Modder crafts PS4 Slim V2 Handheld with 7-inch OLED screen
A modder has created a fully functional PlayStation 4 handheld with an OLED screen
Earlier this year, a modder called wewillmakeitnow created a fully functional PlayStation 4 “Slim” handheld. Now, the same modder has created a new PS4 V2 handheld with an updated design, lowered power draw, and support for TV connectivity.
This handheld is built using a PlayStation 4 Slim and supports all PlayStation 4 games. The system features a “cut and miniaturised” PS4 Slim motherboard that reportedly consumes less power than wewillmakeitnow’s prior PS4 handheld. This allows this new handheld to run with 6× 21700 5000mAh and offer users a 1.5-3 hour battery life. This handheld has reportedly had its GPU undervolted to maximise battery life and minimise power draw/heat production. The handheld also supports external power delivery, TVs through HDMI, and extra PS4 controllers.
Specifications recently leaked for Sony’s planned PS6 handheld, a device that should support PlayStation 4 games within a handheld form factor in the future. This handheld delivers these capabilities early.
This handheld uses a 7-inch 1080p OLED screen. This is the target resolution of most PlayStation 4 games, making it highly suitable for this handheld.
(Images from Reddit)
Overall, this new V2 design features a smaller and more curved design than its predecessor. The original handheld has a brick-like form factor, whereas this new model looks much more like a traditional handheld.
This handheld is cooled using a fan sourced from a GeForce GTX 750 (see below), and an internal 30 x 30mm fan. The larger fan is reportedly silent while gaming, though the smaller fan is audible.
(Images from Reddit)
A cool device, but not that useful
This gaming handheld is impressive, but its high power draw limits its usefulness. A 1.5-3 hour battery life isn’t long, and it’s remarkable that this device could last this long without mains power to begin with. Power efficiency is the primary focus of all modern gaming handhelds, with devices like Valve’s Steam Deck using between 3W and 15W of power. A PS4 Slim uses between 55W and 110W during gameplay, depending on how demanding a specific game is.
Sony’s PS4 Slim is now almost a decade old, and it is easy to build a PS4-strength SOC for gaming handhelds today. Today, we have the ROG Xbox Ally, MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, and Nintendo’s Switch 2, all of which can deliver PS4-beating performance within handheld gaming form factors.
With its PlayStation 6 generation, Sony is reportedly crafting a handheld gaming device that will support PS4 games. If this is true, gamers will be getting a strong PS4 handheld gaming experience in the future through backwards compatibility.
You can join the discussion on wewillmakeitnow’s new PS4 OLED handheld on the OC3D Forums.
