Handheld gaming PCs are the craze in the mobile gaming market in recent years. But they are technically PCs, and not consoles. The one system that could be considered a portable console is the Nintendo Switch(and 2). Alternatively, some gadgets do provide handheld gaming in the form of cloud streaming.
But what if everything available right now doesn’t quite tick the box? That’s where Reddit user u/wewillmakeitnow decides to take matters into his own hands and modded an entire PS4 Slim into a handheld-able machine.
Based on Techbang‘s report, in order to do this, the creator opened up the console, removed unnecessary components, and cut away “optional” PCB parts (Although he had to reconnect some of the critical traces in order to make the system usable). All of these electronic surgeries shrank the system enough to fit inside a handheld-sized shell, while still keeping the console fully functional.
On the front, there’s a bright 7-inch 1080p OLED display that makes everything pop, while power comes from six 21700 batteries with a combined capacity of around 130Wh. In real-world testing, lighter games can run for about 3 hours, while pushing full-on AAA titles draws roughly 88W and delivers around 1.3 to 1.5 hours of playtime, which is honestly impressive for a custom-built mod like this.
The APUs are already kinda hard to tame even with the stock cooler the PS4 was given, so here’s a custom-made airflow design with dedicated ducts and heatsinks, paired with active thermal control to keep the chip stable under load. For monitoring, there’s even an ESP32 microcontroller hidden inside the chassis, constantly monitoring temperature, power draw, and charging status. If anything goes wrong, like overheating or abnormal voltage, the system automatically cuts power to protect itself.
What if there’s a need to plug it into a big TV for some couch gaming? Fear not – the HDMI out is there to transform it back to a home console-style setup, along with three USB-C ports handling system configuration, charging, and accessories like controllers or external storage. Sadly for anyone already reaching for their wallet, the creator has made it clear this is purely a personal passion project, with no plans for mass production or commercial release.
