Redherring32, known for their skills in hardware modding and woodworking, has crafted the first-ever portable Xbox, transforming a genuine original Xbox motherboard into a handheld device. This innovative creation couples a 9-inch 480p screen with features like Wi-Fi 6 for Xbox Live and fast charging through a 100W PD USB-C port.
In the world of Xbox modifications, this project stands out as particularly bold. Unlike the myriad handheld adaptations of PlayStation and Nintendo systems, this is the first time we’ve seen an Xbox completely converted into a handheld format. With rumors floating around about an official handheld Xbox—despite devices like the Steam Deck already filling that niche—it’s amusing to see a passionate fan step up before any official release. Although a modern handheld Xbox would cater to today’s gaming needs rather than the original Xbox’s 480p capabilities, it’s noteworthy that previous mods have managed to push the console to run titles like Halo 2 at 720p.
Redherring32 has truly pushed the boundaries with this project, creating a compact enclosure for the Xbox’s guts. The original Twitter thread reveals the extensive work involved, highlighting the process of trimming down the motherboard and crafting a guide to assist others in attempting such a mod. Key to this undertaking were 12 custom PCBs specifically designed for the handheld Xbox.
To support this community-driven effort, Redherring32 plans to make the project open source by sharing the complete PCB designs on GitHub. Although we’re eagerly awaiting a video demonstration and gameplay footage, these materials are not yet available at this time.
This ambitious endeavor marks the first time the Xbox hardware has been miniaturized in such a way, though it’s not Redherring32’s first rodeo with console reductions. They’ve previously created the “TinyTendo” and “PicoPad,” which are pioneering open-source projects, showcasing a portable NES and the smallest NES controller in existence, respectively.
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