It carries a D-pad interface and several programmable buttons so users can navigate without needing a mouse or trackpad, addressing one of Zhovner's personal bugbears with existing DIY boards. The Flipper CEO said many cyberdecks running open-source Linux operating systems require a mouse or trackpad to click on teeny-tiny images on a phone-sized screen, which alienates casual users.

Connectivity and expandability on the spec sheet

At its base level, Flipper One is built for networking and IP-based communications. The device aims to support:

• Wi-Fi 6E
• Ethernet
• 5G connectivity via an M.2 module, eSIM, or physical SIM
• An extra PCIe expansion slot in the rear for custom components

If you need a screen for your router, want to reconnect a hotel Wi-Fi network for better speeds, or simply need a portable desktop environment, the Flipper One is positioned as an "ace in the hole." It can also double as a power bank for other devices in a pinch.

Zhovner envisions the device running its own Flipper OS with an app store, mirroring the software ecosystem that already exists on the Flipper Zero. The OS would support multiple user profiles — each tailored to a different use case such as a travel router, a home TV box, or an emergency desktop environment. The Flipper CEO noted that most Linux-based systems require a full reconfiguration to switch between roles, but he hopes the Flipper One will make that transition seamless.

Why Flipper is betting on openness

Flipper's history explains the philosophy behind Flipper One. The company's breakout product, the Flipper Zero, became a radio-frequency multi-tool that drew attention from municipalities and even the Canadian government because it was used in reported RFID skimming, Bluetooth spamming, and car-breaking attacks. At the same time, the device earned a loyal following among tinkerers — one user famously built an app to interfere with grocery-store surveillance pricing.

Zhovner drew a direct line between that dual-use reputation and the company's new direction. "Similar to how Flipper Zero's technology wasn't new by any standard, Flipper One won't be too far out of what people expect," he said. "It's simply trying to offer an even more open PC than what you can get on other mainline Linux devices with an interface that makes a little more sense to the folks who don't even know what a distro is."

The Flipper One is not just for seasoned makers. Zhovner described it as a device that straddles the line between an enthusiast project and a gadget for people who are merely curious about how computers work. That positioning matters in a market where cloud subscriptions and locked-down hardware are making the PC feel increasingly impersonal. "Back when I was a kid, you could just buy the PC and learn how computers work," Zhovner told Gizmodo. "Today, all the manufacturers create their own logic that is absolutely vendor locked."

Price, timeline, and the Kickstarter plan

The Flipper One is not yet available for sale. Zhovner said the company hopes to launch a Kickstarter campaign later this year. Pricing is still tentative — Zhovner cited a target of around $350, though he acknowledged that RAM price spikes across the industry could shift that figure. The final price will also depend on how many backers fund the project.

Before Flipper One, the company's most recent release was the BUSY Bar, a device Zhovner described as a big "f*** off button" — a tongue-in-cheek product that nonetheless signaled the company's appetite for quirky, hacker-culture hardware. With Flipper One, the company is clearly trying to broaden its appeal beyond the RF-hacking niche while keeping the open, community-driven ethos that defines its brand.

What to watch next

A few open questions will shape whether Flipper One finds its audience. First, the Kickstarter timeline and pricing will determine how the device competes with established single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi 5 and Odroid boards, many of which offer similar or lower price points. Second, the user-interface design — still in progress — will be critical for attracting non-technical buyers who Zhovner specifically wants to reach. Finally, regulators and law-enforcement agencies that already scrutinized the Flipper Zero may revisit the company if Flipper One inherits any of the same dual-use capabilities around networking and RF tools.

Flipper's development blog and community channels will be the best place to track progress, but the company's gamble is clear: in an era of locked-down appliances, pitch the Flipper One as the PC that remembers what it meant to tinker.