modding

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

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

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

Cracked glass or a dim panel is fixable. Here is how to replace a handheld screen or glass safely, plus what a laminated screen mod is worth.

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

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.