A pocket station that turns your phone into a hacking device

Meet DevPocket, an innovative hardware developer device that attaches to your smartphone using the MagSafe magnet. This compact solution lets you program and debug directly in the field without the need for a laptop or complicated software. Using USB-C connectivity and apps like Micro REPL, coding becomes mobile.

Photo: Egorov

Most development boards are small enough to fit in your pocket, but without a laptop with the right tools installed, they’re practically useless for serious field work. The DevPocket solves this problem as a compact, battery-powered hacking or testing device that magnetically attaches to the back of a phone. When connected via USB-C, developers can immediately start writing code and running scripts in MicroPython directly from their mobile phone.

At the heart of the DevPocket is an ESP32-WROOM-32UE microcontroller, which provides connectivity via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks. A USB-to-UART CP2102 bridge is used to communicate with mobile devices. The device is powered by a built-in 900 mAh LiPo battery, which is charged via a USB-C connector, and the built-in power regulation ensures stable 5 V and 3.3 V rails. Addressable RGB LEDs and configurable tactile buttons are available for instant user interaction, eliminating the need for external components for basic projects.

What sets DevPocket apart from conventional boards is its use of a full-size mPCIe slot as a universal expansion interface. Instead of being limited to predefined modules, this slot exposes UART, SPI, I2C, GPIO protocols, and optional power buses. This allows for fully customized hardware add-ons, turning the device into a modular ecosystem for sensors, displays, or communication modules. One of the first modules is an environmental monitoring board that integrates BMP280, AHT20, and ENS160 sensors on an I2C bus to measure pressure, temperature, humidity, and air quality (eCO₂ and TVOC).

Developers can browse saved scripts, run them, or put the device into deep sleep mode to save power using a simple launcher and two buttons on the device. As an open source project, DevPocket encourages further experimentation and customization.