(Michael Kan/PCMag)
The linux-based Steam Deck and other Windows-powered gaming handhelds may have seized the spotlight in recent years. But Qualcomm still sees potential in Android handhelds, which the company is trying to bring back into the game.
To do so, Qualcomm on Monday announced its next-generation Snapdragon G series chips, which are designed to sustain long, high-quality gameplay on handheld devices. The company first introduced the G series back in Dec. 2021. Over three years later, the effort is building more steam from interested vendors, according to Qualcomm’s Micah Knapp, a senior director of product management.
“We see the Android (handheld) market as still being underserved,” he told me at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
The most powerful processor in the lineup is the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, which will arrive in Ayaneo’s upcoming Pocket S2 Android handheld. At GDC, Qualcomm gave us 30 minutes to try out the product, which is similar to the Nintendo Switch. The device features a 6.3-inch screen capable of a 1440p resolution and snug handles that are comfortable to hold.
During my demo, I played the Android game Wuthering Waves, an open-world action RPG. The experience was buttery smooth, although the frames per second were locked at 60fps. Still, I witnessed no lag in gameplay at all, even as I battled several enemies at once, causing the screen to be filled with action.
The device also never felt hot or overly warm, even though Qualcomm said it had been offering the Pocket S2 throughout the day to other journalists to play. I also liked how you could easily use the handheld as a normal Android device. All I had to do was swipe up and the main Android-based home screen would appear, enabling me to access other apps, including the Chrome browser.
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Overall, the Pocket S2 came off as fun to play, and more comfortable to use than a regular Android phone. In terms of battery life, the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 can offer 6 hours or more of on-device gameplay, Knapp said. But the battery life can extend to 10 to 12 hours if the device is used for game streaming, giving you a way to play games on other platforms outside Android.
It's unknown how much the Pocket S2 will cost when it launches later this month. But I definitely see the appeal, which is what Qualcomm is banking on.
The company also sees a future for the G series to power Windows-based gaming as the company expands into Arm-based Windows 11 laptops. But for now, the G series has been designed mainly to attract Android vendors. “We are already seeing a lot of them push the boundaries in a bunch of directions,” he said.
In addition to the Pocket S2, Ayaneo is developing another handheld called the “Gaming Pad,” which will also use the G3 Gen 3 chip, according to Qualcomm. Expect it to launch in May. Meanwhile, another vendor called OneXSugar is preparing a dual-screen Android gaming handheld that’ll also use the processor. The product is scheduled to be available for pre-order in May.
A separate vendor called Retroid is also developing a GameBoy-like handheld using Qualcomm's Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 chip. The Retroid Pocket Classic is currently available for $129.
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