This Arduino UNO Q-Based Handheld Console Uses Only Off-the-Shelf Components

Our goal here at Hackster is to showcase the most interesting and impressive projects on the internet. The only problem with that is the tendency for those projects to be intimidating to many makers — not everyone has decades of experience and thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment. So, it is nice to see a project that is impressive and accessible, like this Arduino UNO Q-based handheld console built using only off-the-shelf components.

We’ve seen and featured many DIY handheld consoles intended for retro gaming and they almost always require at least some custom hardware, like a PCB to tie everything together. This console, designed and built by Zalmotek, is different. You can purchase all of its components from online retailers and then simply connect them together. It even uses mostly premade cables and wires, so even those inexperienced with soldering can complete the build.

That’s possible because the console takes advantage of hardware from the Arduino ecosystem, which all plays nice together. That hardware includes an Arduino UNO Q (4GB model), Modulino Buttons, a Modulino Joystick, and an Arduino UNO Media Carrier. The hardware from outside the Arduino ecosystem, including an 8” Waveshare touchscreen and a Waveshare UPS module, connects and works seamlessly. The Arduino UNO Media Carrier, for example, provides a DSI connection for the touchscreen and a 3.5mm audio jack for the Adafruit speaker.

The only custom parts for the console are the 3D-printed enclosure and buttons. You can make those on any 3D printer you own or can access. Heat-set threaded inserts make assembly easy.

On the software side, Zalmotek took advantage of the Arduino UNO Q’s STM32 microcontroller to monitor the control inputs. It then passes those to the Linux side, where a Python daemon translates them into standard USB gamepad commands. That works cleanly with RetroArch for game emulation without any complicated configuration. You’ll be able to play ROMs just like you would with a USB gamepad plugged into a PC.

While it is a bit bulky — that’s the disadvantage of building a handheld console using off-the-shelf modules — the final product looks great and gives you everything you need to play your favorite games wherever you go.