Ayaneo and OneXPlayer have presented their upcoming Android gaming handhelds powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon G Series SOCs. Each is said to deliver an improved gaming experience thanks to ray-traced graphics driven by Unreal Engine 5.
Not satiated with its Snapdragon X Elite endeavour on laptops, Qualcomm is also joining the handheld market with three new chips set to cover different price segments and performance targets. Among the first announced are Ayaneo’s Pocket S2 and Gaming Pad, and OneXPlayer’s OneXSugar gaming handhelds.
Ayaneo Pocket S2
Starting with the Pocket S2, we find a compact 6.3in machine featuring the faster Snapdragon G3 Gen 3. Despite its smaller size, the S2 boasts a 1440p screen and improved cooling said to maintain stable performance even under heavy loads. This handheld succeeds the Pocket S, offering 30% performance improvement alongside hardware-accelerated ray tracing and upscaling.
Ayaneo Gaming Pad
Gaming Pad, as its name hints, is a tablet-like device that can operate in handheld mode using detachable controllers resembling the Serafim S3 and Razer Kishi. It also features a high resolution 1440p LCD display, but this time boasting a larger 8.3in size and 120Hz refresh rate. Though battery specs are unknown, the brand advertises a larger capacity able to deliver longer play times.
Made using a full-metal CNC frame, the Pad carries smartphone-like aspects in the form of 50MP rear, 13MP ultra-wide, and 5MP front cameras. Not to forget a gyroscope and better cooling than its sibling.
OneXPlayer OneXSugar
OneXSugar is a dual-screen contraption meant to offer a unique gaming experience. The front is covered with a 6.01in display whereas the rear packs a 360° rotatable 3.92in screen a la Nintendo DS. This should result in some interesting app combinations or, better yet, purpose-built games.
Again powered by the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 SOC, this handheld is said to deliver 30% higher CPU performance and 28% faster iGPU than its predecessor.
Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 chips are designed for new handheld devices with better performance, thermals, and graphics. It leverages hardware-accelerated ray tracing, upscaling, and frame generation to maximise graphics quality while maintaining a comfortable frame rate.
“These next-generation Snapdragon G Series processors will power the future of handheld gaming by supporting a wide range of play types and form factors for manufacturers and developers to innovate around,” say Micah Knapp, senior director at Qualcomm.
Ayaneo Pocket S2 is set to launch in March, followed by Ayaneo Gaming Pad and OneXPlayer OneXSugar in May.
