In a groundbreaking move for the modding community, hardware enthusiast and skilled woodworker known as Redherring32 has crafted the first-ever handheld Xbox console. This unique device has been ingeniously constructed using a modified motherboard from an original Xbox. Sporting a 9-inch 480p display, the handheld marvel also features support for Wi-Fi 6 Xbox Live and 100W PD USB-C for quick charging, making it both contemporary and functional.
This ambitious project stands out as a landmark in the Xbox community, introducing the first handheld Xbox console conversion. It deviates from the typical mods we’ve seen for PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, which are often adapted into handheld or compact setups.
In a world buzzing with speculation about a potential official handheld Xbox console, it’s amusing—and somewhat impressive—that a dedicated fan like Redherring32 has outpaced Microsoft, should they have such plans in the pipeline. It’s likely, though, that any official offering would aim to accommodate modern gaming experiences, rather than sticking to the 480p glory days of the original Xbox. Notably, there have been previous modifications allowing the original Xbox to run Halo 2 at 720p, showcasing the console’s potential.
Through sheer ingenuity, Redherring32 has managed to compact the original Xbox hardware into a portable shell, an achievement documented in detail on Twitter. The extensive transformation involved refining the Xbox motherboard and developing 12 custom PCBs specifically for this endeavor. He has even provided guidance on this first-of-its-kind mod.
Looking to the future, Redherring32 plans to make the entire project open-source, with PCBs to be uploaded to a dedicated GitHub page once fully prepared. Enthusiasts can also anticipate a video and gameplay demo showcasing the device in action, though these are not yet available.
Although this marks the inaugural trim of the Xbox for such a purpose, other consoles have also been downsized to create portable variants. Redherring32 himself has crafted “TinyTendo” and “PicoPad” in the past, which are open-source projects that demonstrate his ability to miniaturize consoles. The former is a handheld NES project, while the latter claims the title of “the world’s smallest NES controller.”
