Intel's new Arc G3 chip could finally dethrone AMD handhelds like the Steam Deck
Intel finally has a clear answer to the AMD Ryzen Z chips powering handheld gaming PCs like Valve's Steam Deck and Lenovo's Legion Go . The company has introduced Arc G3 and G3 Extreme processors that are meant to deliver "PC-class" performance in Windows handhelds without compromising on battery life.
The new systems-on-chip are based on the same Panther Lake architecture as Core Ultra Series 3, right down to the high-speed integrated graphics. The Arc G3 Extreme even uses the B390 GPU from the Core Ultra X7 and X9 lines (the base G3 uses the B370), promising both reasonably quick visuals (including ray-tracing) and XeSS 3 upscaling. Overall performance will still be dictated by the CPU, but the graphics hardware shouldn't be the bottleneck in at least the top-end SoC.
The CPUs themselves are built on the same 18A process behind Core Ultra Series 3. They're appropriately cut down with two performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and four low-power efficiency cores, but you still get Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 6 support.
While battery life will vary by device, Intel is touting an Endurance Gaming feature that strikes a balance between frame rate and power consumption to eke out more game time. You won't have to rely so much on custom software to play for longer.
When are Intel Arc G3 handheld gaming PCs coming out?
In weeks or months, depending on the brand
Intel
Intel says first handheld gaming PCs based on Arc G3 will be available starting in June. However, real-world availability will depend on where you live and the brands you prefer.
The first system is the OneXPlayer 3, a Switch 2-style "3-in-1" with detachable controllers that use drift-resistant Hall effect thumbsticks. It's based on the high-end Arc G3 Extreme chip and mates that with an 8.8-inch, 144Hz OLED screen and a large 85Whr battery. Connectivity is relatively modest with USB 4. USB-A, a mini SSD expansion slot, and a microSD card reader, but there's even a detachable keyboard to use the handheld as a makeshift PC.
The OneXPlayer 3 hasn't received a price, but a crowdfunding campaign will launch on Indiegogo in mid-to-late June.
You'll have to wait longer for major brands. Acer has previewed the Predator Atlas 8 (pictured at top), an 8-inch handheld that comes in both Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme variants. It will have a maximum 80Wh battery (60Wh for lower-spec models), but you'll also get up to 24GB of RAM, 1TB of M.2-based SSD storage, and dual Thunderbolt 4 ports paired with a microSD reader.
Acer hasn't revealed pricing for the Predator Atlas 8, but it expects to ship the handheld to North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia sometime in October.
MSI has also confirmed plans for an updated version of the Claw 8 EX AI+, but hasn't shared official details as of this writing.
Will Arc G3 gaming handhelds beat the Steam Deck?
There's a real chance handheld gaming PCs based on Intel Arc G3 will outperform AMD-powered machines like the Steam Deck, if just because they're based on a considerably newer, more efficient platform.
Whether or not they're price-competitive is another matter. While an Australian retailer leak suggesting a roughly $1,900 price for the MSI device isn't necessarily a clue (U.S. pricing could be lower), we wouldn't expect any Arc G3 devices to be cheap.
With that said, Valve raised prices for Steam Deck OLED models just hours before Intel's announcement due to rising component costs and other factors. The 512GB version has leaped from $549 to $789, while the 1TB model has climbed from $649 to $949. It's expensive to buy any handheld PC at the moment — Intel might have an edge simply by offering faster hardware for those willing to spend extra.
