What to put under the tree for a gamer: portable gaming consoles of late 2024

MSI Claw 8 AI+

MSI introduced the portable gaming console Claw 8 AI+ just the other day — December 3, 2024. The device combines powerful hardware and stylish ergonomic design. According to the reviews of the first testers, they like the device. The console is equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen with a high refresh rate, which makes it convenient not only for gaming. If necessary, the Claw 8 AI+ can be used as a powerful computer.

Specifications:

• processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (4 Lion Cove cores, 4 Skymont cores);

• graphics: Intel Arc 140V;

• RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5X-8533;

• storage: SSD PCIe 4.0 up to 1 TB;

• display: 8" IPS, 1,920 × 1,200, 120 Hz;

• wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4;

• ports: 2 Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-C, audio jack, microSD slot;

• battery: 80 Wh, 65 W fast charging support;

• dimensions: 299 × 126 × 24 mm;

• weight: 795 g.

MSI Claw 8 AI+ will go on sale on December 25, 2024, at a price of 899 $.

ONEXFLY F1 Pro

One-Netbook announced the portable gaming console OneXFly F1 Pro at the end of October 2024. This is the first device with the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor. So the model is a pioneer among gaming consoles with Zen 5 architecture and RDNA 3.5 graphics.

OneXFly F1 Pro allows you to enjoy modern games anywhere. The 7-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 144 Hz provides bright and smooth images, and the ergonomic design and weight of 598 g make the console comfortable for long-term use. The device supports modern wireless technologies, so you can easily connect to the internet and peripheral devices.

Specifications:

• processor: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12 cores, 24 threads);

• graphics: AMD Radeon 890M with RDNA 3.5 architecture;

• RAM: 32 GB or 64 GB LPDDR5X;

• storage: SSD PCIe 4.0 from 1 TB to 4 TB;

• display: 7" OLED, 1,920 × 1,080, 144 Hz, 800 nits;

• wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2;

• ports: 2 × USB4, USB-A 3.0, microSD slot, 3.5 mm audio jack;

• battery: 48.5 Wh;

• dimensions: 280 × 128 × 23 mm;

• weight: 598 g.

Pre-orders for the OneXFly F1 Pro began in November 2024 at a price of $1,099 for the model with the Ryzen AI 9 365 processor, 32 GB of RAM, and 1 TB SSD. The cost of the version with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, 64 GB of RAM, and 4 TB SSD reaches $1,699. Not cheap, the high price of the OneXFly F1 Pro may deter some buyers, especially considering the competition in the portable gaming console market. But the model is advanced, especially since it can be used as a mini-PC with a touch screen.

In Russia, the console is already available for order in the official Onexplayer store. The cost of the basic model is $1,131.31.

AYANEO Pocket DMG

AYANEO introduced its portable gaming console Pocket DMG in May 2024. The design is different from most modern consoles. Apparently, the creators of the model were inspired by the classic Game Boy. So the device has an unusual appearance.

The 3.92-inch OLED display provides bright and clear images, and the ergonomic vertical design contributes to a comfortable gaming experience. It all runs on the Android operating system. Support for modern wireless technologies allows you to easily connect to the internet and other devices, expanding the console's functionality.

Specifications:

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon G3x Gen 2;

• RAM: 8 GB or 16 GB LPDDR5X;

• Storage: 128 GB or 512 GB UFS;

• Display: 3.92" OLED, resolution 1,240 × 1,080 pixels;

• Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3;

• Ports: USB Type-C, microSD slot;

• Battery: 6,000 mAh with 25W fast charging support;

• Dimensions: 91.5 × 151 × 15–22.3 mm;

• Weight: information not provided.

AYANEO Pocket DMG is available for pre-order from August 1, 2024. The starting price of the device is $339 for the model with 8 GB and 128 GB of internal storage.

Subjectively, the AYANEO Pocket DMG is an interesting combination of retro design and modern technology. However, final conclusions about its performance and usability can be made after independent reviews are available.

Tencent 3D One

In November 2024, Tencent introduced a prototype of the 3D One portable gaming console. The device is equipped with an 11-inch display with a resolution of 2,560 × 1,440 pixels and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The main highlight is the support for 3D images without the need for special glasses. Additionally, eye-tracking technology has been implemented. This combination is called 3D Naked-Eye.

Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 258V (4 performance cores Lion Cove, 4 efficiency cores Skymont);

• Graphics: integrated Intel Arc 140V (Xe2-LPG architecture);

• RAM: 32 GB LPDDR5X-8533;

• Storage: 1 TB SSD;

• Display: 11" with a resolution of 2,560 × 1,440, 120 Hz, 3D support without glasses;

• Wireless interfaces: no data;

• Ports: information not provided;

• Battery: 100W fast charging support.

At the moment, Tencent 3D One is an experiment. The company has not yet announced any plans for pricing or release date. Innovative features such as a glasses-free 3D screen and detachable controllers make the Tencent 3D One an interesting device. But how it actually performs, we will only know after the first reviews are published online.

GPD Win 4

This is not even a console, but a hybrid device, a laptop, a tablet, a gaming console in one body. The model was first introduced at the end of 2022. Now the manufacturer, GPD, has announced an updated version. It is equipped with the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, known under the code name Strix Point. The chip, made using the 4nm process, combines Zen 5, RDNA 3.5, and XDNA 2 architectures, providing high performance and AI support.

The GPD Win 4 is designed in a slider form factor. Under the 6-inch screen hides a full-size backlit QWERTY keyboard. Convenient for both gaming and typing. The console runs on Windows 11. You can connect an external graphics card via the OCuLink port, allowing you to run any, however "heavy" games at high settings. But even without an external card, the configuration is good enough for work or less demanding games.

Specifications:

• Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (12 cores, 24 threads, up to 5.1 GHz);

• Graphics: integrated AMD Radeon 890M;

• RAM: up to 64 GB LPDDR5X-7500;

• Storage: SSD PCIe 4.0 NVMe 2280 up to 4 TB;

• Display: 6" with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels;

• Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3;

• Ports: USB4 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, OCuLink;

• Battery: 45.62 Wh;

• Dimensions: 220 × 92 × 28 mm;

• Weight: 598 g.

The updated version of the GPD Win 4 with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor is already available for pre-order on the Indiegogo platform for $1,172. We expect the device to go on sale at the end of 2024.

That's all for today. If you have anything to add, be sure to write in the comments!