This tiny handheld runs macOS Big Sur and it's wild

Iketsj
Iketsj (Image credit: Iketsj)

What you need to know

  • Someone has made a tiny handheld computer that runs macOS Big Sur.
  • YouTuber Iketsj used a single-board computer with an m3 CPU and 8GB of RAM.
  • It also has a 240GB SSD and a 3D printed case.

A YouTuber has created a tiny handheld computer capable of running macOS Big Sur for no reason whatsoever.

iketsj published a video titled 'World's First DIY macOS Big Sur handheld'. The small channel has just over 500 subscribers, but the video has more than 36,000 views, its description states:

Is this the world's first DIY handheld that can run macOS Big Sur? Yes, I know that you can install macOS on UMPCs like on the GPD devices and such, but that's not a DIY handheld. :D For those who are asking, the keyboard is a Q9 mini wireless keyboard.

The tiny computer is a handheld PC, based around a LattePande Alpha single board computer. It has an Intel m3 CPU and 8GB or RAM, as well as 240GB of solid-state storage. This is all tied together by an Arduino Leonardo microcontroller board, and housed inside a 3D printed case.

The macOS operating system is preinstalled on the SSD, and the video shows iketsj (real name Ike T. Sanglay Jr) booting up the device.

There are some drawbacks, the battery indicator doesn't work, and he admits there's probably no real-world application stating "I just want to make one for myself".

It's also not particularly economical, with the total of parts coming to more than an M1 Mac mini, Apple's most recent compact desktop based around its powerful Apple silicon chip. Still awesome though, check out the video below!

Stephen Warwick
News Editor

Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple. Follow him on Twitter @stephenwarwick9