Tag Archives: Handheld Gaming

MSI Claw 8 AI+ Handheld Gaming PC: Bigger Screen, More Power, and Improved Battery Life

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Just months after its initial launch, MSI is showcasing the next version of its handheld gaming PC, the Claw, at Computex 2024. The new iteration, dubbed the Claw 8 AI+, boasts a complete hardware overhaul and aims to address the shortcomings of its predecessor. Although the design language remains arguably the same, the Claw 8 AI+ now comes with a gray body that helps highlight the controls better, a larger screen, and a much more comfortable ergonomic design.

MSI isn’t revealing the specific Lunar Lake CPU model powering the Claw 8 AI+, but it confirms the presence of this next-generation Intel chip. This is coupled with up to 32GB of speedy LPDDR5x RAM and a 1TB SSD. The storage solution is an M.2 2280 SSD, mirroring the ASUS ROG Ally X, potentially allowing for easier upgrades in the future.

Designer: MSI

Beyond internals, the Claw 8 AI+ sports a redesigned chassis that appears more comfortable to hold compared to the original Claw. The device was kept under a glass display so we couldn’t get a handheld experience. It accommodates a larger 8-inch display, though the resolution remains 1080p with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Dual Thunderbolt ports are a welcome addition, offering versatility for connecting external displays or high-speed peripherals.

Battery life was a major pain point for the original Claw. MSI is rectifying this with a substantial leap in capacity for the 8 AI+. The new model boasts an 80-watt-hour battery, matching the ROG Ally X and offering a significant improvement over the original’s disappointing 53-watt-hour unit. This rapid turnaround from MSI highlights their determination to carve a space in the competitive handheld gaming market. They assure continued support for the original Claw with ongoing driver updates, including one released recently.

The success of the Claw 8 AI+ hinges heavily on the capabilities of the Lunar Lake CPU. Intel boasts a “radical low-power architecture” ideal for handheld devices, alongside improved integrated graphics powered by their Battlemage architecture. While details are scarce, the potential for efficient performance and impressive visuals is promising.

However, past experiences with the original Claw, hampered by the Meteor Lake CPU, serve as a cautionary tale. While other manufacturers opted for AMD processors, MSI’s choice limited performance. Here’s hoping the pairing of Lunar Lake and the Claw 8 AI+ proves fruitful.

Pricing details remain under wraps, but a September launch window is expected. While the final design might differ slightly from the prototype showcased at Computex, a potential price drop for the original Claw is also hinted at.

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ADATA XPG Nia handheld gaming PC brings a bit of ergonomics and sustainability

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Although they have existed for a long time now, it seems that handheld PCs are finally taking root in the market. These mobile gaming devices are becoming more numerous, including a few from well-known manufacturers as well as a bit more obscure brands. That, unfortunately, also means that some designs are getting all too common, even if there’s still plenty of room for experimentation and innovation. At Computex 2024, we’re seeing some of these bold designs that are trying to challenge the status quo and one of them comes from an unlikely name yet could also be bringing some much-needed improvements to handheld gaming computers.

Designer: ADATA XPG

Handheld PCs are pretty much miniature laptops and they even use some of the same hardware but with weaker cooling solutions. That practically means you’re stuck with the specs you got when you bought the device, though there might be options to upgrade the storage and only that. Many laptops these days, however, also have upgradable RAM, and ADATA, a brand better known for its data storage solutions, is bringing that to the handheld PC market with the XPG Nia.

This feat is being attributed to the equally new LPCAMM2 memory module which, unlike most RAM on handhelds and some laptops, isn’t soldered to the motherboard. This makes memory upgradable in theory, though how easy it will be still remains to be seen. The XPG Nia also features upgradable storage courtesy of a more standard M.2 2230 SSD slot. This might sound like minor improvements since the capability has been around in laptops for many years, but it goes a long way in making handhelds last longer and be more sustainable in their own small way.

That isn’t the only novelty that the ADATA XPG Nia is bringing to the table, however. The handheld has a tilting screen that you can adjust to your comfort, and it has a built-in kickstand that lets you put the device down on a table without requiring a separate stand or dock. And unlike the majority of handheld gaming PCs, it has a front-facing camera that can be used for eye-tracking and, possibly, video chat among gamers. Again small details, but ones that significantly improve the usability and ergonomics of a device that still hasn’t cemented its place in the market.

As admirable as these improvements might be, the big drawback to the ADATA XPG Nia is that it’s not a product you can buy, at least not any time soon. What was shown at Computex was just a prototype, and the earliest ETA for the handheld PC is 2025. That leaves not only a lot of room for the brand to change or even backtrack on these features, it also gives its competitors the opportunity to steal the limelight even before the XPG Nia has a chance to get out the door.

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ASUS ROG Ally X gaming handheld PC brings small changes that have a big impact

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After numerous leaks and rumors, the cat is finally out of the bag. The next ASUS Republic of Gamers handheld PC isn’t the Ally 2 but the ROG Ally X as expected. While some might see it as simply splitting hairs, the naming does make a difference. It still has the beating heart of the first ROG Ally, but with a few extras that respond to the criticisms and requests of the gaming community who embraced this more portable form factor right off the bat. From some perspectives, those extras are really small and subtle, especially if looking at it from the outside. But with enough of those changes working together, the ROG Ally X is positioning itself to be a more powerful companion that will let you play more games longer.

Designer: ASUS ROG

Just from a glance, you might not be able to tell that this is in any way different from the OG ROG Ally, at least except for its new all-black motif. It still boggles the mind why ASUS chose white for its first iteration, a color that’s almost alien to gamers’ palettes, though it did help the ROG Ally stand out from its rivals. If you look more closely, however, and hold the device in your hands, you might notice how things are somewhat different, hopefully for the better.

The handles, for example, are rounder now, which helps improve the grip that’s critical to a handheld device. The back triggers now come at an angle for better ergonomics, while the joystick and D-pad have been improved to be more durable and more precise. The biggest changes, however, are on the inside, where every little thing counts if it’s meant to improve the gaming experience.

It’s still the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme as the original ROG Ally, but that mobile gaming processor is now paired with 24GB of DDR-7500 RAM, up from 16GB in the first iteration. The storage capacity has been doubled to up to 1TB, but the bigger surprise is that ASUS is making it easier to upgrade it. The battery has also been doubled to 80Wh, which means you’ll have more time playing before you need to plug the little monster in. To compensate for this newfound power, ASUS ROG promises an improved thermal cooling solution so you won’t burn your hand while you play.

There is at least one change that some might consider a downgrade, depending on how attached they’ve become to ASUS’ proprietary XG external graphics port. In its place, the ROG Ally X uses a more standard Thunderbolt-compatible USB-C port that could still work with external GPUs but also with a lot more devices as well. Given all these changes, it’s no surprise that the ASUS ROG Ally X will cost more than its predecessor at $799.99. Then again, this version is squarely aimed at power gamers, and those who can live with the bare minimum can still get the older model, at least for now.

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Anbernic RG Cube is a Cute Retro Handheld with Game Boy-inspired Square Screen

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Liking for retro game-inspired handhelds has surged in the last few years, thus, prompting proactive manufacturers to catch up on the trend. Anbernic is not letting this opportunity go with a variety of gaming handhelds including the RG35XX H, RG353P, RG35XXSP, and the RG556 (very unconventional naming conventions has to be said) already released this year.

Add to that lineup the latest RG Cube which comes loaded with a Unisoc T820 processor, capable enough to play titles from the Nintendo 6 and Dreamcast. According to the company, it doesn’t stop there as the handheld should also play select titles from the PS 2, GameCube, Wii, and Nintendo 3DS in emulation mode.

Designer: Anbernic

The cute Android 13-powered gadget has a 3.95-inch IPS touchscreen (720×720) with a 1:1 display ratio which to be honest should affect the visuals in some of the newer titles. The octa-core processor (maxes at 2.7 GHz speed) mated to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM is supported by an 850MHz GPU capable of producing 1080p resolution visuals at an impressive 120fps. The buck doesn’t stop there as RG Cube has 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage with expandable storage of up to 2TB via a MicroSD card.

For extended gaming hauls, the handheld boasts a battery life of 7 hours courtesy of the 5200mAh battery life. The in-built fan provides active cooling when things get too hot. Most gamers should love this compact gaming player since it has RGB lighting effects, a gyroscope sensor, a vibration motor, D-Pad input, action buttons, shoulder triggers, and Hall Effect joysticks that should last long without any malfunctions. Playing classic games on this one will be a treat with the stereo speakers in-built, USB-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for purists.

Anbernic has not announced the pricing or release date of the gaming handled yet or the pricing. At launch, the RG Cube will come in three color options: Beige White, Radiant Purple, and Gray.

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Game Boy-like Handheld Console Concept features a Massive Display and Rotating Controllers

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It’s like if a Game Boy Classic and an iPad had a baby…

In the 80s, the Game Boy changed how we saw gaming. It condensed an entire gaming setup down into something small enough to fit in your hands – remember that game consoles and TVs were massive back then. However, 40 years later, not much has changed. The Nintendo Switch is still a small game console, albeit with better graphics. Designed to bring a more immersive gaming experience to those 90s kids who loved the Game Boy era, the PlayFusion is a concept handheld that offers a larger iPad-esque format with a bigger display and some interesting controls. Embodying an aesthetic that is retro yet minimalist, the PlayFusion is slick, evocative of a golden gaming era, and instead of conventional buttons and joysticks, has rotating controller modules that you can flip to choose between analog buttons, touch surfaces, and joypads.

Designer: Alex Casabo

The PlayFusion, as its name suggests, is a combination of old and new, classic and revolutionary. Designed for 90s kids who pretty much saw some of the best games life could offer, from Super Mario and Pokemon to NFS and Maro Kart, the PlayFusion is a console meant to revisit that glorious past, in the format of a device that also lets you explore the future of games. It’s a gaming-console way of saying “look how far we’ve come.”

The large display is quite a welcome change, with a 4:3 aspect ratio reminiscent of handheld consoles from the past, but also a hat-tip to the iPad, which Apple has been positioning as a great gaming-ready device. The large display is housed within a slim body (although not as slim as the iPad Pro) that feels great to hold and use, but by far the most interesting part of the PlayFusion is its controls.

Nothing captures the essence of ‘fusion’ more than the shapeshifting controllers on the PlayFusion console. Casabo’s attempt with the PlayFusion was to provide an experience that is simultaneously futuristic yet classic. The controllers exist as two discs on the base of the PlayFusion, that rotate on a horizontal axis. On one side, you’ve got cutting-edge touch-sensitive backlit controls. On the other, however, you’ve got NES-inspired red action buttons and a D-pad that gives you the old-school gaming experience.

The modern controls are sleek and reminiscent of the on-screen controls you’d find on mobile or tablet games.

The retro controls, on the other hand, are as NES as they get, with the familiar shape and color associated with the famed gaming console.

The overall PlayFusion concept is a slick, rectangular number that has a distinct Atari-ish aesthetic when you see the back. The front is dominated by that screen of course, which evokes the sense of a larger-than-life Game Boy with how the controllers are located right below the screen. The name PlayFusion feels almost like a call-out to Sony’s PlayStation, but I assure you that’s purely coincidental at this point.

The best part of the PlayFusion lies probably in its wishful thinking. It’s designed as an all-in-one device that features the best of gaming companies like Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox, all combined in one singular device (you can even see the various logos on the back). There’s really no way such a device could exist with the blessings of Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft (given how trigger-happy their legal departments are), so the only hope is of a PlayFusion that runs an emulator, bringing nostalgia to gamers across the world… with a touch of whimsy and a massive immersive screen!

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Anbernic Game Boy Advance SP clone does more than just copy an old design

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Retro gaming consoles and computers are still going strong, with many designs still left to be revived, resized, and retrofitted for modern times. Most of these products try to recreate the experience of those original machines, at least with the games they used to run on very limited hardware. That said, you can only go so far trying to recreate the past. Sooner or later, you will hit a wall, as demonstrated by the limited number of titles supported by many of these retro consoles. This reinterpretation of a Game Boy classic design, however, isn’t exactly a simple copy of the clamshell handheld. Instead, it takes the same spirit of portable adventure that the Game Boy Advance SP embodied and wraps it in a body that’s well-suited for modern gaming styles.

Designer: Anbernic

It’s honestly a bit of a gray legal area whenever third-party brands try to embrace a design so close to something from the annals of video gaming history. That hasn’t stopped the likes of Anbernic from taking obvious inspiration from those bygone designs but with enough modifications to skirt infringement accusations. Of course, Anbernic has its own original designs, but the ones that really grab your attention are those that pay homage to icons like the Nintendo Game Boy.

With the uninspiring name of Anbernic RG35XXSP, the prolific gaming handheld manufacturer is bringing the Game Boy Advance SP back to life, or at least the pocket-sized clamshell design that made it quite a hit. It’s just as blocky and thick as the original, but that’s also part of the device’s charm. For better or worse, however, that’s where the similarities end to the point that you can even say that the RG35XXSP was simply “inspired” by Nintendo’s handheld.

Deep inside, it uses the same guts as all the other iterations of the RG35XX, which means that it’s practically a mini computer that runs the Linux operating system. Specifically, it uses an emulation platform that can support a whole plethora of games from the likes of the Nintendo 64, PlayStation 1, PlayStation Portable, or even MS-DOS. And, yes, it can probably run Game Boy games as well, though you’re left to your own devices on how to make all these work.

What’s more important, however, is that the RG35XXSP doesn’t use the limited controls of the Game Boy Advance SP. Instead, it has enough buttons to support all those gaming platforms, though don’t expect any analog joystick here. The pocketable gaming handheld is also described to be equipped with modern technologies, like Wi-Fi and 5G for local multiplayer gaming, HDMI for TV output, and support for Bluetooth peripherals like controllers, keyboards, and mice. Shown off in four designs that give tribute to those consoles and handhelds of the past, launch details for the Anbernic RG35XXSP are unfortunately still unavailable at this moment.

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The Playdate Handheld Gaming Console gets a Nintendo Switch-style dock… but better

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Remember the Playdate console from 2019? If you don’t, here’s a refresher – the Playdate made the rounds on the internet at a time when gaming was becoming quite the craze. Google had just announced Stadia, Apple had recently unveiled their subscription-based games service, and among all that news, the Playdate emerged as this bastion of retro handheld gaming. It came with a quirky, bold design courtesy of Teenage Engineering, and sported a unique hand-cranked control that promised to add a new dimension to your gaming experience. With a retro black and white screen and the promise of immersing you in nostalgia, the Playdate garnered quite a bit of a fan following, but that doesn’t seem to be all on the horizon. The console’s maker, Panic, has just announced a new docking station for the console. Quite similar to Nintendo’s dock, this one lets you attach the gaming device to the dock for charging… but that’s not all. The Stereo Dock, as it’s named, also serves as a Bluetooth speaker, as well as a stand for the Playdate’s stylus, a new input device for the gaming console!

Designer: Panic

With a design that mirrors the Playdate console’s aesthetic perfectly, the Stereo Dock is a quirky retro-punk box that sits on your desk with speaker grilles on either side, a stylus popping out the top, and a very old-school kickstand at the bottom that lets you prop the dock up at an angle. Along with the Playdate console, it almost looks like a tiny retro television with buttons on the bottom and an antenna on the top!

The Playdate console snaps right onto the front of the dock and begins charging wirelessly. The dock doesn’t just serve as a speaker for the console, but also as a general stereo speaker that you can connect to your phone or any other device for audio playback. The Playdate DOES have a touchscreen interface, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the stylus in the Stereo Dock would work along with the console. If it relies on regular capacitive touch input then the stylus would just as easily work with your smartphone or touchscreen tablet too, which would surely be interesting.

There’s no official launch date for the Stereo Dock, although Panic has had its share of minor delays. Project Lead Greg Maletic said “We apologize to everyone with a Playdate who has been waiting patiently for the Stereo Dock; it’s been a trickier project than we anticipated and we had a few false starts. We thought we’d save some time on that project by having our factory do the software for the Stereo Dock, but we’ve learned that you don’t always necessarily want that in some cases. The Stereo Dock is very much alive, we have the physical prototypes to prove it! We expect to have a formal update on when you can buy one later this year.”

It isn’t easy being a fledgling gaming company dealing with product success – folks who remember Cyberpunk 2077 know how small companies can sometimes get crushed by the burden of expectations, although Panic certainly delivered on its promise by launching the Playdate in 2022 after a few road bumps that also included needing to change battery suppliers due to a serious battery issue. Hopefully, the Stereo Dock will be out sometime later this year, although it’s currently missing an official price tag.

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Handheld gaming console concept offers lifestyle features that go beyond gaming

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Thanks to devices like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion GO, handheld PCs are becoming more common and more acceptable in the public’s eyes. That horizontal orientation, while more gaming-oriented, isn’t the only possible design, nor is it even the best option. There are other styles, particularly the laptop-like clamshell design, that offer a user experience that is slightly different but also a bit more flexible in its features. Of course, just because it looks like a mini laptop doesn’t mean it has to behave like one, and this particular handheld console concept stretches that design a bit further to transform a gaming device into a lifestyle product.

Designer: Viet Doan Duc

ORBIS, the name for this design concept, wouldn’t be the market’s first clamshell gaming handheld. Chinese brand GPD has been making such devices for years, and recently rival AYANEO even put out two designs for such a portable gaming machine, including one that tries to recreate the experience of the Nintendo DS. What ORBIS does differently, however, is how it gives as much attention on features that let users personalize the device’s appearance as on the specs that drive the use of the gaming computer.

One simple yet significant example is how the removable ABS cover on the lid lets you customize the appearance of the device while also opening the doors to branded accessories. While you can also just slap on stickers like you would on a laptop, this system is more flexible, allowing users to swap out covers depending on their mood or style, just like how you could easily switch cases on smartphones. There is also RGB lighting encircling the analog sticks, delivering not only a gamer aesthetic but also increased visibility in the dark.

The ORBIS handheld takes a bit of inspiration from the Nintendo DS with its second screen right below the gamepad controls, but it also goes beyond what Nintendo’s popular handheld could accomplish. Because it is a gaming PC more than a closed console system, that touch screen can be used for different purposes, including a virtual keyboard. The typing experience will be awkward and difficult, yes, but it’s significantly better than what’s offered on the likes of the Steam Deck and ROG Ally.

Admittedly, some parts of the ORBIS concept are a bit too idealistic, like the use of an ARM-based CPU (versus Intel or AMD) together with a high-end NVIDIA RTX graphics processor. Having two 5,200mAh batteries inside such a small and compact device is also unrealistic, without even considering things like thermal management and charging speeds. Of course, as a concept, it’s not wrong to sometimes shoot for the sky, and thankfully, some of the ideas here can actually be easily implemented, especially the parts that can significantly improve the user experience by simply allowing owners to customize their device to their hearts’ content.

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Modular gaming console concept embraces all types of playing styles

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Handheld gaming devices are becoming more popular these days, though due to their portable and handheld nature, most of them cater to only one style of playing. These devices pretty much have game controllers split into two halves that flank a big display. Not all games are best played that way, though, but it’s almost impossible to support all kinds of input methods in a single device. That’s what made the modular design of the Nintendo Switch quite popular, but it still revolved around the same controller design. This concept for a modular gaming handheld tries to push the envelope a bit further, allowing different input methods and playing styles by simply swapping out buttons, joysticks, and knobs.

Designer: Bukvity Lorisz

There once were only two ways to play video games, one with a keyboard and mouse and another with gamepads. With the arrival of smartphones, a third, gesture-based style was added to the mix. It’s almost impossible for a single device to support all those, at least not without attaching external peripherals, but some designs try their best to do so. GPD and AYA, for example, have a few designs that add a mini keyboard to the device, but that’s more for sending brief messages rather than playing with a keyboard and mouse.

The LUMI DREAMSTATION-02 concept puts a different spin on the idea of a flexible gaming device that can embrace different playing styles instead of sticking to a single one. Yes, it doesn’t have a QWERTY keyboard, but it’s not impossible to add something like it after the fact. That’s because the biggest pull of this design is a flexible modular system that lets you mix and match different controls as the need arises.

The LUMI DS-02 is admittedly a weird-looking device compared to any gaming handheld. It has a large square screen, which means it won’t match any existing game aspect ratio, and right below it sits the controller section with two square areas for the modular controls. One side looks like a D-Pad with four separate buttons arranged in a cross while the other side has buttons and knobs. It’s not hard to imagine that many games aren’t going to be easily controlled with a knob or dial, but you can swap those out with a joystick, a regular D-Pad, another set of buttons, and more. The idea is that you can change the controls to suit the game, not the other way around.

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The controller section itself can be detached and the screen propped up on a table, similar to the design of Nintendo Switch. This opens the console to even more use cases, like two players using the same console with different controllers. As interesting as this design might seem, it will still depend on how comfortable those controls will be and how easy it will be to swap them around. Regardless, it’s definitely a notable idea, one that tries to be more inclusive, especially if you can substitute more accessible controls for those with physical disabilities.

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Handheld gaming console only plays pinball, comes with a retro analog twist

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Gaming handhelds are quite the hot item in tech these days, with the likes of the Nintendo Switch still selling strong and handheld PCs becoming more common. Of course, gaming devices you can hold in your hands are nothing new, even discounting how smartphones or even old “dumb” phones have been offering such an experience for years now. During the age of the “Game & Watch,” each handheld offered a single game and only a single game, making each one a collectible item as well as a toy. That might sound wasteful and impractical today, but such a dedicated device can spark a bit of nostalgia, especially if it’s a classic game that everyone knows and perhaps loves. Even better if it plays almost exactly like the original pinball, complete with a physical lever.

Designer: Giacomo Carlini

Almost everyone is familiar with pinball, even if only in concept or through movies. Just like arcades, the game is like a relic of the past, which makes it even better suited for a retro makeover. FlipOnGo is a concept that capitalizes on the nostalgia potential of the game but puts in a design that mixes the old and the new in interesting and unconventional ways. Yes, it’s a digital gaming handheld, and yes, you still need to pull that lever to start playing.

The device, which is only a little larger than a deck of cards, offers a classic game of pinball with the bells and whistles of a digital version. There are no real balls involved, and no mechanical paddles to flip. It has a large display, which shows a playing field and digital versions of flippers and bumpers. It also has a smaller display that shows the score, how many balls you have left, and the remaining battery.

To play the game, however, you will have to really give your fingers and hand an exercise. There’s a real lever hanging down the bottom of the console, and you have to pull the spring-loaded mechanism to “launch” the ball into play. Buttons near the top on each side of the device act as your paddle controls, though it’s uncertain how comfortable it will be to play the game this way.

The design of FlipOnGo is definitely intriguing, though it won’t be able to shake off doubts about the feasibility of such a device, especially with a lever that could become a source of mechanical failure after some time. It does, however, bring back a little of that joy and excitement when playing a classic pinball game, complete with that iconic lever, just miniaturized for portability.

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