In a fascinating twist on innovation, a group of Chinese modders has transformed Sony’s PlayStation 5 into a portable device, albeit without the portability of a battery, reminiscent of a hefty laptop. Dubbed the BBook AI, this contraption features a sprawling 17.3-inch display, bringing back memories of the chunky gaming laptops of old. Weighing in at over 9 pounds, it’s not something you’d casually toss into a backpack, but its striking appearance is bound to catch eyes.
What sets the BBook AI Original Edition apart is its 3D-printed shell that snugly fits all the components of a PS5. While the novelty here is mostly about having that sizable screen—a 17.3-inch 4K IPS panel with a full color palette thanks to 100% DCI-P3 coverage—the excitement is slightly dampened by a lackluster 60 Hz refresh rate.
On the side, there’s an HDMI 2.1 port which lets you hook up another screen if you choose. However, this somewhat contradicts the portable angle the creators were going for, especially since there’s no battery onboard. Since the PS5 draws about 200W during gameplay, a hypothetical 100Wh battery would only run for around half an hour, making it impractical.
For connectivity, there’s a USB Type-A 10 Gbps port conveniently placed on the right side. But fair warning: the BBook AI can get quite loud, reportedly reaching noise levels comparable to a sports car’s roar at 71.3 dB. Notably, you’d have the distinct experience of using a fully operational PlayStation 5 wrapped in a laptop-like exterior, sporting the PlayStation OS. And yes, it does play Astro Bot, something your standard gaming laptop can’t boast.
The BBook AI is equipped with the same internals as a PS5, namely an eight-core CPU using Zen 2 architecture and a 36 Compute Unit (RDNA 2) GPU, mixed with 16GB of unified GDDR6 memory and 825GB of PCIe 4.0 storage. But here’s the kicker: this device comes with a $2,750 price tag, a whopping 5.5 times more than the regular PS5. It even appears to include a keyboard from the images provided, but details like whether it’s membrane or mechanical remain uncertain.
When it comes to portability, the BBook AI, coupled with its adapter, outweighs even an RTX 4090-powered Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8, a traditional laptop that includes a 99Wh battery. If it’s about saving money, a reasonable alternative would be investing in a portable monitor priced between $700 and $1,000 along with a PS5, hitting a similar budget range. Although, in essence, the BBook AI stands as a delightful DIY project—not necessarily the most practical gaming solution, but a testament to creative spirit.
