Modder Hacks Steam Deck into Magic Keyboard Mini-PC

The portable Steam Deck console has found an unexpected second life as a compact computer hidden... beneath an Apple keyboard. Redditor Michaelthatsit unveiled their "Bento" project — essentially transplanting the Deck's internals into a custom case mimicking the Magic Keyboard's form.

Ditching the original console shell, the modder used a custom 3D-printed, two-piece chassis. The larger left section houses the Deck's motherboard, battery, and cooling system (complete with vents), while the right section creates a compartment for peripherals.

The finished unit snugly mounts underneath a compact Apple Magic Keyboard (sans numpad), mirroring its rounded contours. The result is a monoblock-like device, minus the screen. Instead, the creator demonstrates an unconventional display solution: piping the video output directly via USB-C to smart glasses, simultaneously charging the system.

The creator readily admits this version of Bento is functional but rough. The case had to be printed in two pieces due to printer size limits, and there's no built-in solution for cursor control yet. The project's real intrigue lies less in being a finished product and more as a showcase of unconventional thinking for the portable Deck hardware. Bento is all about maximizing the mobility of a SteamOS system while tapping into its desktop potential — achieved through functional, albeit DIY-style, execution.