Custom PS4 Slim handheld returns with smaller V2 design and 1080p OLED
Second system weighs 1.3 kg and uses a GTX 750 graphics card fan.
Earlier this year, we covered a custom PlayStation 4 Slim handheld built by Reddit user wewillmakeitnow. A second report later showed its cut motherboard, custom cooling and removable Blu-ray update card. The creator has now built a new system with a more compact 3D-printed shell. The black handheld shown in the comparison photos is the first version.
The core design remains based on a real PS4 Slim motherboard that was cut and miniaturized. The V2 retains the 7-inch 1080p OLED display and runs PlayStation 4 games natively. According to the creator, the GPU was undervolted to its lowest stable setting to reduce power consumption without causing glitches at 1080p.
The battery configuration has changed from six 6000 mAh 21700 cells in the first system to six 5000 mAh cells . Despite the lower rated capacity per cell, the creator still lists between 1.5 and 3 hours of battery life depending on the game. The batteries can also be removed, reducing the system weight from 1.3 kg to around 900 grams. An external 12V battery pack can be connected for longer sessions.
Fan borrowed from GTX 750
Cooling is one of the most visible parts of the new design. A large fan taken from a GeForce GTX 750 graphics card is installed on the rear, while a separate 30 × 30 mm fan is located inside the system. The creator says the larger fan is difficult to hear, while the smaller internal fan produces most of the noise during gaming. A removable protective cover can be installed over the rear fan or removed to increase airflow.
The small status display is controlled by an ESP32-C6. It tracks power consumption, remaining battery capacity and system temperatures. It also controls the OLED panel so that the display powers on and off together with the PS4 hardware.
The V2 handheld can operate from an external power supply and includes HDMI output for use with a TV. A standard PlayStation 4 controller can then be connected for console-style use. No sales plans were announced, so the V2 remains another custom PS4 Slim conversion rather than a commercial handheld.
Sony is building a PS6 handheld
Sony does not appear to have plans for native PS4 or PS5 handheld systems, but reports already point to a portable console for the PS6 generation. The rumored device is said to use a custom AMD APU with four Zen 6c cores, two low-power Zen 6 cores and 16 RDNA 5 Compute Units, paired with LPDDR5X memory on a 192-bit interface and a power target of around 15W. It may also support M.2 and microSD storage, a touchscreen and USB-C connectivity. The handheld is reportedly being designed to run PS6 games at reduced settings while retaining compatibility with PS4 and PS5 titles, although Sony has not confirmed the system or its specifications.
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