Qualcomm is developing a new compute platform for the next generation of handheld gaming devices. The Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 has been announced this week and is already available as a developer kit, designed in partnership with Razer.
Whether you want to play an Android game or stream a PC or console game from a cloud gaming service, the Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 will be capable of handling those tasks. Designed with portable gaming consoles in mind, the G3x features a powerful Adreno GPU supporting 10-bit HDR and FastConnect 6900 Mobile Connectivity suite with support for Wi-Fi 6/6E and 5G mmWave and sub-6 bands for lag-free gaming.
Like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, this SoC features Snapdragon Sound technology to deliver high-quality audio with no latency. Moreover, it supports AKSys, a precise touch controller mapping technology.
Razer's developer kit is just an appetizer of what manufacturers will be able to do with this platform. The display's kit uses a 6.65-inch OLED panel with an FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, and the sound system consists of 4x speakers using Snapdragon Sound technology. There's also a front-facing 5MP/1080p60 webcam with two microphones for streaming purposes.
KitGuru says: This opens the door for more creative handheld gaming consoles to compete with the likes of the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.