They don't make cyberdecks like they used to.
by Stevie Bonifield
Jun 4, 2026, 4:07 PM EDT
Stevie Bonifield is a news writer covering all things consumer tech. Stevie started out at Laptop Mag writing news and reviews on hardware, gaming, and AI.
DIYer and TikTok user Annike Tan, who goes by @ubeboobey, can carry her cyberdeck around without anyone noticing because it doesn’t look like a computer at all. Tan, who has been featured in The Cut and Wired, went viral earlier this year with a mermaid-themed cyberdeck she made inside an old purse. She has since upgraded it and built an MP3 player and a solar-powered cyberdeck.
Tan and countless other DIYers are attracting millions of views showing off the personal computers they’ve built inside purses, jewelry boxes, toys, and old tech, hiding Raspberry Pi boards inside art projects.
@ubeboobey Replying to @D493 I wear it as a bag! #technology #raspberrypi #fashion #handbag #mermaid ♬ Lover/Friend (Instrumental) - KAYTRANADA
Cyberdecks, but make it fashion
@ubeboobey hope you like it so far #electronics #technology #diy #4u #fyp ♬ Pink Pantheress Style 8-bit Pixel Pop, Video Game Type Beat, Y2k Vibes - BGM Studio
@cocoasaesthetic_ A cute little tech project I made as an engineering side quest 💕☕️ And yes this was HEAVILY inspired by the recent #cyberdeck trend going around. I’m still not 100% sure what a cyberdeck is or whether this counts as one lmao but I know the community would probably like this. 😋 Loveeee doing projects like these so feel free to ask questions and give me some ideas if you have any! 🌸💕 #tech #code #engineering #kawaii ♬ Sunny Spring Morn - DailyJoy
The colorful, quirky builds popping up across social media are a drastic shift away from the typical look the cyberdecks we’ve featured have had, which often consisted of a 3D-printed chassis or a rugged box like a Pelican case, usually with a cyberpunk-style design.
Inside, these homemade devices are essentially mini Linux computers for specific tasks, usually done offline, like reading, journaling, or listening to music. But now, a cyberdeck doesn’t have to look like a computer at all.
@krisydays never in my life did i think i’d be using a @Raspberry Pi , opening up command prompt, and writing code. but here's my first build. Feeling empowered for more builds! #cyberdeck #raspberrypi #cozytech #Tech ♬ Futuristic cyberpunk world(1423467) - Chau
@tomstantom4 #cyberdeck #raspberrypi #diytech #altoids #mechanicalkeyboard ♬ original sound - Tom Stanton
This new movement emphasizes using recycled or thrifted parts and leans more into the artistic side of making a cyberdeck. One TikTok user who goes by @diypagancrafts created a cyberdeck out of a retro TV-themed purse with the screen on the outside and the Raspberry Pi, keyboard, and a game controller stored inside. Almost anything with enough space for a single-board computer and a screen can be a cyberdeck — a Dunkin’ Donuts munchkin box, a Pokeball, an Altoids tin, a plastic box stuffed with fake moss and flowers.
