Tag Archives: Gaming Handheld

This Arduino-Powered Retro Handheld Is One Anyone Can Build at Home

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DIY handheld gaming has always had a ceiling for newcomers. Most builds require custom-designed PCBs, hard-to-find specialized connectors, and at least a few evenings spent with a soldering iron before anything turns on. Results from experienced makers can be impressive, but getting there has traditionally demanded an electronics background and a comfort with tools that many people simply don’t have.

This Arduino UNO Q-based handheld console doesn’t ask for any of that. Every component can be ordered from a standard online retailer and assembled without soldering, making the build about as accessible as a maker project can get. The only parts requiring fabrication are the 3D-printed enclosure and buttons, which come together using heat-set inserts for a clean, professional-looking result that doesn’t betray its module-based origins.

Designer: zalmotek

The hardware list reads like an afternoon’s shopping. At the center is the Arduino UNO Q, pairing a Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 processor running Debian Linux with a dedicated STM32 microcontroller for real-time input handling. Modulino Buttons and a Modulino Joystick handle the controls, an Arduino UNO Media Carrier connects an 8-inch Waveshare touchscreen and an Adafruit speaker, and a Waveshare UPS module provides battery support.

The software side is equally well thought out. The STM32 microcontroller monitors button presses and joystick movements, then passes that data to the Linux environment, where a Python daemon converts everything into standard USB gamepad commands. RetroArch handles the emulation without any complicated setup, so loading up a game doesn’t feel different from plugging a USB gamepad into a PC.

That smoothness pays off in practice. Sitting back with a handheld you built over a weekend and scrolling through titles from systems you grew up with, everything runs cleanly with proper controls and sound. It’s a bit chunkier than a commercial device, given the module-based construction, but the feel is more polished than the trade-off might suggest, especially for a build that skips custom PCBs entirely.

There’s also room to go further than emulation. The UNO Q can run the Godot game engine, which turns the same hardware into a development platform for original games. Between that and RetroArch’s support for a wide range of classic platforms, the console covers both ends of the gaming spectrum without requiring any additional hardware beyond what’s already in the build.

The full hardware list, assembly walkthrough, and complete source code are posted on Arduino Project Hub and GitHub, keeping everything open and reproducible. The documentation also frames the build as a starting point rather than a finished product, with options like swapping the display for a different size, redesigning the enclosure, or adding a Modulino Movement node for motion controls described as natural next directions.

None of that holds together without the right foundation, and the UNO Q’s dual-brain architecture provides it quietly. The STM32 handles time-sensitive inputs without lag while the Qualcomm processor manages the emulation stack, audio, and video at the same time. A software bridge connects the two, and clean communication between them is what keeps the console from feeling like a loose collection of modules.

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Anbernic RG SP is an ultra-slim, modern reinterpretation of the Game Boy Advance SP

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Game Boy SP Advance, released way back in 2003, captured the imagination of portable gaming fanatics for all the good reasons. The retro handheld still has an unquenched appeal for its nostalgic design and folding form factor. Anbernic has a profound affinity for the GBA SP, as we saw the Linux-based Anbernic RG35XXSP bring back old memories.

The gaming accessories maker is back again with a GBA SP-inspired emulation handheld that looks and feels more refined than the earlier interpretation. This ultra-slim clamshell gadget dubbed Anbernic RG SP is designed “to relive the pure joy of the 2D golden era.” The handheld instantly takes you back to the era with its premium metallic finish and the acrylic logo badge.

Designer: Anbernic

In a world where we have graduated to the modern design of the RG Rotate, the RG SP handheld has a distinct place in the hearts of millennial-era gamers like me. Playing 2D games on this gadget is going to be a focused affair as Anbernic understandably drops the idea of adding a joystick on this one. Instead, there is a classic D-pad and button layout with refined tactile input. The handheld has narrow screen bezels, making the 3.4-inch IPS display (720 × 480 resolution) – which is three times the resolution of the original GBA SP stand out. Retro games can be scaled to perfection courtesy of the 3 times scaling, making emulation an easy affair.

Also, the body is 10 percent thinner than the original GBA SP. On the inside, there is the H700 chipset to play any 2D retro game without any lag. In the gameplay video, Anbernic demos the device playing Game Boy Advance titles including Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Fire Emblem, The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, and Pokémon Emerald. Running games made for PSP, PlayStation 1, and SEGA Dreamcast should also be no problem. What’s interesting is the gadget running Stardew Valley port and PC version of Cuphead: Don’t Deal with the Devil from Steam.

The sleek handheld can be connected wirelessly to your TV with the casting option, and paired to a Bluetooth controller like the Gamesir G8 Plus for an enhanced level of gameplay. Dual alloy hinges on the gadget make it easy to place the handheld in any desired orientation, or have multi-angle positioning. The gadget also gets a microSD card slot and 3.5mm audio jack to keep the nostalgia flowing.

Anbernic RG SP will be available in premium metallic finishes including Platinum, Graphite, Black, Teal and Pearl Pink. The only color I would have loved to see is the Metallic Blue, which defined the GBA SP for me. That said, there is no word yet on the pricing or the availability of the ultra-slim retro gaming handheld, but we’ll keep our eyes and ears open.

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Someone Built a Handheld PS4 Twice Because Sony Never Will

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Sony’s PlayStation has always been a home console first and only. The PlayStation Portal, which came closest to answering the demand for a portable PlayStation, streams games from a PS5 rather than running them on the device itself. That gap, an actual PlayStation that plays its own library locally, has stayed open long enough that at least one person decided to fill it themselves, twice.

The PS4P v2 is the second version of a DIY handheld built around a real PS4 Slim motherboard, trimmed and modified to fit inside a 3D-printed shell. The first version, completed earlier this year, was a functional proof of concept that came in at around 1.5 kg and looked more like a prototype than a finished product. This second build is a step up in almost every meaningful way, and the jump in refinement between the two is obvious from the build photos alone.

Designer: wewillmakeitnow

The core remains a cut-down PS4 Slim board, but the second version draws less power than the first, which helps push the battery life a bit further. Six 21700 cells, each rated at 5,000 mAh, power the whole thing for anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours depending on what’s being played. It can also run off external power for longer sessions, and HDMI output means the whole unit can connect to a television with a real DualShock controller attached.

PS4P V1

The display is a 7-inch 1080p OLED panel, which puts it in a different category from most handheld screens at this scale. Cooling is handled by a fan pulled from a retired GTX 750 graphics card, mounted on the rear of the unit. A removable guard sits over the fan, and pulling it off improves airflow when the game demands it; leaving it on protects the fan from dust and impacts during storage or travel.

The finished unit weighs 1.3 kg, which is heavy by any commercial standard. A Steam Deck is considerably lighter. But the honest comparison isn’t really with a Steam Deck, which runs PC games through an x86 processor. This runs the PS4’s actual hardware, which means native execution of the PS4’s library without emulation, streaming, or compatibility layers getting between the player and the game.

The build sits closer to a real commercial product than most DIY console conversions manage. The 3D-printed shell holds everything together cleanly enough that, at a glance, it reads as something you might actually find in a store. That it came out of a single person’s workshop rather than an engineering team with a production budget makes the result even harder to dismiss.

For now, it remains a one-off. Making it smaller, lighter, or more energy-efficient would require changes to the PS4 Slim’s motherboard that go beyond what any single modder can reasonably achieve. The constraints are baked into the hardware. But as a demonstration of what dedication to a specific piece of gaming hardware looks like when Sony won’t build it themselves, the PS4P v2 makes its point clearly.

The post Someone Built a Handheld PS4 Twice Because Sony Never Will first appeared on Yanko Design.

A $129 Music Player Built for People Done With Phone Distractions

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Dedicated music players gradually faded from use once streaming apps turned every smartphone into an on-demand jukebox. Carrying a separate device for audio began to feel redundant. That attitude has slowly changed. Growing numbers of listeners, tired of notifications and algorithm-driven queues, have started reaching for standalone players again, ones that let music be the only thing competing for their attention.

The Hidizs AP30 Music Boy addresses that growing appetite, though it does so in a way that isn’t easy to overlook. Rather than adopting the clean, minimal aesthetic common to most digital audio players, it draws heavily from the visual language of retro handheld gaming. The result is a device that looks playful and compact but carries serious audio hardware inside.

Designer: Hidizs

Physical directional buttons and a 2.0-inch IPS display give the AP30 an immediately tactile quality that touchscreen-only devices often lack. The plastic version weighs just 56g, while the CNC aluminum edition comes in at 80g. A small whale motif on the back adds a quiet nod toward environmental awareness, giving the device one more detail that makes it memorable beyond the spec sheet.

The “wearable” part of the AP30’s pitch has practical implications. It clips to bag straps, hangs from a neck lanyard, or attaches magnetically to the back of a phone via an optional case, keeping it physically accessible during exercise, commutes, or any activity that doesn’t leave a free hand. Storage starts at 128GB built-in and expands to 256GB via a microSD slot.

Behind the gaming console’s exterior is a Cirrus Logic CS43198 DAC paired with an RT6863 amplifier, supporting DSD256, PCM at 24-bit/192kHz, and lossless formats including FLAC, WAV, and ALAC. Everyday headphones connect to the 3.5mm single-ended output, while the 4.4mm balanced connection offers meaningfully stronger output for listeners using higher-end in-ear or over-ear monitors, with room to grow as their setup does.

Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC handles wireless listening without much compromise in audio quality, and the USB-C port doubles as a DAC input for computers and phones. Connect it that way, and the AP30 draws its own power, sparing the host device’s battery. The 1,200mAh cell manages 10 to 12 hours of continuous playback in single-ended mode and charges back to full in about one hour.

HidizsOS, the player’s Linux-based operating system, keeps the interface focused entirely on music rather than apps or streaming services. Customizable EQ presets and switchable digital hardware filters give listeners control over how their music sounds, and a built-in block puzzle game is a fitting Easter egg on a device with this much retro DNA. Both plastic and aluminum editions retail at $129.

There’s no streaming service, no social feed, and no notification waiting to derail the listening session. The AP30 runs on a locally stored library and asks for nothing more than a decent pair of earphones. For anyone who’s ever put a phone on silent just to get an hour of uninterrupted music, it makes a compelling case for carrying two things instead of one.

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Ayaneo Pocket Micro 2 handheld gets better ergonomic design, boasts beefier battery inside

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Ayaneo has a good foothold in the portable console gaming market with its versatile handhelds for every type of gamer. It wasn’t surprising that their upcoming Android-powered handheld was pretty much on the hype train and shrouded in speculative leaks for a few weeks. Now, the fog has finally cleared, and Ayaneo has teased the highly anticipated Pocket Micro 2 gaming handheld, poised to compete with Android devices from competitors like 8BitDo and Retroid.

The gaming handheld has been officially announced on the brand’s X channel, with some details still kept under wraps for later. This device will come in two classic color options: black and silver, indicating that the gadget is targeted towards more serious gamers.

Designer: Ayaneo

This device builds on the 3.5-inch screen Pocket Micro launched way back in 2024, powered by a MediaTek Helio G99 processor. The latest one has the updated joystick design based on the feedback given by the gamer community. The processing hardware also gets a good bump up for enjoying demanding titles, sans any lag. To keep the winning design going, the handheld has the same familiar rectangular form factor.

The official post clearly reveals the front section of the device, and more of the device is slated to come in a couple of days when the company reveals it fully in a livestream. Just like many other handhelds by Ayaneo, the Pocket Micro 2 also features a front glass panel with a borderless display and menu buttons on the chin that could be susceptible to accidental touches. Buttons on the handheld are fairly similar to the predecessor, albeit they’ve gone a little small compared to other handhelds.

On the other hand, the analog sticks take the biggest design change, being recessed deeper into the device for better fused LED lighting and adaptability with customization. Those TMR recessed joysticks ensure there is no stick drifting at all for a more consistent gaming experience. Shoulder buttons on the handheld are slightly larger, along with the enhanced DPAD and action buttons for a better ergonomic feel and precise input. It’ll also get a larger 3,950mAh battery paired to an energy-efficient Snapdragon processor for longer gaming sessions. For connectivity, the Android gaming device has a 3.5 mm jack and a fully featured USB Type-C port.

We’ll have more on the specifications, pricing, and the official pre-order dates as soon as the live stream revelations are out in the open.

 

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OneXPlayer 3 Just Turned the Gaming Handheld Into a 3-in-1 PC

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Gaming handhelds have settled into a fairly predictable shape. A display, a battery, a chip, and controllers, all sealed into a body you carry as a single unit. That works well for most people in most situations. It doesn’t, however, work especially well when you want the same device to handle a different role, because the controllers are permanently in the way and the laptop mode simply doesn’t exist.

The OneXPlayer 3 is built around a different idea. Announced at Computex 2026, it runs Intel’s Arc G3 Extreme processor, a chip designed specifically for handheld gaming on the Panther Lake platform, with 14 CPU cores, 12 Xe3 GPU cores, and up to 180 TOPS of total platform AI compute. What sets it apart from every other Arc G3 device shown at the same event, though, isn’t the chip. It’s the structure.

Designer: ONEXPLAYER/ONE-NETBOOK

The controllers detach. Clip them onto both sides, and it’s a gaming handheld. Remove them and add the magnetic backlit keyboard, and it becomes a compact laptop. Pull that off too, and what’s left is a standalone tablet with an 8.8-inch AMOLED display in native landscape orientation. That last detail matters: most handhelds use portrait panels rotated sideways, which introduces subpixel layout issues. The OneXPlayer 3 doesn’t have that problem.

The display runs at 144Hz with VRR and HDR support, which counts during fast-paced titles where motion clarity and input responsiveness make a concrete difference. The detachable controllers aren’t simplified accessories, either. They carry Hall Effect joysticks for drift-resistant precision, two-stage triggers, a capacitive touchpad for cursor control without needing an external mouse, and rear buttons that keep extra inputs within reach during play.

Battery capacity sits at 85Wh, which is among the largest in any current gaming handheld. An extended session doesn’t mean much, though, if the chip is running too hot to maintain performance throughout. OneXPlayer addresses that with a liquid cooling system designed to manage the sustained thermal output of the Arc G3 Extreme under gaming loads, rather than leaning on a conventional fan arrangement alone.

The port selection reflects how the device wants to be used. USB4 opens up external display connections and eGPU docking that most handhelds simply don’t support. USB-A, a mini SSD expansion slot, MicroSD, and a 3.5mm audio jack fill out the rest, covering both gaming peripherals and the connectivity and storage needs that come up during productivity work.

Intel’s Panther Lake platform also delivers up to 50 TOPS of NPU AI performance alongside the GPU’s compute capabilities, contributing to that 180 TOPS total. That headroom targets AI-assisted gaming features and on-device content creation tools that will roll through software updates, giving the hardware a longer useful life than a device designed purely for gaming today.

Pricing hasn’t been confirmed, though the hardware points to a starting figure above $1,500, with higher configurations likely pushing well past that. A global release is expected in 2026. For a market where most handhelds look and function almost identically, the OneXPlayer 3 is asking a direct question about what a handheld should do when the gaming is done and the bag needs to close.

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ROG Just Gave the Ally Its First OLED and a 171-Inch AR Screen

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Handheld gaming PCs have become serious pieces of hardware over the past few years, and the display has quietly become the most contested spec on the spec sheet. Early handhelds shipped with IPS panels as a matter of course, but expectations have shifted. Owners of these devices spend long hours staring at a relatively small screen, and the quality of that screen now shapes how the whole experience is judged.

ROG is marking 20 years as a brand with an anniversary bundle that puts its most significant Ally upgrade to date front and center. The ROG XBOX Ally X20 is a special-edition take on the Ally X, built around a translucent black chassis with a gold internal structure and a 7.4-inch OLED display, the first of its kind on an Ally, paired in the box with a set of AR gaming glasses.

Designer: ASUS

The jump from IPS to OLED on the Ally is hard to overstate for anyone who’s spent time with both panel types. The Nebula HDR Display delivers 1,400 nits of peak brightness, a 0.2ms response time, a 120Hz refresh rate with FreeSync Premium Pro, and support for Dolby Vision. VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification rounds it out, and Corning DXC glass with an anti-reflective coating cuts glare by 65%.

Under the hood, the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor carries the same horsepower as the Ally X, backed by 24GB of RAM and an 80Wh battery. New TMR joysticks deliver better precision and tracking. Auto SR upscaling handles frame-quality boosts at lower power costs, and Xbox Mode offers a clean, console-like interface for navigating a library that spans Xbox, PC Game Pass, and Steam.

The design is the most conspicuous part of the X20’s identity. The translucent black body lets the gold-accented internal frame show through, making the engineering itself part of the aesthetic. It’s a specific kind of flex that ROG’s anniversary context earns credibility for. Rubberized coating on the rear handgrips keeps the feel practical rather than purely decorative, which matters for a device meant to hold through long gaming sessions.

The bundle’s second piece is the ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 Gaming AR Glasses, and they’re the part that makes this package genuinely different from simply selling a revised Ally X. These aren’t the kind of smart glasses that surface notifications or track fitness. They’re designed specifically for gaming, using dual Sony Micro-OLED displays to generate a virtual screen sized for long sessions away from a TV or monitor.

That virtual screen projects to 171 inches when viewed from 4 meters, covering 95% of the focused field of view. A 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.01ms response time keep fast-paced gameplay clean without smearing or lag. Native 3DoF head tracking anchors the display to your gaze, while Anchor Mode locks it in a fixed position for those who prefer to play without the screen following their movements.

The ROG XBOX Ally X20 isn’t the kind of hardware upgrade that quietly adds a spec or two. OLED on the Ally for the first time, combined with AR glasses that project a room-filling virtual display and wrapped in a translucent anniversary design, makes for a more complete idea than a typical limited-edition product usually delivers. A holiday 2026 release means the wait still has some time left.

The post ROG Just Gave the Ally Its First OLED and a 171-Inch AR Screen first appeared on Yanko Design.

ROG Just Gave the Ally Its First OLED and a 171-Inch AR Screen

Posted on by

Handheld gaming PCs have become serious pieces of hardware over the past few years, and the display has quietly become the most contested spec on the spec sheet. Early handhelds shipped with IPS panels as a matter of course, but expectations have shifted. Owners of these devices spend long hours staring at a relatively small screen, and the quality of that screen now shapes how the whole experience is judged.

ROG is marking 20 years as a brand with an anniversary bundle that puts its most significant Ally upgrade to date front and center. The ROG XBOX Ally X20 is a special-edition take on the Ally X, built around a translucent black chassis with a gold internal structure and a 7.4-inch OLED display, the first of its kind on an Ally, paired in the box with a set of AR gaming glasses.

Designer: ASUS

The jump from IPS to OLED on the Ally is hard to overstate for anyone who’s spent time with both panel types. The Nebula HDR Display delivers 1,400 nits of peak brightness, a 0.2ms response time, a 120Hz refresh rate with FreeSync Premium Pro, and support for Dolby Vision. VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification rounds it out, and Corning DXC glass with an anti-reflective coating cuts glare by 65%.

Under the hood, the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor carries the same horsepower as the Ally X, backed by 24GB of RAM and an 80Wh battery. New TMR joysticks deliver better precision and tracking. Auto SR upscaling handles frame-quality boosts at lower power costs, and Xbox Mode offers a clean, console-like interface for navigating a library that spans Xbox, PC Game Pass, and Steam.

The design is the most conspicuous part of the X20’s identity. The translucent black body lets the gold-accented internal frame show through, making the engineering itself part of the aesthetic. It’s a specific kind of flex that ROG’s anniversary context earns credibility for. Rubberized coating on the rear handgrips keeps the feel practical rather than purely decorative, which matters for a device meant to hold through long gaming sessions.

The bundle’s second piece is the ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 Gaming AR Glasses, and they’re the part that makes this package genuinely different from simply selling a revised Ally X. These aren’t the kind of smart glasses that surface notifications or track fitness. They’re designed specifically for gaming, using dual Sony Micro-OLED displays to generate a virtual screen sized for long sessions away from a TV or monitor.

That virtual screen projects to 171 inches when viewed from 4 meters, covering 95% of the focused field of view. A 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.01ms response time keep fast-paced gameplay clean without smearing or lag. Native 3DoF head tracking anchors the display to your gaze, while Anchor Mode locks it in a fixed position for those who prefer to play without the screen following their movements.

The ROG XBOX Ally X20 isn’t the kind of hardware upgrade that quietly adds a spec or two. OLED on the Ally for the first time, combined with AR glasses that project a room-filling virtual display and wrapped in a translucent anniversary design, makes for a more complete idea than a typical limited-edition product usually delivers. A holiday 2026 release means the wait still has some time left.

The post ROG Just Gave the Ally Its First OLED and a 171-Inch AR Screen first appeared on Yanko Design.

AMD’s Handheld Reign Just Met MSI’s Biggest Intel Threat

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The handheld gaming PC market has been AMD’s playground for most of the last few years. From the Steam Deck to the ASUS ROG Ally, nearly every credible entry runs on AMD silicon, and the gap between those devices and Intel-powered rivals hasn’t always been flattering. The question of who gets to set the hardware standard for portable gaming remains very much open.

MSI is making a strong case for Intel with the Claw 8 EX AI+, unveiled at COMPUTEX 2026. At its core is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme, the first processor Intel built specifically for handheld gaming, drawing on Panther Lake platform foundations and Xe3 GPU architecture. It’s a significant departure from the Lunar Lake chips in older Claw models and a direct challenge to AMD’s portable dominance.

Designer: MSI

The redesigned chassis addresses what earlier Claw models got wrong in the hands. Larger, more sculpted grips bring the device closer to the feel of a traditional console controller, which matters when you’re grinding through a lengthy RPG on a long commute. Hall-effect triggers and sticks, paired with a refined D-pad and bumpers, provide the tactile precision competitive gaming actually demands.

The Arc G3 Extreme pairs with an Arc B390 GPU and XeSS 3 with Multi-Frame Generation, pushing demanding titles to frame rates the previous generation couldn’t sustain. Multi-Frame Generation fills in frames between rendered ones, smoothing out gameplay at settings that would’ve otherwise produced choppy results, making the upgrade feel less like a spec sheet claim and more like something you notice mid-game.

The 8-inch 1920×1200 IPS panel with 120Hz VRR and up to 500 nits of brightness gives AAA titles the visual canvas they deserve. A new high-end linear motor adds faster, more refined haptic feedback, building a physical layer of immersion that makes in-game moments, from a car crash to a sword strike, feel noticeably more real than the rumble motors on competing devices.

Connectivity keeps pace with the rest. Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7 keeps online play smooth, while HDMI 2.1 output lets you extend the experience to a larger screen when the 8-inch panel isn’t enough. A fingerprint sensor in the power button is a small but genuinely convenient touch, eliminating the need to type in a PIN every time you pick the device up.

The Cooler Boost Hyperflow system handles the thermal load with dual fans and dual pipes, keeping the chip from throttling under pressure. The 80Whr battery backs that up with enough capacity for extended play away from an outlet, while MSI’s Center M software, updated with an Xbox Mode, makes Windows feel far more natural on a controller-based device than it has any right to.

As a Copilot+ PC, the Claw 8 EX AI+ also taps into Microsoft’s AI feature set beyond gaming. Pricing and availability haven’t been confirmed, though the previous generation launched at $1,000, and this one is expected to land higher. MSI hasn’t revealed a release date, but the Claw 8 EX AI+ is shaping up to be the handheld everyone else will be measured against.

The post AMD’s Handheld Reign Just Met MSI’s Biggest Intel Threat first appeared on Yanko Design.

Someone Finally Gave Apple’s Biggest Gaming Failure a Second Chance

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Handheld gaming has grown into a serious market, but no single device has managed to satisfy every trade-off at once. The Nintendo Switch sacrifices power for portability, the Steam Deck adds weight and Linux friction, and the ROG Ally costs too much while battery anxiety lingers. Every existing option addresses one frustration and sidesteps another, leaving a gap that’s wide enough for something genuinely different.

That gap is what Pippin V2 sets out to fill. The concept takes its name from one of Apple’s biggest failures: the Bandai Pippin, a gaming console launched in 1996 that folded within a year because of poor market research, no clear audience, and a $599 price tag most wouldn’t pay. This project poses one straightforward question: What would it look like if someone finally got it right?

Designer: Aditya Rajiv

The design breaks into three separable parts. Section A is the display, a panel just 7.5 mm thin that detaches from the controller and works on its own. Section B is the controller and processing brain, housing an Apple M4 chip and the full input layout at 100 by 170 mm. Connect it wirelessly to any screen you already own, and the built-in display isn’t the only option anymore.

The third piece is the battery grip. Most portable gaming devices pit battery life and ergonomics against each other: longer sessions demand bigger batteries, and bigger batteries add bulk and strain. The grip attachment resolves both at once, adding play time while its ergonomic contour eases hand fatigue during extended sessions. Attach it for a long night of gaming; leave it off when you don’t need the extra weight.

The M4 chip is what makes AAA game support credible in this form factor. Apple’s silicon handles workloads that typically require desktop-class cooling and dedicated GPU memory, without the thermal runaway that plagues other handheld competitors. For someone who plays Cyberpunk 2077 or God of War on a home console but wants to continue on a commute, the power ceiling doesn’t require compromising on which games you can actually run.

Cross-device continuity is the other argument for an Apple-branded handheld over another gaming PC alternative. Survey research conducted for this project found that nearly 75% of users were open to handheld gaming, and the biggest complaint about mobile gaming was the lack of physical controls. A device that’s already inside the existing iPhone and Mac ecosystem removes the friction of starting from scratch on a new platform.

The materials reflect the dual identity between Apple’s refined aesthetic and the tactile demands of gaming hardware. The controller body uses anodised aluminium and ABS plastic, with rubber-overmoulded sections for grip and soft TPU for the control surfaces. There are four color options: Metallic Black, Metallic Red, Grape, and Bondi Blue, each carrying translucent and satin finishes that the iMac G3 would’ve recognized.

Pippin V2 is still a concept, with no indication Apple will actually build anything like it. The gap it addresses is real, though, and the research behind it points to an audience that’s already there. Apple’s biggest untapped strength in gaming has always been its ecosystem, and this concept makes the argument that the same infrastructure powering your iPhone and Mac could power something worth playing seriously.

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