Handheld Game Console Becomes Pocket Terminal

With the proliferation of smartphones, the entire concept of a “pocket computer” has become somewhat redundant. But the truth is that smartphones have limitations that can make them frustrating for certain niche use cases. Their mobile operating systems tend to be restrictive compared to desktop operating systems and their touchscreens are less than ideal for sustained typing. For some, a pocket computer still holds appeal and that is why Redditor Gthing developed this pocket terminal mod for Anbernic RG353V handheld game consoles.

The Anbernic RG353V is an interesting little device that is advertised mostly as a hacker-friendly gaming machine. Users can run emulators directly on the device or take advantage of services like Moonlight to stream modern AAA games from their desktop PCs. The RG353V has a relatively powerful quad-core 1.8GHz Arm Cortex-A55 processor and 2GB or LPDDR4 RAM. That power lets the RG353V dual-boot Android and Linux, so there is a lot of potential.

But as a gaming-focused device, the RG353V has gamepad controls (D-pad, dual joysticks, and the typical action buttons). This mod adds a miniature keyboard/trackpad, so the user can take full advantage of the Linux operating system. With that, the user can easily navigate the desktop environment and type in the terminal. In theory, this could work a lot like the infamous Next Thing Co. Pocket C.H.I.P. — except much more powerful.

The key component for this mod is a Blackberry BB9900 USB Keyboard with trackpad. Blackberry has been obsolete for a long time now, but those keyboards are still popular for DIY projects like this one. This particular version is available from a seller on Tindie in a small enclosure with a USB-C interface. Gthing does point out that the USB cable gets in the way of the RG353V frame and suggests that a Bluetooth version of the Blackberry keyboard might make more sense.

Gthing designed a simple 3D-printable frame to attach the Blackberry keyboard to the RG353V body. This is a bit bulky, but usable. The execution here is a little rough, but the idea has merit. The RG353V could be the ideal platform for a modern pocket computer. A better-integrated keyboard would result in a more streamlined device.