We see loads of cyberdecks round right here and the overwhelming majority of them use single-board computer systems, like these from Raspberry Pi. That may be a wise strategy, as they’re compact, highly effective, and versatile. However when you concentrate on it, smartphones are much more compact, typically extra highly effective, and might be extra versatile in some ways. And since older used smartphones are typically very inexpensive, they are often fairly enticing for DIY initiatives. S.gordienko proved that by turning an outdated Pixel smartphone right into a skeletonized cyberdeck.
Pixel is Google’s first-party line of smartphones. The present mannequin is the Pixel 9 and the unique Pixel got here out virtually a decade in the past, in 2016. The mannequin S.gordienko used is a Google Pixel 3 XL and it hit the market in 2018. It has a Snapdragon 845 chipset with an octa-core processor, an extra GPU, 4GB of RAM, and a high-resolution 6.3” show. And, in fact, it has the plethora of sensors and cameras which have grow to be the norm for smartphones.
In brief, this outdated smartphone presents an amazing quantity of {hardware}—particularly for a tool that may be discovered used for lower than $100. All of that’s in a smooth package deal with virtually all the things you may want for duties like pentesting and community evaluation. The massive shortcoming is the dearth of a bodily keyboard and that’s what S.gordienko’s venture provides.
S.gordienko’s NetHunter C-deck has a 3D-printed shell to carry the Pixel 3 XL and a mini Bluetooth keyboard. That may be a hinged, folding clamshell palmtop design that’s nonetheless fairly compact when stowed, however which is simply large enough to make use of like a small laptop computer when working.
The 3D-printed body seems to be actually cool, with a skeletonized design and bumpers on the corners. And that design is practical, too. It lets S.gordienko connect OTG equipment, like SDR (Software program-Outlined Radio) modules, onto the body. There are even slots for Velcro cable straps to maintain these equipment safe.
Whereas this may increasingly not have the entire DIY {hardware} we are likely to see in cyberdecks, it’s sensible and exhibits that outdated smartphones might be very helpful rather than single-board computer systems. S.gordienko has it operating Kali NetHunter, which has legitimately highly effective instruments to rival what you’d get on a desktop OS.
