Qualcomm introduces Snapdragon G Series for handheld gaming

Qualcomm is upgrading its mobile gaming silicon lineup with three new processors that will soon be available in Android-based portable gaming devices. The Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 is the summit's top contender for high-performance enthusiast gaming.

This cutting-edge technology will be available in the coming weeks, powering handheld gaming consoles from companies such as Ayaneo and Onex. The mid-tier Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 silicon is aimed for 144fps gaming, whilst the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 is designed for less powerful devices with a cloud-first gaming strategy.

Starting with the flagship edition, the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 processor is a successor to the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 silicon that powered devices like the Ayaneo Pocket S. It's an octa-core silicon with a 1+5+2 core configuration. For hard work, there is a single prime core, as well as five performance cores and two efficiency cores.

Qualcomm claims it improves graphics performance by 28% over its predecessor and also enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing. It comes with Qualcomm's Snapdragon Game Super Resolution stack and Adreno Frame Motion Engine 2.0 technology for a seamless visual experience.

It is also the first Snapdragon G-series product to support Unreal Engine 5's Lumen system, which handles lighting and reflection in games. On the hardware side, it can power devices with up to a QHD+ screen and a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz.

This chip will initially debut in the Ayaneo Pocket S2, which is slated to be released later this month, and will include improved thermals and a redesigned input layout. In terms of design, this one isn't much different from the original Pocket S, but the internals have been much improved.

The same processor will also power the next Ayaneo Gaming Pad tablet, which is expected to ship in May. It will be joined by the OnexSugar Sugar 1 handheld, which will be released as the world's first dual-screen Android-based gaming handheld gadget.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 chipset serves the mid-tier segment. This eight-core processor has one prime core for demanding tasks, four performance cores, and three efficiency cores.

It significantly improves CPU performance by 2.3x, while graphics output improves by 3.8x generation after generation. Like its flagship sister, it can handle a 144Hz QHD+ panel and will be included in a Retroid handheld in the coming months.

Finally, we've got the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 silicon. This one does not have a prime core and instead uses a 6+2 configuration with two mid-tier performance cores and six low-end efficiency cores.

Qualcomm claims that this one will improve CPU performance by 80% and graphics performance by 25% thanks to the inbuilt Adreno A12 GPU. It can support panels with full-HD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.

Retroid was among the early adopters of this low-power gaming chipset. The Retroid Pocket PR Classic, which will be released later this month, will have the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 processor, an OLED screen, a 5,000 mAh battery, and active cooling.