Tag Archives: handheld console

Modular gaming console concept embraces all types of playing styles

Posted on by

Handheld gaming devices are becoming more popular these days, though due to their portable and handheld nature, most of them cater to only one style of playing. These devices pretty much have game controllers split into two halves that flank a big display. Not all games are best played that way, though, but it’s almost impossible to support all kinds of input methods in a single device. That’s what made the modular design of the Nintendo Switch quite popular, but it still revolved around the same controller design. This concept for a modular gaming handheld tries to push the envelope a bit further, allowing different input methods and playing styles by simply swapping out buttons, joysticks, and knobs.

Designer: Bukvity Lorisz

There once were only two ways to play video games, one with a keyboard and mouse and another with gamepads. With the arrival of smartphones, a third, gesture-based style was added to the mix. It’s almost impossible for a single device to support all those, at least not without attaching external peripherals, but some designs try their best to do so. GPD and AYA, for example, have a few designs that add a mini keyboard to the device, but that’s more for sending brief messages rather than playing with a keyboard and mouse.

The LUMI DREAMSTATION-02 concept puts a different spin on the idea of a flexible gaming device that can embrace different playing styles instead of sticking to a single one. Yes, it doesn’t have a QWERTY keyboard, but it’s not impossible to add something like it after the fact. That’s because the biggest pull of this design is a flexible modular system that lets you mix and match different controls as the need arises.

The LUMI DS-02 is admittedly a weird-looking device compared to any gaming handheld. It has a large square screen, which means it won’t match any existing game aspect ratio, and right below it sits the controller section with two square areas for the modular controls. One side looks like a D-Pad with four separate buttons arranged in a cross while the other side has buttons and knobs. It’s not hard to imagine that many games aren’t going to be easily controlled with a knob or dial, but you can swap those out with a joystick, a regular D-Pad, another set of buttons, and more. The idea is that you can change the controls to suit the game, not the other way around.

1

The controller section itself can be detached and the screen propped up on a table, similar to the design of Nintendo Switch. This opens the console to even more use cases, like two players using the same console with different controllers. As interesting as this design might seem, it will still depend on how comfortable those controls will be and how easy it will be to swap them around. Regardless, it’s definitely a notable idea, one that tries to be more inclusive, especially if you can substitute more accessible controls for those with physical disabilities.

The post Modular gaming console concept embraces all types of playing styles first appeared on Yanko Design.

Handheld gaming console only plays pinball, comes with a retro analog twist

Posted on by

Gaming handhelds are quite the hot item in tech these days, with the likes of the Nintendo Switch still selling strong and handheld PCs becoming more common. Of course, gaming devices you can hold in your hands are nothing new, even discounting how smartphones or even old “dumb” phones have been offering such an experience for years now. During the age of the “Game & Watch,” each handheld offered a single game and only a single game, making each one a collectible item as well as a toy. That might sound wasteful and impractical today, but such a dedicated device can spark a bit of nostalgia, especially if it’s a classic game that everyone knows and perhaps loves. Even better if it plays almost exactly like the original pinball, complete with a physical lever.

Designer: Giacomo Carlini

Almost everyone is familiar with pinball, even if only in concept or through movies. Just like arcades, the game is like a relic of the past, which makes it even better suited for a retro makeover. FlipOnGo is a concept that capitalizes on the nostalgia potential of the game but puts in a design that mixes the old and the new in interesting and unconventional ways. Yes, it’s a digital gaming handheld, and yes, you still need to pull that lever to start playing.

The device, which is only a little larger than a deck of cards, offers a classic game of pinball with the bells and whistles of a digital version. There are no real balls involved, and no mechanical paddles to flip. It has a large display, which shows a playing field and digital versions of flippers and bumpers. It also has a smaller display that shows the score, how many balls you have left, and the remaining battery.

To play the game, however, you will have to really give your fingers and hand an exercise. There’s a real lever hanging down the bottom of the console, and you have to pull the spring-loaded mechanism to “launch” the ball into play. Buttons near the top on each side of the device act as your paddle controls, though it’s uncertain how comfortable it will be to play the game this way.

The design of FlipOnGo is definitely intriguing, though it won’t be able to shake off doubts about the feasibility of such a device, especially with a lever that could become a source of mechanical failure after some time. It does, however, bring back a little of that joy and excitement when playing a classic pinball game, complete with that iconic lever, just miniaturized for portability.

The post Handheld gaming console only plays pinball, comes with a retro analog twist first appeared on Yanko Design.

AYANEO Flip DS handheld PC takes inspiration from a different Nintendo star

Posted on by

The Nintendo Switch is hailed as the design that brought the handheld gaming market back to life, but it’s hardly the only notable product from the gaming giant. Almost two decades ago, Nintendo launched the evolution of its Game Boy line, the Nintendo DS with its odd yet interesting second screen. It’s still debatable whether that feature was a success or just a gimmick, but there’s little argument that it became an iconic design that few have been able to emulate successfully. One of the rising names in the handheld PC segment, however, is taking a stab at bringing that uniqueness to this fledgling market, with a micro laptop design that includes not a keyboard but a small second screen, a feature that could be even more quirky and gimmicky than it was on the Nintendo DS.

Designer: AYANEO

It’s hard not to see the Nintendo DS as a bit gimmicky. Almost all the controls you need to play handheld games are mostly covered by buttons and joysticks, so you actually need to craft specific games to take advantage of that second screen. Because of the custom design, those games won’t work on any other console without heavy changes or some special emulation. That said, a second screen might actually have more utility on a different platform like Windows, where a different display could be used for displaying information or custom controls.

That seems to be what AYANEO is aiming for with the Flip DS launching on Indiegogo next month. The handheld laptop design is nothing new and AYANEO, in fact, has a variant with that design, the AYANEO Flip KB. That squeezes a basic QWERTY keyboard in between split gamepad controls, allowing for quick text input in games or Web browsing. The AYANEO Flip DS, however, switches out the keyboard for a 3.5-inch touch screen, providing a second display that could augment the gaming experience, at least in theory.

In practice, that touch display can be used to show anything as long as the operating system or games support it. At the most basic level, it can give quick access to the most used settings, like toggling Wi-Fi, muting the mic, or even shutting down the PC. It can also display the system’s current operating conditions, for gamers who are concerned about frame rates, power draw, and temperatures. Given the more open Windows gaming ecosystem, it’s conceivable that this screen can also be used for additional in-game controls that are just a thumb tap or swipe away. It could even be used as an on-screen virtual keyboard!

That said, additional features could also mean additional burdens on the system as well as the buyer’s wallet. These are features that are not exactly critical to enjoying games on the go, as proven by the half-dozen handheld gaming PCs now on the market. It’s still an interesting exercise in design that looks to another Nintendo product for guidance, because as popular and innovative as it may be, the Switch isn’t the be-all and end-all of handheld gaming.

The post AYANEO Flip DS handheld PC takes inspiration from a different Nintendo star first appeared on Yanko Design.

PlayStation One-inspired Handheld Console has a Built-in Disc Reader for Offline Gaming On-The-Go

Posted on by

The PlayStation 5 may have gotten a design refresh in the form of a detachable disc drive… but this handheld concept gets a feature we never thought we’d see… handheld disc gaming! The MOI3D is a concept controller from the brains of Vadim Danilkov, who wanted to build a modern variant of the PS One. Debuted in 2000, the redesigned PS One was the highest-selling console that year (even outperforming the more capable PS2 which launched in the same year)… its highlight, a detachable LCD screen that made it a complete gaming solution that you could play with sans a TV. MOI3D builds on that retro vision, with a handheld variant that lets you play all your disc-based PS games going all the way back to the first PlayStation made. Pop the disc in the back and the console fires up, allowing you to relive almost 3 decades of gaming a la PlayStation!

Designer: Vadim Danilkov

The MOI3D was created as a part of Vadim’s broader CAD modeling and plastics rendering course back in the day, and only recently revived as a concept tech device given Sony’s odd PlayStation Portal debut that really confused the entire gaming world. While the Portal looked like a spiritual successor to the PSP, it turned out to be a glorified controller that only worked when wirelessly tethered to an existing PS5. The MOI3D has no such problem, given that it physically runs games on the device thanks to that built-in CD player.

The MOI3D’s aesthetic gets defined by the presence of this CD reader. While most handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck have a rather sensible rectangular shape, the MOI3D looks sort of like if a rectangle ate a circle. The weird form may be a deterrent for some, but I think it’s a classic example of form following function… and what the MOI3D loses in sleek appeal, it makes up for with its gaming chops and incredible backward compatibility.

The level of detailing in this concept is maddening to the point where I feel like it should just be a real product by now. Vadim’s pretty much built out every PCB, button, and plastic component in this device and that in itself is a design feat that’s difficult to achieve.

Keeping in line with current handheld consoles, the MOI3D has all the bells and whistles, including all the action buttons (even the L1/L2 and R1/R2 buttons on the shoulders), an HDMI out, and a USB-C port for charging. A centrally located button on the top surface helps open the CD tray, and at least from the looks of it, the one thing missing is a 3.5mm audio jack. To be fair, the MOI3D does have its own front-firing speaker units. That should definitely hold up wonderfully for some of the older games you’ll find yourself playing on the MOI3D, given its ability to support games from the original PS dating back to 1994! Online gaming could never compare itself to this…

The post PlayStation One-inspired Handheld Console has a Built-in Disc Reader for Offline Gaming On-The-Go first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Cyberpunk-Looking Handheld Gaming Console Takes a Page From Teenage Engineering

Posted on by

Borrowing from Teenage Engineering’s visual DNA, the PocketMan P1 has a metal-first design language that oozes sleekness along with industrial details like exposed screws. Ergonomics be damned, the PocketMan P1 is a console for your eyes and your soul. Its design sports all the controls you need, featuring a D-pad, action buttons, multiple joysticks, and even four shoulder buttons. From the looks of its interface, it probably houses a black and white screen that eschews fancy graphics for a hardcore retro experience, and there’s even support for ‘apps’.

Designer: Grzegorz Rozwadowski (Twig Studio)

Functionally, the PocketMan P1 follows the vertical handheld style of the Game Boy Classic (with a monochrome display to match). Unlike the GB Classic, this console boasts an all-metal design with a seemingly edge-to-edge display, tight corners, industrial detailing, and a slick form factor that tapers off at the screen; effectively giving you a chunky console that’s nice to hold in your palms, but doesn’t have a hefty upper half that would throw its center of gravity out of whack. The product’s cyberpunk-ish design feels highly sophisticated, elevating the status of a game console to something that’s more than just a ‘toy’.

The PocketMan P1 comes with all the bells and whistles of a great controller. It’s got every conceivable control apart from probably a touchscreen (though I wouldn’t be surprised if it did). There’s a USB-C port on the bottom alongside a 3.5mm aux jack for headphones. Strangely enough, the console has card readers on both the left as well as the right side, presumably allowing you to load multiple cards with different games.

The controls on the PocketMan P1 resemble the kinds seen on modern handheld gaming devices, although the black-and-white screen definitely gives the console a retro touch. That being said, we don’t really know whether the P1 has an LED, LCD, or e-ink screen, so it’s entirely conceivable that the PocketMan P1 could be running a color display but with a black and white OS, helping keep its software as minimal-looking as its hardware. The presence of an Apps icon confirms the latter too, although without a traditional keyboard, it’s probably hinting at an App store or the ability to side-load different emulators to play your favorite games.

Although currently just a concept (yeah, I know), the P1 is a masterclass in minimalist metallic design. Its form language and detailing resemble some of Teenage Engineering’s handheld gadgets rather well (especially the TP-7 Field Recorder), and in doing so, rejects the idea that gaming hardware needs to be hyper-ergonomic and covered from head to toe in RGB lighting. The P1’s design language blends consumer tech’s aluminum obsession with great gaming hardware, creating a console with truly universal appeal… and with a ‘meant for serious gamers’ attitude.

The post This Cyberpunk-Looking Handheld Gaming Console Takes a Page From Teenage Engineering first appeared on Yanko Design.

Lenovo Legion Go Gaming Handheld Hands-on: The World of Portable Gaming Revolutionized

Posted on by

Lenovo has made a remarkable stride forward in a world where the fusion of technology’s portability with its performance is rapidly advancing. With confidence, they have unveiled a vision that not only aligns with but also boldly redefines the paradigm. Allow me to introduce the Lenovo Legion Go – a device that flawlessly combines portability, power, and prowess, setting an unprecedented standard in the market.

Designer: Lenovo

Lenovo’s Gaming Revolution is Handheld

Lenovo is widely known for introducing sturdy and reliable laptops for businesses. However, their dedication to creativity continues to remain strong. With its entry into the realm of portable gaming, Lenovo aims to redefine the idea of gaming on the go. Recently, they launched the Legion Go, which is expected to be an exhilarating experience for gamers worldwide.

Design and Feel: Elegance Meets Ergonomics

When you first see the Legion Go, it immediately catches your attention with its impressive appearance. The device has a sleek and polished finish, incorporating both matte and glossy surfaces. The design is ergonomic and particularly noticeable during extended gaming sessions. The grip is comfortable, allowing gamers to stay fully immersed without experiencing any discomfort. Additionally, the rear surface features a subtle texture that ensures a secure hold, preventing the device from slipping during intense gaming moments.

Performance: Gaming Powerhouse in Compact Form

Gamers who want to experience superior image quality and vibrant colors that make their games come to life will find the Lenovo PureSight Gaming Display to be an excellent choice. This display features the latest AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, which delivers remarkable compact processing power, ensuring that gamers can enjoy lag-free gaming.

The Lenovo Legion Go operates on Windows 11 and offers impressive graphics performance, comparable to that of a console. Its large 8.8-inch QHD+ 16:10 Lenovo PureSight gaming display truly brings games to life, providing gamers with an immersive and expansive screen. With up to 500nits brightness and a 97% DCI-P3 color gamut, the display is adjustable to suit different playstyles and situations. It supports various resolutions, ranging from 1600p to 800p, as well as 144Hz and 60Hz refresh rates. The 10-point touch screen allows for natural and intuitive control, such as scrolling, tapping, and swiping. The Legion Go also boasts up to 16GB LPDDR5X (7500Mhz) RAM, which offers power management flexibility for optimal gaming performance and faster loading times, depending on the scenario. It also has up to 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD and a micro-SD slot that supports up to 2TB of extra storage.

During our brief testing period, casual games to more graphics-intensive games felt delightful it was clear that the performance was nothing short of exceptional. Transitions were smooth and seamless, loading times were lightning-fast, and there were absolutely no interruptions during gameplay. One of the standout features was the ability to switch between refresh rates with ease without experiencing any lag or delay whatsoever. Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with the performance of our system when it came to gaming.

Touch and Feel: A Console Experience

Many handhelds struggle with touch controls, but the Legion Go excels in this area. Its touch response is quick, and it flawlessly recognizes multi-touch gestures, distinguishing between intentional swipes and accidental touches. Additionally, its haptic feedback provides a tactile sensation similar to that of traditional console controllers.

Controller Dynamics: More than Just Accessories

The detachable controllers of Legion Go are simply amazing. Their magnetic connection is sturdy yet easy to detach. The buttons are tactile and responsive. Our testing revealed that first-person shooter games felt natural, sports games were easy to play, and strategy games were more engaging than ever.

The implementation of RGB lighting in this particular product is executed with a level of refinement and elegance that is not commonly seen in other similar gaming accessories. The lighting is not excessively flashy or intrusive but rather adds a tasteful touch of visual interest that amplifies the overall gaming experience.

The Lenovo Legion Go is an impressive gaming device that boasts a range of advanced features to ensure optimal responsiveness and accuracy during intense gaming sessions. One of the most notable features of this device is its hall effect joysticks that prevent joystick drift and minimize dead zones, providing a smooth and seamless gaming experience. Additionally, the Lenovo Legion Go comes equipped with an integrated trackpad, a large D-pad, an angled mouse wheel, and a total of 10 mappable shoulder buttons, triggers, and grip buttons, making it a versatile and highly customizable gaming controller.

In terms of aesthetics, the Lenovo Legion Go is a stylish device that features a power button adorned with the iconic Lenovo Legion ‘O’ and RGB lighting that changes colors, indicating the user-selectable fan mode. The joysticks also have customizable RGB rings that add a layer of style and serve as a notification system for controller pairing. Beyond its sleek design, the Lenovo Legion Go is also highly functional. The Legion TrueStrike controllers are detachable, allowing for more playstyle flexibility and enabling FPS mode for quick FPS gaming sessions. In FPS mode, the controllers can be detached from the Lenovo Legion Go body and placed on a surface using the kickstand at the back. The right detached controller can be attached to a controller base that comes with the device via a magnet, and the optical eye at the bottom of the controller provides more precise aiming and control, making it perfect for competitive FPS games, similar to using a mouse.

Overall, the Lenovo Legion Go is a top-of-the-line gaming controller that offers unparalleled responsiveness, accuracy, and flexibility, making it an essential tool for serious gamers.

The Lenovo Legion Glasses: Not Just a Gimmick

For some time now, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality have been quite popular terms. However, the Lenovo Legion Glasses have made a compelling argument for VR gaming while on the move. After connecting the glasses to the Legion Go, our surroundings were transformed into a gaming paradise. The field of view is extensive, and the experience feels almost as if you’re in a movie theater.

Sound Matters: Enter the Legion E510 Headphones

To truly enhance your visual experience, top-notch audio is a must. That’s where the Lenovo Legion E510 headphones come in. These headphones are expertly designed to capture every auditory detail, from the deepest bass to the clearest highs. Plus, they boast impressive noise isolation capabilities, making them ideal for gaming in loud surroundings.

Software: The Heart of the Experience

The Lenovo Legion Go has many impressive features, but the key connecting element is the Legion Space. This feature is specifically designed for the Lenovo Legion Go and allows users to easily access their game platforms, view locally installed games, and even purchase games through the Legion Game Store, in collaboration with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. With each Lenovo Legion Go, users receive a complimentary 3-month membership that provides access to hundreds of high-quality games. Additionally, the Gamesplanet store offers deep discounts on select games for users with a Lenovo ID.

Legion Space allows all supported game launchers to be grouped together, making it easy for gamers to jump straight into the action. Additionally, users can quickly adjust settings such as resolution, refresh rate, brightness, and more on the fly.

Final Thoughts: A New Era for Portable Gaming

After spending time with the Legion Go, it became evident that this device is more than just a typical handheld. Lenovo has set out to revolutionize the way we perceive portable gaming by integrating power and portability, style and substance, and performance and affordability seamlessly.

To summarize, the Lenovo Legion Go is not only a product but also a declaration. Lenovo is ready to compete and has brought its best to the table. With its impending release, one thing is certain: the landscape of portable gaming will never be the same.

The Lenovo Legion Go will be available on Lenovo.com, Best Buy, Micro Center, and select retail partners from October 2023. Its price will start at $699. The Lenovo Legion Glasses will also be available from October 2023 and will start at $329. Additionally, the Lenovo Legion E510 7.1 RGB Gaming In-Ear Headphones will be available at a starting price of $49.99 in October 2023.

The post Lenovo Legion Go Gaming Handheld Hands-on: The World of Portable Gaming Revolutionized first appeared on Yanko Design.

Android gaming handheld is a throwback to the venerable Nintendo DS

Posted on by

It seems to be the age of gaming handhelds once again. With the continued success of the Nintendo Switch, all sorts of portable gaming devices have popped up, ranging from PCs like the Steam Deck to dedicated Android gaming devices like the Logitech G Cloud and the new Razer Edge. Although they have actually been around far longer than these, more obscure handhelds have become more prominent because of this industry trend. Some require you to do the work of cobbling up the pieces together, while others sell a more finished product instead. The latter is the case for the latest device to hit the market, one that eschews the trending Switch form factor for something that gives a nod to Nintendo’s previous top-selling portable.

Designer: Retroid Pocket

The Nintendo DS had a very good run in the gaming market, replacing the iconic Game Boy with a portable machine that got on with the times. It featured a revolutionary (for that time) dual-screen clamshell design that truly felt like a new breed rather than a Game Boy just folded in half. Almost two decades later, that design has become antiquated, but it’s exactly that nostalgia that this look-alike is aiming for.

Granted, the Retroid Pocket Flip is more like a cross between the DS and the GBA SP, having a single screen only and with a more horizontal clamshell design. It almost has the best of both worlds, with a more conventional and more comfortable form factor and a wide screen that is more common with games today. Despite its old-fashioned looks, it does stick to modern gaming features, including the basic set of controls, such as both bumper and trigger buttons.

One advantage that a clamshell design has over something like the Nintendo Switch is that you can set the angle of the screen independently of your hands. You also automatically have a protective case for the device and don’t have to worry about the screen getting scratched and the controls snagging in your bag. The design also tends to be more compact, though it does get thicker compared to a flat handheld device.

That said, the Retroid Pocket Flip is pretty much an Android device, so you might have to debate whether having a dedicated gaming device separate from your phone is worth the cost. Not all Android games are also controller-friendly, and using the touch screen, in this case, is ironically more cumbersome. Still, if you’re an avid Android gamer that uses a controller most of the time, this charming throwback could be something worth adding to your collection.

The post Android gaming handheld is a throwback to the venerable Nintendo DS first appeared on Yanko Design.

Razer Edge 5G is another stab at an Android gaming handheld device

Posted on by

Although it has been a while since the last Nintendo DS and PS Vita sold on the market, handheld gaming devices haven’t really disappeared. One might say that the somewhat niche market has grown even bigger than before, thanks to the confluence of several factors. Mobile games on smartphones have formed a billion dollar industry, and the success of the Nintendo Switch has spurred many new devices, including Valve’s rare Steam Deck. While handheld PCs are now sprouting up left and right, there seems to be another current that’s building momentum. Handheld gaming devices powered by the mobile Android platform seem to be making a comeback, and the latest to show their vision include three of the tech industry’s biggest names.

Designer: Razer

Razer made a name for itself with its cool-looking, high-performance computer accessories designed for gamers. Over time, it has also produced gaming laptops so that everything will look coherent and function together properly. Razer has even dabbled in making its own gaming smartphone, using Android, of course, but that fell by the wayside quickly. It’s not throwing in the towel just yet, though, and its partners just teased a new mobile gaming device that will be fully unveiled next month.

The Razer Edge 5G is a collaboration with Verizon, which will be power the 5G experience, and Qualcomm, whose silicon will be powering the device. The name actually comes from a much older product from Razer and one if its first attempts at mobile gaming. That ill-fated Razer Edge, however, may have been far too ahead of its time, offering a PC tablet that could be equipped with a gaming controller and a keyboard.

In contrast, the Razer Edge 5G will be more familiar to mobile gamers in more ways than one. Late last year, Razer and Qualcomm already announced a partnership that created a development kit for Qualcomm’s new gaming-centric processor. This “dev kit” came in the form of a gaming handheld not unlike the Nintendo Switch Lite in appearance, though with a more interesting curvature on top that makes it look more like a gigantic “Game & Watch” of old. At this point in time, gaming handhelds with a large screen in the middle flanked by buttons, D-pads, and joysticks are no longer a novel appearance.

The teaser of the Razer Edge 5G that Verizon shared suggests something that looks less like that prototype and more like a Switch with flat top and bottom edges. The design of the buttons and shoulder triggers are also different, and the branding definitely leans more towards a Razer device. Nothing else has been mentioned, and we’ll be hearing all the details on October 15th at RazerCon.

Although such a design is familiar by now, it still raises the question if it will be a commercial success. This wouldn’t be the first time someone tried to sell an Android device dedicated to gaming, and previous attempts all died out in favor of plain smartphones with some accessories or gaming gimmicks. Perhaps the time is ripe, now that there is an abundance of handheld gaming devices, so we’ll have tow wait for the Logitech G Cloud and Razer Edge 5G to hit the market to see if that’s the case.

The post Razer Edge 5G is another stab at an Android gaming handheld device first appeared on Yanko Design.

Logitech G Cloud handheld device puts a different spin on mobile gaming

Posted on by

For gamers, being able to play anywhere at any time is a bit of a dream come true. Of course, that has always been possible with certain game systems, like the Nintendo Game Boy, the Sony PlayStation Portable, or even smartphones, but a single device that is able to do all of these is still an unreachable goal. Thanks to advancements in technology, particularly in cloud computing, that dream is slowly becoming a reality. And it’s that kind of reality that Logitech’s latest device is trying to achieve with a gaming handheld that lets you play almost any game available, at least any game that’s available on smartphones or through the cloud.

Designer: Logitech

Logitech is best known for its line of computer accessories ranging from keyboards and mice to webcams. It doesn’t make nor sell computers, and this Logitech G Cloud handheld would be one of, if not its first, computing device. It’s a device aimed at a rather niche market that straddles the line between smartphone and gaming console, and it’s a market that it might have difficulty winning unless it plays its cards right.

This isn’t the first handheld gaming device to come in this form, after all, with the Nintendo Switch and Valve’s Steam Deck leading the market in terms of popularity. It isn’t even the first dedicated Android-powered gaming handheld to make its way to the market. And as those other attempts might have proven, it’s not an easy market to conquer. Then again, they might have just been ahead of their time.

In terms of design, the Logitech G Cloud aims for comfort and convenience to set it apart from both smartphones as well as other gaming handhelds. It’s relatively light, thanks to having nearly the same specs as a 7-inch mid-range Android tablet. Compared to a smartphone or tablet, however, it has dedicated physical controls that make playing many games easier. Logitech has even set its sights beyond just technical performance, boasting of the device’s carbon neutrality and sustainable packaging.

In terms of user experience, the gaming handheld is pretty much an Android tablet with a few built-in features related to gaming. In addition to a game launcher that takes a page out of the Nintendo Switch, it also has built-in support for cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Game Pass and NVIDIA GeForce Now. Additionally, it can also stream games running on an Xbox console or Steam PC at home, thanks to remote play functionality available on these platforms. In other words, the device can practically run any game from any platform except the PlayStation, presuming those services and features are available in the owner’s region, of course.

While it sounds like heaven for gamers, it’s still uncertain whether it will be a commercial success for Logitech. Many of these features can also be enjoyed on a large smartphone these days, so the Logitech G Cloud doesn’t really sound too unique. It does have the convenience of having a single device for gaming with built-in controls, but almost everyone has that kind of device in their pockets these days; they just need a good controller to go along with it.

The post Logitech G Cloud handheld device puts a different spin on mobile gaming first appeared on Yanko Design.

This gaming handheld wants to be the Nintendo Switch of Android

Posted on by

Handheld gaming devices have exploded in popularity after the success of the Nintendo Switch. None of the other console makers, namely Microsoft and Sony, seem to be eager to jump on that train yet, but PC makers have started to show interest, particularly with the launch of Valve’s Steam Deck. Of course, when it comes to being a portable gaming device, nothing really beats a smartphone, especially when you’re talking about games that are designed from the start to be enjoyed in bite-sized parts while on the go. It is arguable, however, whether a smartphone is a proper gaming handheld, considering its multi-functional nature, so Logitech is attempting to solve that by creating an Android device designed and dedicated solely to gaming.

Designer: Logitech (via Evan Blass)

Mobile games have been around ever since Snake first appeared on Nokia handsets, but truly immersive and addictive ones didn’t appear until smartphones did. There are hundreds of games today that you can play on smartphones, plus a thousand more copycats and malware-bearing Trojan horses. What all these games have in common is that they were developed with a touch screen in mind as the primary input method. In fact, many titles don’t even work with a controller, even a Bluetooth gamepad connected to the phone.

That’s what makes the idea of a dedicated Android gaming handheld in the style of the Nintendo Switch a bit less exciting than it is for Steam Deck PC. What would be the point of having physical gaming controls flanking a big screen if the game being played only responds to touch input? That doesn’t seem to worry Logitech, who partnered with Chinese gaming giant Tencent to create a “cloud gaming handheld” device. A leak of the device shows a rather uninspiring design that houses a curious gaming experience.

The white Logitech G Gaming Handheld, as it is being called, easily resembles a Nintendo Switch Lite, which doesn’t have the removable Joy-Cons. While it looks more like a tablet than a phone, it’s what’s running on the screen that makes it really interesting. It shows not just Google Play, which would be a no-brainer for an Android device, but also Xbox, NVIDIA, and even Steam, suggesting it can handle those brand’s cloud streaming services. It seems that Logitech and Tencent are aiming for an all-around handheld gaming device, which would make those buttons and joysticks more useful indeed.

Designer: AYN Technologies

Of course, Logitech is hardly the first to try making an Android-based gaming handheld, and it definitely won’t be the last. The past two years alone have seen a sudden rise in gaming handhelds running Android inside. To some extent, that’s unsurprising because Android is the easiest and cheapest operating system to put on any device. It’s arguable, however, if it has the best selection of mobile games.

The bigger question, however, is whether it actually makes sense for an Android device to have permanent controllers flanking the screen, even if one of them can be removed. Android can be used for more than just gaming, of course, but the fixed controller almost limits how the device can be used for a single purpose only. That’s why Bluetooth controllers that can be attached to smartphones and then removed as needed have somewhat become more popular, offering that same gaming experience without imposing arbitrary limitations.

Designer: GPD

The post This gaming handheld wants to be the Nintendo Switch of Android first appeared on Yanko Design.