A YouTuber takes a nearly 25-year-old Xbox, saws it apart, glues a display on, and puts everything into an improvised case. The result resembles a weapon variation from Borderlands, but it works.
What exactly did the YouTuber build? When thinking of a portable console, devices like the Switch, the Steam Deck, or the ASUS ROG Ally come to mind. Small, compact, high-priced, and equipped with state-of-the-art components.
The YouTuber James Channel had a completely different goal: He wanted to modify the first Xbox from Microsoft, built in 2001, to work without a television – no matter how impractical the end result is.
The modification turned into a real DIY project. Instead of modern hardware, James relied on improvisation, recycling, and the necessary creativity. The old Xbox was sawed apart, the case was sanded down, and completely rearranged. Controller halves were mounted on the sides, and a screen from an iPod dock was inserted at the front. All of this was – quite literally – fixed with hot glue, tape, and duct tape.
How well does the DIY Xbox-Portable actually work? James Channel documents all the steps in a roughly 30-minute video on YouTube that shows the entire creation process – from the first case cut to the moment when the console actually powers up.
If you want to take a detailed look at the composition and the components, you can do so best directly on JamesChannel:
A particularly tricky aspect of the construction is the unprotected DVD drive, which rotates dangerously close to the hands. The wobbly power supply from old batteries has also caused failures during the construction.
Nevertheless, the DIY Xbox works. Games like Halo: Combat Evolved from 2001 run, the display shows a clear picture, and the controls are directly integrated.
The runtime is quite short at just under 10 minutes, and a longer endurance was also difficult due to the old components (in the case of the batteries from 2006).
If you are looking for new designs and special technology but don’t want to grab a saw yourself – then take a look at this controller: The Machenike G5 Pro V2 is a bit more expensive than the official Xbox controller at 60 euros and looks more minimalist. Our test shows what really lies behind it: This controller is better in every way than the official Xbox controller unless you own an Xbox
