PC gamers love Valve’s Steam Deck for bringing high-quality PC gaming to a portable device, but some feel it lacks a crucial DIY component: building and customizing your own rig. Beth Le has tackled this by creating the Beth Deck, a custom handheld device that uses Framework Laptop components and a 3D-printed frame to deliver a fully upgradeable gaming experience.
The Beth Deck, shared on Printables and highlighted by Liliputing, is built from a 13-inch Framework motherboard, a battery, and an 8-inch LCD touchscreen with a 1280×800 resolution. By incorporating elements from an Android controller and housing it all in a 3D-printed shell, Beth has crafted a system that offers more flexibility than the Steam Deck, along with upgradeability and easy assembly, requiring no soldering and only about 15 minutes to build.
With just 10 printed parts and some minor quirks, like a sticky joystick and a slightly finicky power button, the Beth Deck has won over the DIY community, who are inspired by Beth’s plan to refine the design further. She’s already planning a custom PCB for a sleeker build. While the Beth Deck might not yet match the polish of a commercial handheld, it embodies the spirit of PC building, blending creativity and functionality for a new twist on portable gaming.