Millions of TikTok users, particularly women, are building their own miniature computers known as "cyberdecks," a do-it-yourself trend that has taken off on the platform. The devices are customizable micro-computers that run without an internet connection, letting owners store music, films, games and articles directly on the machine.
The term cyberdeck originated in William Gibson's 1984 cyberpunk science fiction novel Neuromancer. By 2026 it has come to describe a build-it-yourself personal computer that users design and assemble themselves, often without any online connectivity at all.
A video that reached 10 million views
The trend's visibility on TikTok owes much to Annike Tan, a DIY influencer who posts under the handle UbeBoobey and specializes in making cyberdecks. One of her videos on the subject has been viewed more than 10 million times, a sign of the enthusiasm the trend has generated.
Tan said the build starts with a board that functions as the computer itself. She chose the Raspberry Pi, a single-board micro-computer roughly the size of a credit card, with prices ranging from 45 to 160 euros depending on the model and the amount of RAM it carries. Once that "brain" is bought, builders can add a screen, a keyboard, a mouse and a portable battery.
A fully customizable build
Raspberry Pi has published its own guide to building a cyberdeck and actively encourages customization. Unlike a conventional computer, the components of a cyberdeck are not fixed in place and can be rearranged however the builder likes.
Much of the appeal lies in the casing, which is entirely customizable and portable enough to carry anywhere. Builders, especially women, have housed their cyberdecks in mini handbags, powder compacts styled after the cartoon Totally Spies!, seashells and vintage briefcases, competing with one another for inventiveness. The look varies widely from build to build, and creators often use recycled materials, fitting a DVD player, a Tamagotchi or speakers into the case depending on how they plan to use the device.
Disconnecting from the internet
The cyberdeck trend also resonates with Generation Z because it offers a way to disconnect. Since the devices run without an internet connection, they give a generation that grew up online a space away from social media.
Speaking to the outlet Dazed, Tan said that if everything were to break down one day, a person would lose access to all of their content stored elsewhere. On her own cyberdeck she has stored films, music, maps, TED talks, books, Wikipedia pages and games so they remain accessible even when she is offline.
She said building a mini-computer this way is a form of artistic expression that also lets creators keep control over their own media consumption.
