In an impressive feat, Chinese modders have transformed Sony’s PlayStation 5 into a portable device, crafting a laptop-like version, sans battery, showcased on Weibo. This creation, known as the BBook AI, catches the eye with its substantial 17.3-inch display, reminiscent of the hefty gaming laptops of the past and tipping the scales at over 9 pounds.
The BBook AI Original Edition houses the PS5’s guts within its 3D-printed case. The main highlight of this custom design is undoubtedly its generous screen size—a 17.3-inch 4K IPS panel with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage. However, the display is not flawless, as it’s restricted to a somewhat lackluster 60 Hz refresh rate.
A side-mounted HDMI 2.1 port offers the option to connect an external monitor, but to be honest, it somewhat undermines the laptop’s purpose. As for power, there’s no onboard battery; you’ll need AC power to keep it running. The absence of a battery is understandable given that the PS5’s power demands hover around 200W during gameplay, which would only offer a poor 30-minute experience with a 100Wh battery.
The right side of this beast is adorned with a USB Type-A 10 Gbps port, ensuring solid connectivity. However, brace yourself for noise; the BBook AI reportedly reaches sound levels around 71.3 dB—about as loud as a roaring sports car. It is, without a doubt, the first laptop to run the PlayStation OS, making it technically capable of playing Astro Bot. Now, can your gaming laptop make the same claim?
Spec-wise, the BBook AI mimics the PS5, featuring an eight-core Zen 2 CPU, a 36 Compute Unit GPU based on RDNA 2 architecture, 16GB of non-upgradable unified memory, and 825GB of fast PCIe 4.0 storage. However, it comes with a hefty price tag of $2,750—over five times the cost of a standard PS5. Interestingly, images suggest it includes a keyboard, though we can’t confirm if it’s membrane or mechanical.
Built with portability in mind, the BBook AI, combined with its adapter, weighs twice as much as a Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 outfitted with an RTX 4090, which includes a 99Wh battery. If saving cash is your priority, you might be better off purchasing a portable monitor priced between $700 and $1,000, plus a PS5—potentially keeping your expenditure around the same range. Ultimately, the BBook AI is an imaginative DIY endeavor, even if not entirely practical.
