The rise of hybrid and portable consoles has made it clear that Many gamers still want desktop experiences in a portable format.The Switch, its successor, and offerings like Steam Deck or ROG Ally have filled that space, while Sony has been left halfway with PlayStation Portal, focused on game streaming and dependent on a PS5.
In parallel with the absence of a native laptop from the brand, an independent creator has gone in the opposite direction and has turned a PS4 Slim into a truly portable consolewith integrated screen and local game executionIt's not an official product or something you can buy, but it is a hardware experiment that shows how far you can go with patience, tools, and a bit of skill.
A personal project that turns the PS4 Slim into a portable console
The idea comes from a modder known as wewillmakeitnow, responsible for a complete redesign of the PS4 Slim to fit it into a portable chassisAfter months of testing, cutting and adjusting, he claims that the current machine is stable, secure and robust enough for everyday use, although at first glance the whole thing appears bulkier than a commercial laptop.
As the creator himself explains, the first step was to study in detail the PS4 Slim motherboard to identify which areas could be removed without compromising the electronics.The goal was not just to shrink for the sake of shrinking, but to reduce power consumption, improve thermal performance, and maintain the original console's performance intact.
This surgical work on the plaque is complemented by a custom-made case design, 3D printed with ABS plasticThe material is not chosen at random: it's designed to better withstand the heat generated by the PS4 hardware, allowing the device to be used without the structure warping. The result is approximate dimensions of 270 x 113 x 57 mm, quite compact considering what's inside.
It should be noted that There is no public guide, 3D printing files, or detailed bill of materials.The author insists that this is a personal engineering project, driven by curiosity and with no intention of commercializing or mass-producing it, which also limits his ability to support other users who might want to replicate it.
Alongside this English-language project, similar experiments have also been seen in the Spanish-speaking community, such as that of the content creator Victor Sanchez, who documented the construction of his own portable PS4 on videoIn his case, he showed the design decisions step by step and then analyzed the result, with its strengths and its obvious limitations.
Reduced hardware, new cooling, and intelligent control
Beyond simply "cutting down the motherboard," the heart of this portable PS4 Slim rests on a thorough optimization of the cooling system and internal airflowEnclosing a console designed for a living room in a portable body forces a rethink of heat sinks, fans and airflow to avoid overheating and performance drops.
The modder has integrated a dedicated heatsink and fan to keep the temperature under controlAlthough the fan appears quite exposed in the images, the system includes electronic protection: the blades stop immediately if they detect contact with an object, minimizing the risk of accidents when picking up the console.
To monitor all that behavior, it has been added an ESP32 microcontroller with custom firmware responsible for monitoring temperature, power consumption and battery status in real timeThis small secondary brain allows you to set safety thresholds, activate emergency shutdowns, and prevent the system from working outside reasonable limits.
These protections include automatic cutoff mechanisms in case of overheating, constant load monitoring and an energy monitor This helps make the whole experience more predictable for the user. For a device that packs so much power into such a small space, these elements are just as important as the gaming hardware itself.
The author himself acknowledges that, although He recorded several hours of video of the entire construction process.She hasn't yet had time to edit them for publication on platforms like YouTube. For now, the project is primarily known through photographs and written explanations shared in specialized communities.
7-inch OLED screen and output for external monitors
One of the most striking elements of the project is the screen. Instead of using a simple panel, the creator has opted for a 7-inch OLED screen with Full HD 1080p resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio, very much in line with what we see in current high-end portable devices.
This type of panel provides very high contrast, deep blacks and fast response timesThis is especially appreciated in games with many dark scenes or sudden movements. Considering that the PS4 Slim is designed for 1080p gaming, the combination works quite well in terms of sharpness and detail.
Furthermore, the system is not limited to portable use. The mod integrates an HDMI output that allows you to connect the console to an external displaywhether it's a monitor or a television. This way, it can be used like a conventional desktop PS4, but with the option of taking it with you when needed.
The chassis also includes several USB and USB-C ports, including a USB 3.0 port designed for connecting external hard drives and expand the available storage. Considering the size that some PS4 games can take up, this option becomes almost essential if you want to have a large library installed.
Alongside those connectors, a specific port has been reserved for play while the device is plugged into the power supply and another dedicated to programming the ESP32 itself, so that the creator can continue adjusting the system's behavior without having to open the casing each time.
130 Wh battery and up to 3 hours of autonomy
Diet is probably the area where it's most noticeable that We are dealing with a technical experiment, not a commercially produced product polished to the millimeter.To power a desktop console in portable format, the project uses a large, high-capacity battery.
Specifically, they are used Six high-capacity 21700 cells, approximately 6.000 mAh each, configured in 3S2PThe result is a battery with around 130 Wh, a figure higher than that of many conventional laptops and above the 100 Wh limit that airlines usually set for hand luggage, which would complicate traveling by plane with the device.
The creator details that the console's maximum power consumption is around The 88W at about 8A translates to around 1,5 hours of use in particularly demanding games.In lighter games, where the system operates at around 44W, battery life increases. up to 3 hours of continuous gameplay, a margin that, while not spectacular, is reasonable given what is happening internally.
The combination of the battery with the ESP32-based monitoring system allows constantly monitor the charge level and instantaneous consumptionThis helps avoid unpleasant surprises, such as the system running out of power in the middle of a game without warning.
In any case, the author himself does not hide that the Autonomy is one of the main limitations of the current conceptThe PS4 hardware was not designed with mobility efficiency in mind, and the fact that the entire system moves natively without streaming inevitably results in high energy costs.
A real laptop, but without commercial plans or official support
One of the major differences compared to proposals like PlayStation Portal is that This portable PS4 Slim runs games completely locally, without the need for an additional console or cloud connection.This means less dependence on the network and also an experience closer to what many gamers associate with a traditional handheld console.
However, the creator has been clear from the beginning: He is not interested in selling the device or starting mass productionHe describes it as a personal engineering challenge, something done out of pure passion for hardware. Even so, some users in the comments are willing to offer money and even, jokingly, "the souls of their enemies," just to get their hands on one.
These types of home projects are somewhere between Nostalgia for classic Sony handhelds like the PSP and PS Vita, and the current market reality, dominated by PC-based hybrids and handheldsWhile companies like Valve or ASUS are exploring this territory with commercial products, the modding scene demonstrates that it is also possible to reuse hardware from previous consoles to bring it to a new format.
In Europe and Spain, where The portable console and handheld device community has grown considerably in recent yearsThese kinds of personal creations often generate considerable interest, though more as a matter of curiosity than as a genuine purchase option. After all, replicating such a work requires time, expertise, and access to tools that aren't readily available to everyone.
While rumors continue to circulate about a possible PlayStation 6 with a portable variant or about Sony's future moves in this areaFor now, these projects are what demonstrate the limits of current hardware. They don't replace an official catalog, but they remind us that the idea of ​​a fully portable PlayStation is still alive, at least in the hands of the community.
This whole experiment with the PS4 Slim portable with 7-inch OLED screen It leaves a clear impression: technically it is feasible to bring a previous home console to a truly portable format, with native gaming, good image quality and wide connectivity, but doing so comfortably, safely, with good battery life and on a large scale remains a challenge that, for now, only a few enthusiasts are willing to take on alone.