Turning an Old Pixel Smartphone Into a Skeletonized Cyberdeck

We see a lot of cyberdecks around here and the vast majority of them use single-board computers, like those from Raspberry Pi. That is a sensible approach, as they’re compact, powerful, and versatile. But when you think about it, smartphones are even more compact, often more powerful, and can be more versatile in many ways. And because older used smartphones tend to be very affordable, they can be quite attractive for DIY projects. S.gordienko proved that by turning an old Pixel smartphone into a skeletonized cyberdeck.

Pixel is Google’s first-party line of smartphones. The current model is the Pixel 9 and the original Pixel came out almost a decade ago, in 2016. The model 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 additional GPU, 4GB of RAM, and a high-resolution 6.3” display. And, of course, it has the plethora of sensors and cameras that have become the norm for smartphones.

In short, this old smartphone offers a tremendous amount of hardware—especially for a device that can be found used for less than $100. All of that is in a sleek package with almost everything you might need for tasks like pentesting and network analysis. The big shortcoming is the lack of a physical keyboard and that’s what S.gordienko’s project adds.

S.gordienko’s NetHunter C-deck has a 3D-printed shell to hold the Pixel 3 XL and a mini Bluetooth keyboard. That is a hinged, folding clamshell palmtop design that is still pretty compact when stowed, but which is just big enough to use like a small laptop when working.

The 3D-printed frame looks really cool, with a skeletonized design and bumpers on the corners. And that design is functional, too. It lets S.gordienko attach OTG accessories, like SDR (Software-Defined Radio) modules, onto the frame. There are even slots for Velcro cable straps to keep those accessories secure.

While this may not have all of the DIY hardware we tend to see in cyberdecks, it is practical and shows that old smartphones can be very useful in place of single-board computers. S.gordienko has it running Kali NetHunter, which has legitimately powerful tools to rival what you’d get on a desktop OS.