Apple Magic Keyboard Transformed into a Portable Gaming PC with Steam Deck Internals

Alright, so here’s the scoop. You know those wild mods people do with tech gadgets? Well, since the Steam Deck hit the scene, folks have been going bonkers with creative ideas. I stumbled on this one, where some genius (Michael, shoutout to you, man!) decided to turn the insides of a Steam Deck into this quirky… keyboard thing. Yeah, you read that right. It’s called the “Bento” — don’t ask me why. I’m still wondering myself.

So, picture this: instead of just hanging out with your regular console, you’ve got this rig that’s a keyboard but also a mini-computer. I saw Michael’s pictures (posted on Reddit, where else?) showing off his setup. He used these Type-C-powered display glasses instead of a normal screen. Crazy, right? But hey, whatever floats your boat.

To pull this off, Michael had to yank out the Steam Deck’s motherboard and other guts from its original case – that clamshell thing. He then squeezed them into a 3D-printed case that snuggly fits under an Apple Magic keyboard. Who knew that’d be a thing?

This setup has two parts — well, actually a bigger bit on the left where all the important stuff like the battery goes. There are vents too, so it doesn’t, you know, overheat. The right side is like a bonus room where he shoved in a Type-C USB hub. The whole thing fits nicely under the keyboard, almost like it belongs there. It’s got these rounded edges – kinda like the Apple keyboard’s, which is… oddly satisfying.

Now, I must say, it’s still a work-in-progress. Michael had to make the case in two parts — his 3D printer, not quite up for one big piece, I guess. Plus, there’s no built-in mouse. In the next version, he wants to sort that out — make it all one piece with mouse controls. Ambitious, but isn’t that half the fun?

This mod, Bento, really showcases what the Steam Deck can morph into when someone’s got a wild imagination. It’s especially golden for those who are all-in on SteamOS and want desktop capabilities in a pocket-sized package.

And there you have it! Oh, wait, I was gonna tell you to follow Tom’s Hardware on Google News. Stay in the loop if you’re into this sort of geeky masterpiece.