Qualcomm and ARC have partnered to launch a new high-performance gaming device, the ARC X1 handheld console. The device is optimized for modern game engines and multi-platform titles, offering increased computing power, optimized system architecture, low-latency network hardware, and a lightweight design. The ARC X1 runs on a new Android-based operating system called "OwlOS," specifically designed for gaming. Interested parties can sign up on a website for updates on availability.
The Steam Deck OLED has limitations in running certain Windows applications and games, particularly those with kernel-level anti-cheat systems. Valve has provided an official Windows driver bundle for the OLED model since 2024, and by 2026, a community-developed process for dual-booting Windows 11 alongside SteamOS has emerged. Running Windows 11 may be necessary for games that do not perform well on SteamOS, especially competitive titles. The Steam Deck OLED requires specific prerequisites for dual-booting, including a fully charged device, updated SteamOS, sufficient free storage, a Windows 11 license, and a USB flash drive for installation.
Users must follow a detailed installation process that includes updating SteamOS, creating a recovery drive, downloading Windows 11, and configuring the system for dual-booting. Common pitfalls include skipping the recovery drive and under-allocating storage for Windows. Battery life on Windows is shorter than on SteamOS, and users should be aware of this when deciding to dual-boot. The dual-boot setup does not void the warranty, and it is possible to revert to a SteamOS-only setup later.
AYANEO has released a new handheld gaming console called the Konkr Pocket Advance. It features a 3.5-inch LCD display, a MediaTek Helio G90T processor, and runs on Android 12. The device is priced at for the 3GB RAM/32GB storage model and 9 for the 4GB RAM/64GB storage model.
The REDMAGIC 11 Pro is a purpose-built gaming phone with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, up to 24GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. It features a cooling system with liquid cooling, vapor chamber, and a turbo fan. The phone has a 6.85-inch display with a refresh rate of up to 144Hz, making it attractive to gamers who prioritize sustained performance.
The REDMAGIC 11 Pro is a purpose-built gaming phone with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, up to 24GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. It features liquid cooling, a vapor chamber, and a turbo fan for cooling during gaming sessions.
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus is a handheld gaming device powered by a next-generation Intel chip, known for its impressive performance and reliability. It features a seamless sleep and wake mode, allowing for extended hibernation without significant battery drain. The device retails at approximately 0 and has limited availability in the U.S. market. It has an 8-inch 1920 x 1200 display, weighs 1.73 pounds, and outperforms competitors like the Xbox Ally X, showing a 40% performance increase at 1080p resolution. The Claw EX has an 80 watt-hour battery, providing longer playtime compared to rivals under heavy load. However, users have reported graphical and performance issues in some games, and the Windows operating system can be frustrating due to slow game launches and frequent driver updates.
Android gaming has improved across the board due to better chips and software tools that help developers monitor frame rates, control memory use, and respond to heat. This has resulted in games holding steadier frame rates, shorter loading times, and mid-range phones coping with titles that once needed flagship hardware. Dedicated gaming phones are still suitable for demanding titles, but ordinary flagships cover most Android games well. Some Android games do not require flagship hardware, as they depend more on a steady connection and a responsive screen. Bigger screens can enhance the gaming experience, even on devices not specifically designed for gaming. The best Android gaming device is one that matches the user's usual gaming sessions, considering factors like storage, battery life, and actual game requirements.
Valve's new Steam Machine console, called the GabeCube, has a base price of ,049 and an upgraded version priced at ,428. A blogger demonstrated that a comparable gaming device could be built for 0 using a refurbished Dell Optiplex and a used Radeon RX 5500 XT graphics card. The custom case was designed as an 8-inch cube, and the software used was Bazzite Linux with the SteamOS interface. The homemade console achieved an average performance of 62.7 frames per second in Cyberpunk 2077 and over 300 FPS in Portal, with a total system power consumption of 200 watts under maximum load.
The REDMAGIC Gaming Tablet 5 Pro features a 9-inch OLED display running at 185Hz, a Synaptics chip for touch sampling rate of 2000Hz, a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, and a proprietary PC game emulator for x86 software.