Handheld gaming consoles have lately seen a renaissance, and Qualcomm obviously believes they are the future with the new Snapdragon G Series.
The US chipmaker has revealed three new specialized CPUs, each aimed at a certain type of portable console. Two of these are totally new: the Snapdragon G1 Gen 1 (for game streaming) and the Snapdragon G2 Gen 1 (for mobile and cloud gaming).
However, the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 is an improved version of the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1, which was eventually used in the Razer Edge earlier this year. It’s a high-end chipset intended for high-end consoles.
There have been no new Snapdragon G Series devices announced, and just four smaller businesses have been verified to be collaborating with Qualcomm thus far: AyaNeo, Huaqin, Inventec, and Thundercomm.
An improved version of the Snapdragon-powered Logitech G Cloud would make sense, but would Valve (Steam Deck) and Asus (ROG Ally) truly abandon AMD and Intel components? The only way to know is to wait and see.
It’s also worth mentioning that the Snapdragon G Series will not be available for gaming phones. While the mobile-focused G3x Gen 2 is planned to run Android on some devices, it is not intended for general-purpose applications. That appears to be left to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for today’s best phones.
Snapdragon G1 Gen 1
The G1 Gen 1 is developed specifically for consoles that stream games over the internet rather than downloading them for offline usage. This can be done locally (from a console or PC connected to the same network) or through a game streaming service.
While a robust Wi-Fi connection is essential, the G1 Gen 1 intends to deliver “lag-free connectivity” as well. Its 8-core Kryo CPU and Adreno A11 GPU should assist to ensure this.
The battery life is also believed to be superior than that of other gaming handhelds, with Qualcomm claiming that a full day of gaming is possible. Of course, this is dependent on the hardware of the device.
Snapdragon G2 Gen 1
The G2 Gen 1 is more capable and adaptable than the G1. Depending on the operating system, it can still be utilized for cloud gaming as well as mobile titles from the Google Play Store and Amazon Appstore.
The G2’s primary connection method is Wi-Fi 6E, but it also features a built-in Snapdragon X62 5G modem (supporting both sub-6 and mmWave protocols). This means you can play from anyplace with a good signal.
The 8-core Qualcomm Kryo CPU is still present, but it’s partnered with a more competent Adreno A21 GPU. Active cooling is also available here to assist prevent overheating.
But with no mention of battery life, don’t expect it to be as good as G1 Gen 1 devices.
Snapdragon G3x Gen 2
The G2 Gen 1 is more capable and adaptable than the G1. Depending on the operating system, it can still be utilized for cloud gaming as well as mobile titles from the Google Play Store and Amazon Appstore.
The G2’s primary connection method is Wi-Fi 6E, but it also features a built-in Snapdragon X62 5G modem (supporting both sub-6 and mmWave protocols). This means you can play from anyplace with a good signal.
The 8-core Qualcomm Kryo CPU is still present, but it’s partnered with a more competent Adreno A21 GPU. Active cooling is also available here to assist prevent overheating.
However, there are a number of premium features that the other chips lack, such as Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, enhanced ray tracing, and Qualcomm’s Game Super Resolution upscaling capability.
You may even connect a G3x Gen 2 handheld to XR glasses built for augmented (AR), virtual (VR), or mixed reality (MR).
Qualcomm has stated that the first product announcements for the G Series processors will occur by the end of this year, with many more to follow in 2024.
