Gaming Handhelds
Collection of gaming handhelds I own — purchase history, mods, accessories, and notes.
Steam Deck
Valve Steam Deck 512GB (later upgraded to 1TB NVMe). Optimized via Claude Code.
Overview
Device
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Model | Steam Deck 512GB |
| Purchased | Sep 5, 2022 |
| Source | Steam Store (reservation system) |
| Current Storage | 1TB (upgraded from 64GB with Sabrent 2230 M.2 NVMe Gen 4) |
Upgrades
- 1TB NVMe SSD: Sabrent 2230 M.2 NVMe Gen 4 1TB — ordered from Amazon.de (Order #302-3993928-0073935), Jul 7, 2023. See dedicated page for the upgrade walkthrough.
Software
- Optimized via Claude Code — there is a dedicated Claude skill for downloading games and managing the device.
Purchase Emails
- Reservation:
noreply@steampowered.com— "Please confirm your Purchase Information for Steam Deck 512 GB", Sep 5, 2022 - NVMe SSD:
bestellbestaetigung@amazon.de— Order #302-3993928-0073935, Jul 7, 2023
Upgrading my 64GB Steam Deck with a 1TB NVMe SSD
The need for more storage space on the Steam Deck seems to be a universal issue. I've found myself in the same boat after getting my hands on a 64GB model during the Steam Summer Sale. With just a few games installed (Hades, Disco Elysium, and Hollow Knight), I found myself hitting the storage limit. I decided it was high time for an upgrade.
Step 1: Preparing for the Upgrade
I ordered a Sabrent 2230 M.2 NVMe Gen 4 1TB drive from Amazon. If you're in the same boat and need to expand your storage, here's how I navigated the process.
Before you get started, make sure you have a prying tool - a guitar pick or something similar would do. I used a prying tool from an iFixIt kit I had on hand. It's also essential to have a compatible screwdriver for the backplate screws.
Step 2: Opening the Steam Deck
Once the new drive arrived, I started by removing the 8 screws from the back plate of the Steam Deck. Prying it open was the next challenge. The best place to start is from the top, near the right bumper (R1). Trust me on this one; I learned the hard way and caused some minor cosmetic damage by trying from the bottom and left sides.
Once you've pried the top open, the rest comes apart pretty easily. Remember to disconnect the battery and press the power button multiple times to ensure all capacitors are drained. This will help to prevent any potential damage to the device or the drive.
Step 3: Installing the New Drive
There was another minor hiccup here. The electronic shielding on the old eMMC drive didn't fit on the new Sabrent drive due to the heat plate with branding. To resolve this, I slightly tore off the end, which was attached with adhesive, and wrapped the new drive with it. Then, it was just a matter of putting everything back together.
Step 4: Preparing the Recovery Flash Drive
Next up, you'll need to prepare a recovery flash drive. I used Rufus for this and downloaded the 2GB recovery image from the Steam website. I encountered an issue here as the Rufus website was down, so I downloaded it from SourceForge.net instead. The image was written to the flash drive in about 10 minutes.
Step 5: Booting into Recovery Mode
Booting the Steam Deck into recovery mode can be a little tricky. Make sure you press the power button and keep the volume down button pressed until you hear the startup sound. Then release the power button.
At this point, I experienced a slight hiccup. My flash drive wasn't recognized in any of the boot options. I think I might have accidentally flashed it in MBR instead of GPT. Using another, albeit slower, flash drive fixed the problem. It took around 15-20 minutes due to the slower drive speed.
The Steam Deck controls didn't work in the recovery OS, so I had to use the touchscreen. The process took quite a while, approximately 40 minutes, due to the slow flash drive speed.
Step 6: Restarting the Deck and Finalizing Setup
After the recovery process was complete, I restarted the Deck. The presence of the Steam Deck logo confirmed that the device was booting up from the drive. I was greeted with the setup screen next.
Interestingly, the Steam Deck's controls didn't work initially, but the touchscreen did. After going through the setup process and connecting to the internet for updates, the controls started working perfectly.
Conclusion
And voila! My Steam Deck was upgraded successfully to 1TB storage, and everything runs flawlessly and fast. This has allowed me to install much larger games such as Witcher III and even test out Diablo IV. The process may be slightly tedious, but it's well worth it for the extra space. I'm already thinking about the potential of adding a memory card, but that might be a project for another day once I get through my current gaming backlog.
AYN Odin
AYN Odin 1 Pro and Odin 3 — Android gaming handhelds from AYN Technologies.
Overview
Devices Owned
| Model | Purchased | Source | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| AYN Odin Pro (Odin 1) | Aug 20, 2021 | Indiegogo (Contribution #617) | Super Early Bird — Qualcomm SD845, 8GB LPDDR4x, 128GB UFS 2.1 |
| AYN Odin 3 | Jan 17, 2026 | AYN Store (Order #OD1416888) | Batch 3 Pre-order. Shipped Feb 6, 2026 via YunExpress. |
Notes
- The Odin 1 was backed via the original Indiegogo campaign for "Odin: The Ultimate Gaming Handheld."
- An Odin2 Portal was also backed on Indiegogo (Contribution #1310, Oct 23, 2024 — Super Fan Odin2 Portal Max 16+1TB variant) but a refund was requested on Dec 11, 2024.
- The Odin 3 was ordered from the AYN direct store (
ayntec.com).
Purchase Emails
- Odin 1: Indiegogo contribution receipt —
noreply@indiegogo.com, Aug 20, 2021 - Odin 3: AYN order confirmation —
store+57032147136@t.shopifyemail.com, Jan 17, 2026
(New) Nintendo 3DS
New Nintendo 3DS with USB charging cable mod.
Overview
Device
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Model | New Nintendo 3DS |
| Purchase Receipt | Not found in Gmail (likely bought in-store or on a different account) |
Accessories
- USB Charging Cable: OcioDual USB Charger Cable 1.2m (USB-A to 3DS) — ordered from Amazon.de (Order #306-5929882-8741930), Feb 28, 2023. Replaces the proprietary charger with a standard USB-A cable.
Purchase Emails
- USB cable:
bestellbestaetigung@amazon.de— Order #306-5929882-8741930, Feb 28, 2023
Playstation Vita
PlayStation Vita — jailbroken with Henkaku, runs PSVita/PSP/PSX games.
Overview
Device
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Model | PlayStation Vita |
| Purchase Receipt | Not found in Gmail (likely bought in-store or on a different account) |
| Status | Jailbroken |
Jailbreak & Homebrew
- Running Henkaku custom firmware.
- Can install and play:
- PS Vita games (free)
- PSP games
- PS1 (PSX) games
Accessories
- SD2Vita Adapter: Purchased from Carousell seller sgdigitalpros in Singapore, Nov 23, 2021 (SGD $7.50 via PayLah). Supports up to 256GB microSD, replacing the proprietary (and expensive) PS Vita memory card.
Purchase Emails
- SD2Vita adapter: Carousell messages from
sgdigitalpros, Nov 23–26, 2021 - PS Plus / PSN gift cards: Multiple Amazon.com digital purchases (2017) — $10, $20, $50, $60 PlayStation Store gift cards, and a 1-year PS Plus membership (Nov 4, 2017)
Miyoo Mini
Miyoo Mini — retro emulation handheld running Onion OS.
Overview
Device
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Model | Miyoo Mini |
| Purchase Receipt | Not found in Gmail (likely purchased from AliExpress on a different email, or a marketplace purchase) |
Custom Firmware
- Running Onion OS — a custom operating system for the Miyoo Mini that replaces the stock firmware.
- Onion OS provides a cleaner UI, better emulator performance, and additional features like RetroArch integration.
Odroid
Odroid handheld — model TBD. Manufactured by Hardkernel.
Overview
Device
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Model | Odroid handheld (exact model unknown — likely Odroid Go Advance or Odroid Go Super) |
| Manufacturer | Hardkernel |
| Purchase Receipt | Not found in Gmail. Hardkernel account registered May 26, 2020 (hardkernel.robot@gmail.com). |
Notes
- This is a handheld form-factor Odroid device, used for retro emulation.
- Hardkernel's handheld lineup includes the Odroid Go, Odroid Go Advance, and Odroid Go Super — the exact model needs to be verified by checking the physical device.
Nintendo Switch
Switch Lite, Switch 1 (LCD model), and Switch 2.
Overview
Devices Owned
| Model | Purchase Receipt | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch Lite | Not found in Gmail | |
| Nintendo Switch 1 (LCD model) | Not found in Gmail | Original Switch with LCD screen (not OLED) |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Not found in Gmail | Latest generation |
Accessories
- Belkin Gaming Nintendo accessory: Ordered from Amazon.de, Nov 19, 2025
Games (from email receipts)
| Game | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Runbow | Nintendo eShop (digital) | Aug 2, 2025 |
| Pokémon Legends: Z-A | Amazon.de | Nov 16, 2025 |
| Final Fantasy VII Remake | Amazon.de | Jan 13, 2026 |
| Pokémon Pokopia | Amazon.de (Switch 2 exclusive) | Mar 21, 2026 |
Notes
- Nintendo account is active and linked — receiving marketing emails in Spanish from Nintendo.
- Hardware purchase receipts not found in Gmail — devices may have been bought in physical retail stores or on a different email account.