Rust Helps Make A $1 Handheld Console
Chris Dell created a handheld gaming console for just $1 using the CH32V003 microcontroller, which costs only 9 cents in bulk. He programmed the device in Rust, leveraging the ch32-hal project to run a simple platform game at 25 fps. The build includes an SSD1306 OLED display and three buttons, demonstrating the potential of low-cost hardware.
- ▪The CH32V003 microcontroller costs only 9 cents when purchased in bulk.
- ▪It is a 32-bit RISC-V chip running at 48 MHz with 2 KB of RAM and 16 KB of flash.
- ▪Chris Dell used Rust and the ch32-hal project to develop a platform game that runs at 25 fps.
- ▪The handheld includes an SSD1306 OLED display and three tactile pushbuttons.
- ▪The total build cost for the console is approximately $1.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Rust Helps Make A $1 Handheld Console No comments by: Zoe Skyforest May 1, 2026 Title: Copy Short Link: Copy These days, even an old Game Boy will set you back $100 or more, and a new handheld console will be many multiples of that. However, you can build a really cheap handheld gaming toy if you follow [Chris Dell’s] example. In [Chris]’s own words, he used Rust to build a $1 handheld gaming console. How is that possible? Well, it all comes down to the CH32V003—a microcontroller cheaper than just about anything else out there. It sells for just 9 cents in bulk, and it’s no slouch either. The RISC-V device is a fully-fledged 32-bit chip running at 48 MHz, though with only 2 KB of RAM and 16 KB of flash. Still, that’s more than enough to make some little games.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hackaday.
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