Flipper One unveiled as Linux-powered networking gadget with local AI for hackers and tinkerers

Flipper Devices Announces Ambitious Linux-Powered Multi-Tool Computer

• Flipper Devices, the company behind the wildly successful Flipper Zero, which generated over $150 million in sales from over a million units sold, has unveiled the Flipper One.
• This new device is a Linux-powered networking gadget designed to operate at a fundamentally different level than its predecessor.
• This pocket-sized Linux PC targets IP-connected hardware, unlike the Flipper Zero's focus on offline point-to-point access-control protocols.
• Flipper Devices has released the entire development process to community participation via a public Developer Portal, with no price or release date yet.

Source: TechCrunch

Powerful Hardware for On-Device AI Workloads and IP Networking

• The Flipper One features a Rockchip RK3576 processor—an eight-core chip running up to 2.2 GHz, with a Mali-G52 GPU and an NPU capable of 6 TOPS for local AI models.
• It comes with 8GB of RAM, enabling software-defined radio (SDR) and local AI tasks without cloud connectivity.
• This Linux cyberdeck approach allows users to run LLMs locally, including a Flipper One-specific model for generating configurations and obtaining offline tips.
• A secondary dual-core Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontroller handles basic device functions like the display, buttons, touchpad, LEDs, and power subsystem.

Source: XDA-Developers

Advanced Network Connectivity and Modular Expansion Options

• The Flipper One features dual Gigabit Ethernet ports at 1 Gbps, USB Ethernet support up to 5 Gbps, and Wi-Fi 6E support across 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands.
• Wi-Fi functionality is handled by the MediaTek MT7921AUN chipset, known for advanced features like monitor mode and packet injection capabilities.
• An M.2 port allows for expandability, accepting cellular or satellite modems for 5G connectivity, SDR modules, AI accelerators, SSDs, and Wi-Fi cards via adapters.
• With these features, users can configure the Flipper One as a router, VPN gateway, or network bridge.
• The device also includes an HDMI 2.1 port supporting 4K streaming at 120Hz, allowing for a full Linux desktop experience with external peripherals.

Open-Source Development and Community-Driven Innovation

• Flipper Devices has partnered with Collabora to push the Rockchip RK3576 chip's support into the mainline Linux Kernel, ensuring an open and modifiable platform.
• The Flipper One will be fully open, with mainline Linux kernel support, no binary blobs, closed drivers, or proprietary firmware, and no vendor-locked board support package.
• All internal discussions, task trackers, debates, and development processes are being published through the Flipper One Developer Portal.
• This "built in public" approach invites community developers to contribute from the outset, following the success of the Flipper Zero's community engagement.

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Flipper OS and FlipCTL: Solving Raspberry Pi's Biggest Limitations

• The development team is creating Flipper OS, a custom Linux-based operating system to address the constant need to re-flash microSD cards on Raspberry Pi devices.
• Flipper OS will run as a layer on top of Debian-based Linux, allowing users to access profiles with different pre-configured packages and settings.
• Users will be able to boot, clone, or delete profiles at will, eliminating the need for multiple SD cards or clean factory resets.
• FlipCTL is another concept in development, designed to enable menu-based interfaces for the Flipper One's 1.4-inch LCD screen with 256x144 resolution, controlled by a D-pad and touchpad.
• The goal for FlipCTL is to create a platform usable for cyberdeck builds based on Raspberry Pi or any portable tactical Linux box, though the architecture is still being refined.

Development Challenges and Uncertain Timeline

• Flipper Devices has been transparent about the project's uncertainties, including missing software components for mainline kernel support for the NPU and hardware video decoding.
• The team still needs to train the offline LLMs, and both Flipper OS and FlipCTL remain conceptual.
• CEO Pavel Zhovner acknowledged the "uncertainty in this project, along with technical challenges and financial risks."
• The base configuration without cellular modules is estimated to cost less than $350, though this is subject to change.
• There is no confirmed release date, and the Flipper One's success will rely heavily on community development and overcoming technical hurdles.