The M5Stack Cardputer: A Genuine Flipper Killer for Under $30?

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Cardputer ADV
If you’ve been hanging around the ethical hacking community lately, you’ve definitely seen the Flipper Zero. It’s sleek, it’s famous, and it’s also nearly $200. But while the internet was obsessing over the plastic dolphin, M5Stack quietly dropped a device that arguably packs more punch for a fraction of the cost: the Cardputer.

Whether you’re looking at the classic Cardputer v1.1 or the beastly new Cardputer ADV, this isn't just a toy—it's a pocket-sized pentesting powerhouse.

What is the Cardputer?

At its core, the Cardputer is a card-sized micro controller platform powered by the ESP32-S3 chip. Unlike the Flipper, which uses a more restricted architecture, the Cardputer gives you a dual-core processor, full Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth (BLE) capabilities natively.

It features a full 56-key keyboard, a 1.14" LCD, a microSD slot, and a built-in speaker/mic. It’s essentially a tiny Linux-capable (or at least MicroPython-friendly) terminal that fits in your wallet.

Cardputer

Why It’s a "Flipper Killer"

The "Flipper Killer" label isn't just hype. In the world of ethical hacking, flexibility is king. Here is how the Cardputer stacks up:

  • Price Point: You can pick up a Cardputer for around $30. You could buy six of these for the price of one Flipper Zero.

  • The Power of ESP32-S3: The S3 chip is a favorite for development. It handles modern Wi-Fi attacks like deauths and evil portals much better than the Flipper’s optional (and expensive) Wi-Fi dev board.

  • Expansion & GPIO: The Cardputer is built for the "maker" mindset. With its GPIO pins and Grove ports, you can snap on sensors, GPS modules, or even LoRa hats for long-range communication.

  • The Keyboard: Typing commands or passwords on a Flipper is a nightmare of scrolling through a wheel. The Cardputer’s physical keyboard makes it a legitimate on-the-go hacking tool for terminal work and scripting.

Cardputer v1.1 vs. Cardputer ADV

If you’re shopping for one now, you’ll see two main versions.

The Cardputer v1.1 is the reliable workhorse most people start with. However, the Cardputer ADV (Advanced) is where things get serious. The ADV version adds an expansion bus that allows for "Caps"—modular add-ons like the LoRa + GPS cap. This turns the device into a dedicated wardriving machine, mapping out Wi-Fi networks across entire neighborhoods while you just walk around with it in your pocket.

Cardputer Specs

Advanced Pentesting Features

What can you actually do with it? Once you flash the right firmware (like Bruce, ESP32 Marauder, or the Evil-M5Project), the possibilities explode:

  1. Wardriving: Connect a GPS module and log every Wi-Fi network you pass.

  2. BadUSB / HID Attacks: Emulate a keyboard to inject payloads into a target machine.

  3. Signal Sniffing: With the right expansion, you can sniff sub-GHz signals, though the Flipper still holds a slight edge in "out-of-the-box" RF support.

  4. TV-B-Gone: Use the built-in IR emitter to take over screens in public spaces.

Verdict: Is it for you?

If you want a polished, "it just works" gadget, get a Flipper. But if you actually want to learn ethical hacking and development, the Cardputer is superior. It forces you to understand the code, the GPIO interactions, and the hardware limits.

It’s affordable, it’s incredibly powerful, and it’s arguably the most fun you can have with an ESP32-S3 today.

Resources & Sources

Official Hardware Documentation

Hacking & Pentesting Firmware

Tools & Utilities

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