TINKERING

Portable Retro Gaming Rig

Build your own portable retro gaming rig: a Skyworth 24″ portable Google TV with a Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro running EmuELEC 4.5, USB-C dock, arcade sticks, and NES controllers. A backpack-sized nostalgia machine for gaming anywhere—plus Google TV for movies and music to keep the party going.

Portable Retro Gaming Rig

Portable Retro Gaming Rig | Backpack Arcade + Google TV Sometimes nostalgia deserves to travel. This portable retro gaming rig is built around a Skyworth 24″ battery-powered smart screen with a Super Console X2 Pro mounted on the back, arcade sticks for the brawlers, and NES pads for the purists. It’s a backpack-sized arcade—flip open, power on, and you’re gaming anywhere in minutes. And when the joysticks rest, it doubles back into Google TV mode for movies and music to keep the party going.

The Screen

At the center is the Skyworth 24-Inch Portable Smart Screen (24P100 Companion Series). This slim, lightweight TV punches above its size:

1080P FHD with a matte finish (easy on the eyes outdoors)
HDR10 + Dolby Audio
Built-in Chromecast and Google Assistant
Three-hour battery life

It’s a travel-ready display that feels like it was made for this project.

The Console

On the back, mounted with heavy-duty Velcro, is the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro. Running EmuELEC 4.5, it holds over 60,000 retro titles—everything from NES classics to arcade favorites. The placement keeps the build tidy: screen in the front, console hidden in the back.

The Dock & Controllers

To handle multiplayer sessions, I added a 4-port USB-C dock with on/off toggles. Each controller can be powered up or down with a quick switch.

The controller lineup:

Data Frog Y5A arcade sticks (2.4GHz wireless) for that authentic arcade feel.
8BitDo NES-style wired controllers for the purists who want the real-deal, classic button mash.

I kept everything on 2.4GHz or wired connections instead of Bluetooth—because when every twitch matters, shaving off latency makes all the difference.

The Carry

The rig is made to move. The screen goes in one hand, while the console, dock, controllers, and cables slip into a small backpack. Setup takes under two minutes: flip open the screen, power up, and press Start.

Wrap-Up

It’s basically a party-in-a-pack—retro nostalgia that goes wherever the friends are. Whether it’s Street Fighter marathons or Super Mario Bros 3 throwbacks, this rig makes sure the fun travels with you. Fast enough for arcade reflexes, precise enough for NES purists.

And when the gaming winds down, the Skyworth screen flips right back into Google TV mode for movies, music, or streaming, so the party keeps rolling.