TECH NEWS – Sometimes, it’s a good idea to find ways to repurpose faulty hardware.

It’s easier to throw away an old smartphone when it develops a hardware problem that the manufacturer can’t fix. Fortunately, one Pixel 8 owner didn’t want to do that and showed how he turned the device into a gaming console after an irreparable pink stripe appeared on the screen. This improvised gaming dock supports multiple controllers so more people can play. The modder also installed a cooling fan to keep the internal components cool.

Made a console out of an old phone 👴🏼
byu/Prior_Explanation_52 inEmulationOnAndroid

The Tensor G3 processor in the Pixel 8 has the necessary capabilities to deliver an enjoyable gaming experience. A Reddit user named Prior_Explanation_52 connected the smartphone to an external TV and multiple wired controllers to set up a proper multiplayer setup. A 4-port USB hub made support for multiple controllers possible and also serves as a connection for a 50mm PC cooling fan. Google’s Tensor system-on-a-chip tends to run hot, so this active cooling allows the Pixel 8 to deliver a stable gaming experience without a drop in refresh rate. The modder installed ES-DE (EmulationStation Desktop Edition), which organizes game ROMs and offers a clean interface that can be navigated with the connected controller.

It seems the user had no intention of sticking with Android because touchscreen controls would not have provided an enjoyable experience. Since Reddit is a treasure trove of knowledge, commenters offered useful tips to improve the user experience. For instance, one commenter wrote that Google limits the performance of its devices, but the Pixel 8’s true potential can be unlocked by rooting the phone and installing a custom ROM. Thanks to the modification, the Pixel 8 is expected to run at maximum performance without throttling issues when a cooling fan is added.

If Google’s older smartphones are capable of this, how powerful are today’s devices?

Source: WCCFTech