One of the main problems that comes with trying to emulate larger games on handhelds is the processing power needed to get them running. They get that hot that it can sometimes feel like you're holding onto a piece of fresh volcanic rock.
I've previously seen the first iteration of the PS4 handheld created by wewillmakeitnow and thought it was a neat idea. I'm used to seeing people making handhelds to play N64 and PS1 games, but this was more like a prototype of something Sony should have actually made as opposed to bringing out the Portal. Thanks to VideoCardz, I've been checking out a new version of the handheld with a new 3D-printed shell and a huge fan on the back. It looks a little like something Inspector Gadget would hold to fly through the air with, but I dig it.
The first version of the handheld looked like something AYANEO might have released, a rectangular console with a 7-inch OLED 1080p display in it. The OLED display has remained in the new build, but the casing is much more ergonomically pleasing, albeit less stylish. Looks aside, it plays PS4 games natively and still utilises the motherboard from a PS4 Slim. It weighs a whopping 1.3Kg, which is twice the weight of the Steam Deck.
According to wewillmakeitnow, the battery life is still at around 3 hours, which is the same as the first iteration of the design. You can hook up a 12v battery pack to play for longer periods, however, if you're near a plug or fancy carrying a big power bank around with you.
The fan on the back is designed to keep the handheld as cool as possible, along with an internal fan. Wewillmakeitnow took a fan from a GTX 750 graphics card and mounted it on the back of the shell. It also has a protective casing so you can put it down without damaging it, which is pretty useful if you're gaming on the go and don't want to damage the fan in your bag or pocket.
As this is a homemade handheld, there are currently no plans to sell it or to make it available to the public for purchase. Still, we might get plans to follow to make the handheld at a later date, so watch this space.
