Sonys PS5 Slim has lost some weight and size compared to its predecessor. However, that’s not enough for a tech YouTuber. He has now built the first portable PS5 with an integrated 4K screen in tablet format.
Reports about new mobile gaming consoles seem never-ending. After Valve captured many gamers with the Steam Deck, major manufacturers and even independent developers with their own handheld devices followed suit.
Sony recently introduced the portable PS Portal. However, the device only streams the screen content of the larger PS5 and is not a dedicated mobile gaming console.
A YouTuber has now taken on this issue and built a fully portable PS5: Tablet Edition from a PS5 Slim.
DIY YouTuber turns PS5 Slim into a mobile Tablet Edition
What kind of console is this? YouTuber Matt from the channel DIY Perks took the new PS5 Slim and turned it into a mobile gaming console. This was made possible by a smaller motherboard that Sony uses in the latest PS5 model.
To realize his PS5: Tablet Edition, Matt had to design his own housing. With an integrated 4K screen and an external power supply, nothing stands in the way of a mobile gaming experience, provided the battery of the controller used lasts.
How did the YouTuber proceed? For his project, the YouTuber completely disassembled an existing PS5 Slim. He shows that Sony uses a smaller motherboard along with a compact cooling solution in the PS5 Slim.
Despite the smaller dimensions of the new heatsink, Matt opts for a further reduced version for his tablet edition. He utilizes a completely new construction made of copper with smaller fans, which he adjusts to his needs.
What was the biggest challenge? In an initial test, the YouTuber checks the efficiency of his cooling construction. As planned, the heat is transferred from the heatsink to the fans. However, this is not sufficient, and the console displays a warning message.
With these new findings, he expands his construction with an additional heatsink. He also replaces the fans with models that can blow air in two directions. His plan succeeds, and to his surprise, the noise level decreases.
What other problems were there? To make the gaming console completely portable, the screen had to be fully integrated into the casing. Therefore, he tested the interaction with the LCD screen from a notebook. The result was unsatisfactory.
With a 4K OLED screen from a broken laptop, Matt achieved significantly better results. Image quality and black levels were much better in this model. So far, only the PS9 in a futuristic trailer from 1999 has come without a screen.
For good sound output, he used mini-format speakers and a subwoofer. He replaced the original internal power supply of the PS5 Slim with an external solution. He made the connecting cable himself as it needed to be as flexible as possible for portable use.
Is the project successful? Definitely yes. His PS5: Tablet Edition is truly impressive. As a requirement for mobile gaming with the console, all you need is a power source for the power supply. A Wi-Fi connection is only necessary for games that require online services.
With an additional stand, the gaming console can be set up anywhere. Compared to portable consoles that can only be used alone due to their design, the YouTuber’s PS5: Tablet Edition offers real added value through shared mobile gaming with multiple controllers.
Building your own game consoles is not uncommon. In the past, tinkerers have often tackled existing models and created new exciting projects from them. Since Nintendo and Sony never offered their joint gaming console for sale, a YouTuber built his own version: Sony and Nintendo buried their joint gaming console 33 years ago – A YouTuber simply builds his own version
