A resourceful hobbyist has simply built himself a handheld device based on the PlayStation 4.
Sony has recently been working successfully on making the PS Portal streaming handheld more useful. However, it has been almost 14 years since the release of a truly standalone device. That’s why a modder has now simply built his own PS4 handheld.
The PS4 handheld that Sony never developed
While Sony got off to a really strong start in the handheld business, which was dominated primarily by Nintendo, with the PSP released in 2005, the PS Vita was never able to build on this success from 2012 onwards. In the PS4 era, there was ultimately no Sony handheld at all.
In 2023, the Japanese manufacturer brought another mobile device to market with PlayStation Portal. However, this is entirely focused on streaming – and virtually useless without an internet connection. Rumor has it that the PS6 will actually see the return of a “real” handheld console.
But even if the rumors turn out to be true, it could still be years before it is released. So while most fans are simply waiting to see what happens, a Reddit user with the apt alias “wewillmakeitnow” has simply taken matters into his own hands.
In a recent post, the modder presents his homemade “PS4 handheld,” which is actually quite impressive. The hobbyist studied the PS4 Slim’s motherboard and then cut it down to size so that it takes up less space but remains fully functional.
He then combined it with his own cooling system, an ESP32 microcontroller, a 7-inch OLED display with 1080p resolution, a powerful battery, and a 3D-printed case. You can see the result here:
🎮 [Final Build] Fully functional & stable Portable PS4 Slim 🔥
by
u/wewillmakeitnow in
Handhelds
The modder has also equipped his handheld with an HDMI port so that it can be connected to a TV or monitor. Depending on the game, the battery lasts for up to three hours of playtime.
Unfortunately, “wewillmakeitnow” has to disappoint those who would now like to have a PS4 handheld of their own: for him, building it was just a small personal challenge, and the handheld will not be mass-produced.
