Steam Deck internals crammed inside an Apple Magic Keyboard create a portable gaming PC
The ultimate mod for SteamOS desktop lovers.

Since the console's release, we have seen some spectacular Steam Deck mods, including the "Steam Brick" and the Steam Deck 32GB RAM mod. Michaelthatsit on Reddit has created another wild mod for the Deck by using the console's internals to create a makeshift "all-in-one" Steam Deck keyboard called the Bento.
Michael's Bento mod turns the Steam Deck into a highly mobile SteamOS desktop system with an integrated keyboard. In images on Reddit, Michael demonstrated one way of using the keyboard computer: connecting the Bento to Type-C-powered display glasses (rather than a conventional display).
To make it all work, the modder removed the Deck's internal motherboard and other necessary components from the console's original clamshell and placed them in a custom-made 3D-printed chassis to fit underneath an Apple 10-keyless Magic keyboard.
Introducing Bento, a steam deck in a keyboard. from r/SteamDeckModded
The chassis consists of two chambers: a larger chamber on the left and a smaller chamber on the right. The left chamber holds all of the Deck's internal hardware, including the battery, and features two vents on the left and top sides to ensure the internal fan has enough fresh air to cool the Deck's custom Van Gogh AMD APU.
The right chamber is simply an extra compartment for housing additional items; in images, the modder shot on Reddit, he used the right compartment to hold a Type-C USB hub. When pieced together, the 3D-printed chassis fits perfectly underneath the Apple Magic keyboard, with rounded edges that perfectly align with the Apple keyboard's rounded design.
The mod is allegedly in its first fully working version, but it has some flaws. Michael was forced to create the 3D-printed clamshell in two parts due to the form factor of his 3D printer. There are also no mouse controls embedded in the design. For his next update, Michael (apparently) wants to create a unified body for the 3D-printed clamshell and dedicated modules for the design that will incorporate mouse functionality.
Michael's Bento mod is yet another demonstration of what the Steam Deck's hardware is capable of with creative minds. His mod, in particular, is helpful for those who love SteamOS and the Steam Deck because of its desktop capabilities more than anything else.
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Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.
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TerryLaze So they made it less portable by having the need for additional things to carry around...Reply
Just get a wireless keyboard and glue a stand on it that can hold the steamdeck. -
Notton Well, at least this one retains the battery.Reply
Though, if it's going to be plugged into a separate monitor, you might as well use a Ryzen 6000/7000/8000 mini-PC board. They're cheaper than a Steamdeck with more powerful CPU/GPU, and typically use SODIMM and a 2280 sized SSD. -
ripbeefbone
lighten up francisTerryLaze said:So they made it less portable by having the need for additional things to carry around...
Just get a wireless keyboard and glue a stand on it that can hold the steamdeck. -
Michaelthatsit
I mean, I’d be carrying all of those things plus a laptop. The goal was to merge at least two into one and remove the redundant screens (laptop and steam deck).TerryLaze said:So they made it less portable by having the need for additional things to carry around...
Just get a wireless keyboard and glue a stand on it that can hold the steamdeck.
So I’ve gone from laptop, steam deck, XR glasses, to bento & XR glasses.
Also it runs Ubuntu. -
LordVile
Issue is it doesn’t run steamos… well… you might as well just run another Linux distro which kind ruins the point of wanting the steamdeck UINotton said:Well, at least this one retains the battery.
Though, if it's going to be plugged into a separate monitor, you might as well use a Ryzen 6000/7000/8000 mini-PC board. They're cheaper than a Steamdeck with more powerful CPU/GPU, and typically use SODIMM and a 2280 sized SSD. -
Notton
Nope, SteamOS will run fine on mostly any Ryzen CPU, though it's best if you use something newer than Zen2 with >16GB RAM.LordVile said:Issue is it doesn’t run steamos… well… you might as well just run another Linux distro which kind ruins the point of wanting the steamdeck UI
Steamdeck itself is just a custom Zen2.
Z1X in the Ally and LeGo are just a renamed 7840U, and get guaranteed compatibility.
I am using SteamOS on a R5-4500U laptop with zero issues.
It'll even work with discrete AMD GPUs.
What ruins the SteamOS UI is not having a touch screen or controller. -
LordVile
“Run fine” is code for kinda but not really and it’s a massively headache when not really happens. Such as not connecting to WiFi, boot looping and random crashes on the ally.Notton said:Nope, SteamOS will run fine on mostly any Ryzen CPU, though it's best if you use something newer than Zen2 with >16GB RAM.
Steamdeck itself is just a custom Zen2.
Z1X in the Ally and LeGo are just a renamed 7840U, and get guaranteed compatibility.
I am using SteamOS on a R5-4500U laptop with zero issues.
It'll even work with discrete AMD GPUs.
What ruins the SteamOS UI is not having a touch screen or controller.
It’s like saying you could just install PS5 OS onto the steamdeck with no issue because it’s AMD. -
Notton
It runs perfectly then.LordVile said:“Run fine” is code for kinda but not really and it’s a massively headache when not really happens. Such as not connecting to WiFi, boot looping and random crashes on the ally.
It’s like saying you could just install PS5 OS onto the steamdeck with no issue because it’s AMD.
Wifi: Perfectly
Touchscreen: Perfectly.
Problems encountered: NONE
Less hassle and time spent than trying to install Win11 onto an HP/Intel 10th gen laptop. -
LordVile
If I go on Reddit now and search for “Steamos ROG ally issues” how many threads will I find? Do you think?Notton said:It runs perfectly then.
Wifi: Perfectly
Touchscreen: Perfectly.
Problems encountered: NONE
Less hassle and time spent than trying to install Win11 onto an HP/Intel 10th gen laptop. -
Notton
you know what? you're just going to keep moving goal posts, so I'll just block you.LordVile said:If I go on Reddit now and search for “Steamos ROG ally issues” how many threads will I find? Do you think?