In an intriguing development from the world of gaming, inventive modders in China have transformed Sony’s PlayStation 5 into a portable device that resembles a laptop, albeit without a battery. Dubbed the BBook AI, this device showcases a massive 17.3-inch display, surrounded by a bulky frame that harks back to the hefty gaming laptops of yore. Tipping the scales at over 9 pounds, this creation is not just noticeable—it’s a conversation starter.
Inside its 3D-printed shell, the BBook AI houses all the essential parts of a PS5. The standout feature of this custom rig is undoubtedly its display—a 17.3-inch 4K IPS panel that boasts complete 100% DCI-P3 color coverage. However, the display’s refresh rate maxes out at a mere 60 Hz, which might leave some gamers wanting more.
Although there’s an HDMI 2.1 port on the side for hooking up an external monitor, that sort of defeats the whole point of a portable console, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, since it lacks a built-in battery, the BBook AI needs to be plugged into an AC outlet to function. But can we really fault the modders? The PS5’s hefty power draw of around 200W would drain a 100Wh battery in under half an hour.
Looking under the hood, this contraption runs on the same hardware as a traditional PS5, with an eight-core Zen 2-based CPU and a 36 Compute Unit RDNA 2 GPU. It’s also equipped with 16GB of unified GDDR6 memory and 825GB of PCIe 4.0 storage, which unfortunately isn’t upgradeable. Interestingly, the device comes with a keyboard, although it’s unclear if it features mechanical or membrane keys.
So, for the steep price of $2,750, you’d be owning a portable PS5 at a markup of about 5.5 times the cost of a standard console. As for the sound? It’s as loud as a sports car revving up, reaching 71.3 dB.
If portability is your aim, a simpler and more cost-effective solution might be investing in a PS5 and a portable monitor. Such a setup would set you back around $700 to $1,000, depending on your monitor choice. While the BBook AI is more of an innovative DIY experiment than a practical purchase, it’s certainly a testament to how far one might go for gaming portability.
Though impractical, this nifty concept definitely piques interest and shows just how creative gaming enthusiasts can be. Whether you consider it a genius invention or just an expensive novelty is up to you.
