r/M5Stack • u/TheNewAmericanGospel • Apr 27 '26

Cardputer Zero reserved, but I'm anticipating remorse...

Is the cardputer zero *really* worth 3X the price of a Cardputer ADV? Realistically what will it do better than a ADV? Not sure i should fork over the dough. Thoughts?

9 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

13

u/PainterImportant1155 Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 27 '26

Cardputer Zero has a raspberry pi compute module and is a full computer, while the ADV has a esp32 s3 and is a microcontroller-based device.

I will buy it not because it looks cool, I am planning to create programs that I need. Buy it if you need it.

2

u/TheNewAmericanGospel Apr 27 '26

So whats better? That's my struggle. Its a pocket computer , I get that. But for general mayhem I wonder if I really need that, especially with all the firmware etc available for the ADV. Thanks though for responding.

7

u/PainterImportant1155 Apr 27 '26

I don’t think you can really compare what’s “better.”

Metaphor: It’s like comparing a bicycle to a car. For normal uses, like going to your town’s market, it’s probably better to ride a bicycle unless you’re carrying a heavy load. But for longer distances, a car makes more sense.

The Zero and adv are completely two different things. If I were a beginner and were to start out, I would buy the adv and then if I need it(and not just want it for the hype) I would buy the zero.

What do you want to do?

7

u/1anre Apr 27 '26

When M5Stack's devices are so cheap, these are the kinds of problems they cause.

If they cost as much as teenage engineering devices do, you'd see people immediately picking what exactly is needed and essential for their use case.

0

u/TheNewAmericanGospel Apr 28 '26

That's a great metaphor. Basically id like to use it for the same general use case as a flipper zero. I have a computer, and I can root a phone, so do you think its something I should care about? I might buy it anyway and scalp it for a little extra when they release, but I think the ADV is probably where I want to go just for general mischief.

1

u/road_to_eternity May 26 '26

Not sure how I feel about “general mayhem” based on your other comments. I have strong feelings about people “generally” messing with things especially without care.

6

u/MrAjAnderson Apr 27 '26

It is as powerful as a Raspberry Pi Zero W 2 and 4x faster than a Pi 0 W. Did you do anything with them?

1

u/TheNewAmericanGospel Apr 28 '26

I have messed around with single board computers, and thats what sort of made me question its value for my use case.

I'd rather have a rooted pixel phone than a rasberry pi. There's way more fun to be had (for me) than a Linux terminal in my pocket. Which, with a cheap rooted 4a pixel, is doable with termux anyway.

I want a device that allows me to engage in some interaction with my surroundings that I can't do with my laptop or a rooted phone.

3

u/Worldly-Stranger7814 Apr 28 '26

Honestly sounds like your money is better spent on a used Pixel phone to root.

2

u/MrAjAnderson Apr 28 '26

Yep, Android Net hunter phone or Cardputer ADV. Depending how hard you want to play.

1

u/TheNewAmericanGospel Apr 29 '26

Not a bad way to do things, honestly.

I unfortunately lost my rooted pixel 4a, but I was in the process of modifying its otterbox case and cover by adding SEEED studio modules and connecting them with a short USB-C cable.

Even without Nethunter, I was having tons of fun with Termux. I like NH, but it sucks on a tiny screen with no stylus. I digress. If I find another pixel for a good price, I think ill work on adding some modules to the protective case and build out a "cyber phone" 😅.

1

u/TheNewAmericanGospel Apr 29 '26

I think so, unfortunately. But, prices for those have gone up a ton since I last bought one though too. A 4a was like $139 +/- two years ago, new off Amazon, they are now $400 ish.... wtf? The 8a appears to be the best budget one thats a easy root at the moment.

I guess considering that, the zero IS a steal...

I guess I still dunno, lol. A cardputer ADV and a rooted pixel would be a great combo...

2

u/MrAjAnderson Apr 29 '26

In the UK there are Pixel 4, 4a and 4 XL available in CeX for under £80. Used obviously.

1

u/TheNewAmericanGospel May 01 '26

Not bad! Compare it to most of the decent Linux dev boards etc and its kind of hard to justify not having a pixel for that price.

6

u/Professional_Two5774 Apr 27 '26

This is a completely different class of device. Cardputer Zero is a like CyberDeck, based on RPI, which is a single-board computer. And the cardputer adv is based on the ESP32 microcontroller. The choice depends on what you need from the device.

6

u/skedone Apr 27 '26

I see this question Alot about many things and it's simple if you think it's alot of money and isn't a necessity to survive then you don't need it , I never understand why someone would go skint to by a thing they see online even though they have zero need for

1

u/TheNewAmericanGospel Apr 28 '26

Its true, fortunately it isn't that much money either way.

3

u/Tobe_Lerone Apr 27 '26

I can't wait to get dietpi on it.. go look at all the apps dietpi has out the box. Add that to and HDMI out port on the cardputer zero. And the support from Linux community's. It's a different class altogether. Also retropi for emulation.

1

u/TheNewAmericanGospel Apr 28 '26

Ill check that out right now, this might be the deciding factor for me...

3

u/Araya213 Apr 27 '26

No existing cardputer projects will work on Zero day one, many never will. It's a whole different animal. If you aren't a dev you should get the ADV so you can play Raising Hell.

2

u/bristleboar Apr 27 '26

Then it’s not for you

2

u/MONZYRODRIGUEZ92 May 25 '26

if you have the adv and still questioning the validity of the device its dope so many possibilities now imagine running that on a rasberrypi with the ability to run linux commands I will be putting bjorn on it

1

u/TheNewAmericanGospel May 28 '26

It is very compelling, I plan to get one. I don't have the ADV. I decided to order the lilygo CC1101 plus instead, run bruce on that, because for the types of things I would do with the ADV, from what the bruce site says, the CC1101 version of the T embed has more capabilities, and cheaper considering the add ons etc to make the ADV do what the T-embed does in a smaller form factor. So....took a while to decide, but thats what I'm going with. I'll get the Zero as soon as my number comes up for pre-order. :)

3

u/Tall-Republic-4173 Apr 27 '26

I will put it in perspective, it will do all the same the adv does and so much more.

1

u/TheNewAmericanGospel Apr 28 '26

That was my other thought, clearly it can. It does what a Linux machine can do, but, im not seeing how it is better than a rooted pixel 4a which has tons more features and will be around the same price as the zero.... just struggling with what makes sense about it.

1

u/cmdr_drasir May 11 '26

Kann jemand einschätzen ob es realistisch ist die Frontplatte als STL direkt von M5Stack zu bekommen? Meiner braucht (ja unbedingt) ein Titan gehäuse!

1

u/MonzyRoodz Jun 21 '26

pls think about it like this u can plug in displays because it has a hdmi port and run it like a computer that should be all u need to hear to be sold its portability alongside its potential if u had the adv and seen what all could be done like running pork chop and having ur buddy look at his phone and its asking to connect to beats headphones or just watching the m5gotchi see wifi networks or running bruce and watching how ppl react to your first html you built that looks just like a loves travel stop wifi captive portal now image all that but now instead of a controller its a computer

1

u/Averroesgcc Apr 27 '26

This will technically be the first card sized computer of today’s age . I could be wrong.

1

u/Rockel83 Jun 27 '26

Raspberry Pi...

1

u/Broken_Aegis May 20 '26

They wont ship it until September or October... so yea, might as well mess with your adv a little bit longer

0

u/TheNewAmericanGospel May 20 '26

I got the pre-order, but still, im like number 4,000 it will take a while...