A modder says a portable PS4 Slim can finally feel like something you actually use, rather than a fragile showpiece. After months of revisions, the latest version presents itself as a stable handheld designed for regular gaming.
At the heart of the project is a trimmed and modified PS4 Slim motherboard, trimmed to shrink the system without losing core functionality. To prevent the handheld from cooking itself, the design is based on a revised cooling system and active protection measures. An integrated ESP32 with custom firmware monitors temperatures and energy behavior and can enforce thermal limits and trigger an emergency shutdown.
It is not for sale and the manufacturer says it is not intended for mass production. Still, it shows what a finished PS4 handheld looks like if reliability is the goal.
A handheld, not a demo
The hardware selection reads like something someone would expect to pick up and use. The device features a 7-inch 1080p OLED screen in 16:9 layout and also supports HDMI output for TV playback.
Power is provided by a 6-cell 21700 battery with 6000mAh cells in a 3S2P configuration and an estimated capacity of around 130Wh. The setup also includes a 10V under-voltage shutdown to protect the battery, as well as charge monitoring handled by the same controller.
The compromises are clear
A portable PS4 Slim is still a home console in a smaller case, so power consumption sets the limits. The post includes wattage numbers and runtime estimates, suggesting it’s a handheld for focused sessions rather than all-day gaming.
It can run while plugged in, which is important if you’re using PS4-class hardware. And because the system actively monitors temperature and battery limits, it’s closer to a device you can use without constant babysitting.
What to watch next
It seems believable to call this a final build since the basics have already been covered, a high-resolution OLED, an HDMI output, and protection logic that treats power and thermal as top-notch issues. That’s the difference between a stunt and a handheld.
The next update worth waiting for covers details on long-term testing, sustained load temperatures, fan noise, battery health over time, and how the controls and chassis hold up after months of use. If these results remain stable, such a project will continue to raise the bar for portable consoles.
If you find this inspiring and want to experience gaming on the best gaming handheld, check out what’s available now.
