Playdate Teardown
Tools
These are some common tools used to work on this device. You might not need every tool for every procedure.
Background and Identification
Released in late 2021 with orders shipping in 2022, the Panic Playdate is marketed as a retro, tiny handheld game system, promising to feel familiar while offering something new. Sporting the usual A and B buttons and a D-pad, the Playdate also makes use of a unique side-mounted flip-out crank mechanism that expands the possibilities of in-game controls, allowing you to “precisely dial in the action.”
The Playdate includes 24 free black-and-white games, a 1-year warranty, a color-matched USB-C to USB-A charging cable, and starts at $179.
Developed by Panic in conjunction with Teenage Engineering, the Playdate has the model number PDU-Y-01.
Specifications
CPU: 180 MHz ARM Cortex M7F (with SDK support for Lua & C)
Memory: 16 MB, 32 KB L1 cache
Storage: 4 GB flash
Battery: 2.74 Wh (14 days on standby clock, 8 hours active)
Display: 2.7 inch, 400 x 200 1-bit black & white
Sound:
- Integrated mono speaker
- Condenser mic + TRRS mic in
Ports:
- 3.5 mm headphone jack
- USB-C power port
Connectivity: 802.11bgn 2.4 GHz W-Fi, Bluetooth
Inputs:
- A & B buttons
- D-pad
- Sleep & menu buttons
- Crank
Dimensions: 76 x 74 x 9 mm (2.99 x 2.91 x 0.35 in)
Misc. Features: 3-axis accelerometer