Mac Nano turns M4 Mac Mini into 7-inch, 120Hz handheld

TechRadar's Efosa Udinmwen reports that Shing Solutions has transformed Apple's M4 Mac Mini into a handheld computer called Mac Nano.

The project strips the desktop computer down to its motherboard and cooling system, then places them in a custom 3D-printed enclosure with handles. It retains Apple's original heatsink and blower fan, allowing the M4 processor to keep its factory thermal arrangement.

Mac Nano has a 7-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a compact QWERTY keyboard, an integrated touchpad, and physical gaming controls. The keyboard's battery was removed and it was rewired to draw power through USB. The gaming controls use circuit boards from Nintendo Joy-Con charging grips and connect directly to the Mac, although macOS does not natively support wired Joy-Con controllers. Steam's controller mapping system makes them usable with compatible games.

Inside the enclosure, the computer module sits on rails and can slide out without disturbing the screen, keyboard, or controllers. To handle the peripherals' USB demand, Shing Solutions combined two miniature USB splitter boards into a custom three-port hub.

Rechargeable cells and a custom power delivery system let Mac Nano run without remaining plugged into an outlet, while the enclosure's handles provide a grip for the assembled components.