As the saying goes, if you can dream it, you can do it. A Reddit user has taken taken this mantra and ran with it, cramming all Steam Deck internals inside a wireless Apple Magic Keyboard. The so-called Bento mode even leverages the extra available space to squeeze in a USB hub to display and charge at the same time.
Instead of enjoying what the handheld has to offer, Reddit user michaelthatsit went to the next level, augmenting the capabilities of the hardware by slapping a keyboard on top and using AR glasses as a display. The result is a compact device that can be used as a gaming or work PC on the go.
The Redditor started by emptying Steam Deck from its motherboard and battery, leaving the display and controllers on the side. These were then transplanted into a 3D-printed frame, made to the exact dimensions of an Apple Magic keyboard. The latter then sits on top to close the frame, making a sort of all-in-one keyboard PC. However, since the keyboard was slightly bigger than Steam Deck, michaelthatsit ended up with some extra space that was later used to hide a USB hub. The dock is an important component of this mode as it allows the machine to send a display signal while charging.
Talking of which, the Redditor couldn’t settle for a basic monitor. Instead, to take advantage of the built-in battery, michaelthatsit chose to go with AR glasses – XReal One from the looks of it. At around $500, these offer a 120Hz 1080p Micro-OLED panel with a 50° field of view, advertised as perfect for gaming and content consumption. Most importantly, these support three degrees of freedom, meaning opened windows will stay in place when moving your head.
As you may have noticed, there is no mouse in this mode, but as michaelthatsit puts it, this is still an ongoing project that has some flaws. The modder plans to add some sort of mouse control in future revisions, most likely a touchpad to keep the portable all-in-one approach.
But until then, this fairly accessible mod shows the strengths of the Steam Deck design, where anyone with time to spare can create interesting machines around its hardware. We are eager to see how the finished Bento mode turns out.
