Over in China, some creative modders have transformed the PlayStation 5 into a device that draws inspiration from traditional laptops. Known as BBook AI, this intriguing creation does away with portability’s traditional battery, opting instead for a hefty, eye-catching design you can’t help but notice. Coming in at over 9 pounds, it’s reminiscent of those old-school, bulky gaming laptops we used to lug around.
Inside the 3D-printed case of the BBook AI Original Edition, you’ll find the PS5’s core components snugly fitted. The standout feature in this setup is its screen—a sprawling 17.3-inch, 4K IPS display that proudly shows off 100% DCI-P3 color coverage. Sadly, the potential for fast-paced action is slightly hampered by its 60 Hz refresh rate.
Trying to regain some flexibility, the BBook AI includes an HDMI 2.1 port for hooking up to an external monitor, a feature that somewhat undercuts the all-in-one design philosophy. Without a battery, this machine demands to be plugged into AC power. The high power consumption of the PS5, about 200 watts during gameplay, would squander a hypothetical 100Wh battery in a mere 30 minutes.
Let’s delve into the hardware sleeve: the BBook AI Original Edition is running a robust Zen 2-based eight-core CPU, alongside a set of 36 RDNA 2 compute units for graphics. It boasts 16GB of unified GDDR6 memory and 825GB of quick PCIe 4.0 storage. The price tag? An eye-watering 19,999 Yuan, or about $2,750, which is roughly 5.5 times the cost of a regular PS5.
For connectivity, there’s a USB Type-A 10 Gbps port firmly planted on the right side. Be warned, however—the report states that the BBook AI is quite the noisy companion, generating sounds comparable to that of a roaring sports car at 71.3 dB. It’s a full-fledged PS5 at heart, running PlayStation OS, making it technically the first PC to support games like Astro Bot. So, can your typical gaming laptop manage that?
The BBook AI is effectively a PlayStation 5 with the original console’s specifications within a laptop framework. Though it includes a keyboard, the clarity on whether it’s membrane or mechanical remains elusive. Given the heft, two times that of even a robust Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 with its 99Wh battery, it might not meet your average portable expectations.
For those on the lookout for something more practical, one strategy might be investing in a portable monitor and a standard PS5. This would run at a considerably lesser cost. Sure, the BBook AI might be a bit of a whimsical novelty from a do-it-yourself corner of the world, a marvel to behold, albeit with practicality sitting somewhere on the sidelines.
