A diversified portfolio means more options for consumers, and that’s what Qualcomm is looking to bring with its second foray into the handheld gaming market. Following its debut on the Razer Edge 5G device, the tech giant has expanded on its selection of processors, which now spans three tiers.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon G1, G2, and G3 series are the latest additions to the list, designed to meet different gaming needs. The Snapdragon G1, for starters, is built to power fanless gaming devices for streaming games, whether locally or via cloud, with a focus on battery life and lag-free connectivity. The first member of the family, the Snapdragon G1 Gen 1, pairs a Qualcomm Kryo CPU with an Adreno A11 GPU, and can power a Full HD 60Hz display.
Meanwhile, the G2 lineup is graced by the Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 platform, which features a gaming-optimised Adreno A21 GPU and the Kryo processor. It’s a tier higher than the enthusiast-level G1 Gen 1 platform, offering 5G and Wi-Fi 6/6G from the Qualcomm FastConnect 6700 Mobile Connectivity System, as well as support for Full HD+ 144Hz display, for an enhanced mobile and cloud gaming experience.
At the highest end of the portfolio is the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 platform. The upgraded flagship builds off the architecture of the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 processor — used to power the Razer Edge 5G — and comes armed with the Kryo CPU, an Adreno A32 GPU, and the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Connectivity System.
Rounding out the configuration are desktop-level gaming features, including hardware-accelerated ray tracing, XR glass tethering, low-latency Bluetooth audio with Snapdragon Sound Technology Suite, and Wi-Fi 7 support. According to Qualcomm, the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 will be more than twice as fast as its predecessor’s GPU, with over 30 percent increase in CPU speeds.
“Dedicated handheld gaming devices are the best way to experience mobile games. But gamers want to be able to play all their favourite games across devices and ecosystems, be it their console, PC, or on a cloud service,” said Mithun Chandrasekhar, senior director of product management. “The new generation of Snapdragon G Series powered devices will be the best place for gamers to play their favourite titles, offering them the ability to choose from the cloud, console, Android, or PC while on the go.”
The companies that Qualcomm is collaborating with for handheld gaming devices powered by the Snapdragon G Series include AyaNeo, Huaqin, Inventec, Thundercomm, and more. Customer-specific product announcements will follow in due time, though no specific release window was detailed.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
