Flipper Zero 1.0 Firmware Update Dramatically Enhances Mobile Hacking Capabilities

One of our favorite hacker gadgets, the Flipper Zero, received its first major firmware update today. It includes many of the features that developers have been working on for the past three years, including a major battery life boost that technically arrived with the previous update. While many of the features aren’t technically new, the overall package should make this gadget feel like a supercharged version of its former self.

One of the most significant updates since launch addresses one of the biggest pain points for developers: The device’s internal flash storage originally limited the number of features they could add. In the past, new features were built into the firmware itself, but eventually outpaced the storage. Last year, the device added an app store and instead let you launch new apps from a microSD card.

JavaScript is now supported, so coding your own apps can be easier. The NFC subsystem has been rewritten from the ground up, supporting more card types and reading cards faster. Bluetooth data transfer with Android devices is also faster, and firmware update speeds have increased by 40 percent, according to the developers.

The new firmware also includes more IR protocols, so if you already use the Flipper Zero as a universal remote, you can now use it with more TVs, air conditioners, audio systems, and projectors. If you need a longer transmission range, the Flipper Zero also supports external IR modules. Here’s an explainer video:

You can also use the Flipper Zero to listen to analog walkie-talkies, and the creators say its sub-GHz radio now supports a total of 89 different radio protocols. If the built-in antenna isn’t sensitive enough, you can now connect it to an external sub-GHz module for better reception.