Imagine taking an original Xbox console and transforming it into something as portable as your smartphone. That’s exactly what hardware modder and woodworker Redherring32 has accomplished. Crafting the first-ever handheld Xbox, Redherring32 took the guts of an original Xbox, integrated it with a 9-inch 480p screen, and added modern touches like Wi-Fi 6 capability for seamless Xbox Live connections and rapid charging via 100W PD USB-C.
This project is a game-changer within the Xbox modding community, marking a significant milestone by making the leap to a full-fledged handheld console from what was once only a home system. We’ve often seen PlayStation and Nintendo consoles being miniaturized or converted into portable formats, but seeing an Xbox receive this treatment is truly unprecedented.
While there are whispers of Microsoft considering their own handheld Xbox, it’s fascinating—and a little humorous—that an amateur enthusiast has outpaced the tech giant. If Microsoft does release a handheld, it’s likely to be designed to handle today’s graphics and gaming demands, unlike this tribute to the Xbox glory days of 480p resolutions.
You can track the progress of this groundbreaking mod on Twitter, where Redherring32 shares updates. They’ve managed to squash an Xbox’s sizable motherboard into a handheld case—a feat that required a significant amount of customization and ingenuity, including the creation of 12 unique PCBs tailored for this venture.
Soon, a GitHub repository will host the project’s complete open-source files, allowing other tech enthusiasts to explore or recreate Redherring32’s work. Although a video demonstration and gameplay showcase haven’t been released just yet, they’re certainly on the radar, promising exciting insights into this unique creation.
This isn’t Redherring32’s first venture into trimming down gaming consoles. The same skills that brought us the “TinyTendo” and “PicoPad” are on display here, with previous projects miniaturizing the NES and creating what might be the smallest NES controller ever fabricated.
If you’re intrigued by cutting-edge modifications, keep an eye on this space. Redherring32’s work represents a remarkable convergence of nostalgia and modern engineering, expanding the boundaries of what’s possible in console modding.
