After three years of development, the Flipper Zero team has announced the release of the first major firmware version for the portable, customizable hacking device.
Flipper Zero is a programmable device for pentesters that has faced controversy after users posted videos online showcasing illegal activities. Because of this, the gadged has been banned or restricted in some countries Canada, Brazil, and on the Amazon e-commerce platform.
At a glance, the first stable major firmware release solidifies support for 89 radio, 4 infrared, and 20 RFID protocols. It adds faster Bluetooth and NFC communications, JavaScript support, dynamic third-party application loading, and a month of battery life in standby mode.
Source: Flipper Zero
It is important to underscore that while Flipper Zero’s previous firmware versions had introduced some of the features present in the latest revision, such as they were not fully stable and users experienced glitches.
The current release provide more stable operation and better performance.
Firmware 1.0 highlights
The Flipper Zero team highlights the following key features in the Firmware 1.0 release announcement:
- Dynamic app loading: Users can now install community-developed apps from an Apps Catalog, saving system memory by running apps from FAP (Flipper Application Package) files on the microSD card.
- NFC subsystem overhaul: The NFC system has been completely rewritten, improving card reading speed, adding support for new card types (e.g., ICODE® SLIX, FeliCa™ Lite-S), and enabling a plugin system for user card parsers.
- JavaScript support: Flipper Zero now supports JavaScript, making app development more accessible compared to C/C++.
- Sub-GHz improvements: Added support for 89 radio protocols, the ability to listen to analog walkie-talkies, and a new BinRAW file format for efficient signal storage and sharing.
- Infrared (IR) enhancements: New universal IR remotes for various devices and support for external IR hardware with more powerful LEDs.
Source: Flipper Zero
The general system improvements include an extended battery life in standby mode from one week to one month. The new Flipper Zero firmware also comes with double the transfer speed for Bluetooth connections (BLE) with Android devices.
Additionally, firmware updates over Bluetooth are delivered 40% faster because of better compression of the update packages.
Users of the popular penetration testing device are recommended to upgrade their firmware version to the latest release for more reliable afunctionality of the features offered.
The latest firmware is available for free via the official downloads portal on the Flipper Zero site, and its installation is possible either over Bluetooth from a mobile device or from the computer using a USB connection with the qFlipper app.
Regarding the next steps in Flipper Zero’s evolution beyond this major release, a member of the team has told BleepingComputer that their primary focus will shift to developing a new product.
However, Flipper Zero will continue to expand in capabilities and the developers will address and fix existing issues, as well as accept community-driven patches.