A YouTuber named “iketsj” built a small handheld that can run macOS Big Sur and lets you see it in a video.
The PC includes an SBC LattePanda Alpha board with Intel Core m3 CPU and 8GB of RAM, plus an Arduino Leonardo microcontroller board, a 240GB SATA SSD with the operating system pre-installed, and a 3D printed case.
In the video, we can see how Sanglay coils the cables, clean the screens, puts the screws, and connects things to the ports.
Sanglay ends up booting the device and The macOS Big Sur is there. The battery gauge doesn’t seem to work, but the interface looks fully operational in the limited images we see.
Does this device have any real-world use? Probably not, and its creator admits. “You can say portable macOS is not practical, blah blah blah. Well, of course, you’re right. I just want to make one for myself”, says Sanglay.
YouTuber is also aware that the price of necessary parts is more expensive than a real Mac Mini M1. “I know, but where’s the fun in that?” He says.