An acclaimed YouTube creator named Taki Udon recently showcased a bold experiment: transforming a GHLBD engineering calculator into a functional game console. The reveal drew notable attention within tech communities and on news outlets, including Hi-Tech Mail.Ru, turning a simple device into a curiosity for hardware hackers and retro gaming fans alike.
The device at the heart of this project features a touchscreen interface and a compact motherboard powered by a 32-bit Allwinner A50 quad-core processor, complemented by 1 GB of RAM. It runs on Android 9, which provides a familiar, app-friendly environment for emulation. Despite its budget origin, the calculator has been repurposed into a capable gaming platform and, in many ways, demonstrates how modern mobile chips can be repurposed for entertainment devices. The cost of the hardware remains impressively low, hovering around ten dollars, which makes the concept accessible to hobbyists who enjoy experimenting with underutilized electronics.
The engineer behind the project redesigned the calculator to emulate classic gaming systems, successfully bringing back the experiences of the PSP and the Nintendo 64. In this configuration, titles such as RoboCop, Pokémon, Dragon Ball adventures, and Metroid-like games were able to run, delivering responsive gameplay that feels surprisingly smooth for hardware of this caliber. However, control is limited to the touchscreen and Bluetooth game controllers, as the physical buttons originally present on the calculator were deactivated during the flashing process. This constraint highlights a trade-off common in retrofitting devices for gaming: expanding compatibility often comes at the expense of original hardware controls.
The narrative around this project also echoes broader discussions about repurposing everyday technology. It serves as a case study in evaluating how far a low-cost computing platform can be pushed with open-source tools and clever software work. Observers note that such experiments not only entertain but also illustrate the versatility of Android-based systems in handling emulation workloads. The project invites a wider audience to consider how mainstream hardware could host retro gaming experiences without requiring dedicated consoles or high-end PCs. The underlying takeaway is that innovation can take place in unlikely corners of the hardware world, driven by curiosity and a hands-on approach to problem solving. The end result is a compact, portable emulation setup that demonstrates both ingenuity and practical limitations inherent in repurposed devices.