modding

3D printing opens up custom shells, buttons, grips, and parts for retro handhelds. Here is how to find designs, choose materials and settings, and finish prints that fit well.

Mushy shoulder buttons are a common handheld weak point. Here is how to mod them for a crisp, tactile click, from simple drop-in kits to soldered microswitch upgrades.

A worn or swollen battery is fixable. Here is how to safely replace or upgrade the lithium battery in a retro handheld, what capacity to choose, and the safety rules that matter.

Cracked glass or a dim panel can be fixed. Here is how to replace a retro handheld screen or glass safely, plus what a laminated screen mod is and whether it is worth it.

A shell swap is one of the best first mods. Here is how to move your handheld's board into a new shell safely, from opening the device to transferring buttons and cables.

New to modding retro handhelds? Here are the tools you need, what is safe to try first, what is risky, and how to plan your first hardware mod without ruining your device.