It looks like a toy!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

I've been asked a lot aboutFlipper Zero .

It started when it was first put up for crowdfunding in the summer of 2020. Since there are so many crowdfunded things out there that basically die on the vine, I overlooked it. But dreams turned into reality, and I kept getting asked with increasing frequency until late last year I took steps to acquire one.

Also: Flipper Zero FAQ: 'Can you really hack Wi-Fi networks?' and other questions answered

And, after some delays, shipping issues, and the holidays, I finally have it.

My very own Flipper Zero. 

Buy the Flipper Zero here

View now at Amazon

Flipper Zero tech specs

• ARM Cortex-M4 32-bit 64 MHz (application processor)
• ARM Cortex-M0+ 32 MHz (network processor)
• Flash: 1024 KB
• SRAM: 256 KB
• 1.4-inch 128 x 64 LCD monochrome display
• 5-button joystick with back button
• 2000 mAh rechargeable battery
• Sub-1 GHz frequencies: 315 MHz, 433 MHz, 868 MHz and 915 MHz (depending on regions)
• 13.56 MHz NFC
• 125 kHz RFID
• 18 GPIO connector
• Infrared (TX/RX range: 800-950 nm, TX power: 300 mW)
• iButton 1-Wire support (Dallas DS1990A/CYFRAL compatible)
• USB 2.0 port, type C

Flipper Zero

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

It looks like a kid's toy, all plastic and brightly colored (rememberTamagotchis , those digital pets that would die or turn evil if you neglected them?), but underneath the fun exterior and the dolphin virtual pet is a dual-core ARM processor that powers hardware that can be used to hack the planet.

Or so claims the cute virtual dolphin on the sticker that came with the Flipper Zero.

Hack the planet!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

OK, but what can the Flipper Zero do?

Quite a lot.

There's a built-in infrared transceiver that can both capture and transmit IR codes to control things like TVs.

Built-in infrared transceiver

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

There's a sub-GHz wireless antenna that can again capture and transmit wireless codes to operate wireless devices and access control systems, such as garage door remotes, boom barriers, IoT sensors and even remote keyless systems.  

It can read, store, and emulate EM-4100 and HID Prox RFID cards.

Reading NFC with the Flipper Zero

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

It can read, write, store, and emulate NFC tags.

On the front, there's a 1-Wire connector that can read and emulate iButton (aka DS1990A, CYFRAL, Touch Memory or Dallas key) contact keys.

1-Wire connector

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

Finally, on the top there are GPIO connectors that allow the flipper Zero to connect to other gadgets in the real world.

GPIO pins

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

Wi-Fi development bard connected to GPIO connector

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

Forstorage, there's a microSD card slot that will take a card that you must supply yourself.

That's a lot in such a small package.

Everything is controlled using the 5-way touchpad and a back button, and the 1.4-inch 128 x 64 display is ample to keep you informed.

Keeping everything running is a 2,000-mAh rechargeable battery that's good enough for a week or so before needing a recharge.

While I've tested some of the features -and everything seems to work great -it's going to take me some time and experimentation to see how useful these features are in the real world (while staying legal).

Lots of functionality in a small package

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/

For $169, the Flipper Zero is very interesting. While it's not going to be a substitute for high-end pentesting tools, it offers a lot of power in a very small and portable package. It's certainly not a toy, and it's one of the easiest, cheapest ways to work with RFIC and NFC.

Also: This$10 plastic film helps me detect counterfeit items

I'm going to do more Flipper Zero testing over the coming days, and I will post more thoughts on the value of it soon.

As for buying the Flipper Zero, well, it's hit-and-miss. Theofficial US site is often sold out (the store gets restocked often, so keep an eye out), and if you are in a hurry to get one you canfind them on third-party sites , but you will pay more for your Flipper Zero this way. 

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