The Flipper One looks like a serious hacking tool, and I can't wait to try it - here's why

## Summary
Close Home Tech Security The Flipper One looks like a serious hacking tool, and I can't wait to try it - here's why The Flipper Zero's successor is expected to be a pocket-sized Linux PC with a more powerful, modular design. Also: My 6 favorite Bluetooth gadgets that make life easier (and are worth every penny) By using its cutesy pixel-art dolphin interface, even complete newbies to hacking can immediately start reading, copying, and even emulating RFID, NFC, radio remotes, iButtons, and digital keycards. The built-in support for RFID, NFC, and sub-GHz made the Flipper Zero a convenient choice (but it did lack built-in Wi-Fi support). Also: 3 tiny gadgets I trust to block electrical surges, data-stealing software, and more That's because no matter how much I like the idea of a more powerful, more flexible, and customizable system, it's hard to beat the convenience of an all-in-one digital Swiss Army knife, and for that reason, I hope that the Flipper Zero continues to be offered alongside the Flipper One, as I think it will be a better choice for hobbyists, tinkerers, and those wanting an easy-to-use tool for getting started.

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The Flipper One looks like a serious hacking tool, and I can't wait to try it - here's why
The Flipper Zero's successor is expected to be a pocket-sized Linux PC with a more powerful, modular design.
Written by
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes,
Senior Contributing Editor
Senior Contributing Editor
March 23, 2026 at 5:53 a.m. PT
Render of the Flipper One case, as shared by Pavel Zhovner, the founder of Flipper Devices.
Flipper One / ZDNET
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ZDNET's key takeaways
The Flipper Zero is a versatile, beginner-friendly hacking tool.
The Flipper One adds power and Linux for more advanced use.
Wi-Fi is built in, but NFC, RFID, and sub-GHz are removed.
Without doubt, my favorite gadget from the past few years has been the
Flipper Zero
-- a pocket-sized Swiss Army knife that grants its owner access to a digital world otherwise off-limits.
Also:
My 6 favorite Bluetooth gadgets that make life easier (and are worth every penny)
By using its cutesy pixel-art dolphin interface, even complete newbies to hacking can immediately start reading, copying, and even emulating RFID, NFC, radio remotes, iButtons, and digital keycards. It even includes its own GPIO interface for direct, wired access to devices, and an IR emitter to interface with devices that use remote controls.
With some extra modules, you can even start exploring things like Wi-Fi hacking.
Image of the Flipper One, posted by the founder of the company.
Pavel Zhovner
I love the Zero -- not just as a serious tool that I keep in my toolbox, but also as a great educational gadget, offering youngsters (and even older enthusiasts) a fantastic starting point for subjects like cybersecurity and wireless technologies.
While some of the buzz around this tool was undoubtedly fueled by social media videos that exaggerated what it could do -- no, it couldn't change prices at gas pumps or unlock modern vehicles -- for $199 (plus an additional $35 for a Wi-Fi dev board for those looking to expand its capabilities, but it never got close to what a dedicated security tool like the Wi-Fi Pineapple could do), it was an incredible tool for the right job.
Also:
Flipper Zero: 'Can you really hack Wi-Fi networks?' and other questions answered
While I could -- and have -- put together systems that can do what the Zero can do using things like
Raspberry Pi
and
mini PCs
(and these would be more powerful), none approaches the neatness or ease of use of the Zero. My attempts at "Franken-Zeros" were bigger, bulkier, or cluttered with an
array of additional bits
and bobs hanging off them
.
Which is why I've been closely following the development of the Flipper Zero's successor -- the Flipper One. So far, it seems like this new iteration will take the project in a much more serious direction.
Render of the Flipper One case.
Fit-Note7659/Reddit
Hardware and software upgrades
One of the biggest differences between the One and the Zero is that, while the Zero ran on custom open-source firmware and scripts (which spawned a thriving community of
third-party firmware platforms
and
scripts
), the One will run the Linux Debian operating system with proper software capabilities. There was talk in the beginning that the One would use
Kali Linux
, a Debian-based Linux distro aimed at security professionals, but rumors suggest this plan has now been dropped in favor of

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
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### Implications
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- If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers flipper, zero, zdnet topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1675.