Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
It isn’t often that something entirely new crops up in the gaming space. Nintendo is the only player still innovating when it comes to handhelds, but even then the evolution from the Wii U in 2012 to the Nintendo Switch 2 released just a few months ago feels far more iterative than say, the leap from the Game Boy to the Nintendo DS.
Then there’s the ONEXSUGAR SUGAR 1. With two screens, folding controllers, and more power than nearly any other Android gaming handheld on the market, this thing is unlike anything I’ve ever seen or tested.
I’ve spent the past few days tinkering with an early prototype, and while I can’t say this is the perfect handheld for everybody, the experience is so unique that I think it’s worth the early adopters’ risk.
Sugar never tasted so sweet
Nick Fernandez / Android Authority
Before I get too far, I need to reiterate that this was a prototype. The internals are the same as the retail model, but the chassis and hinges are not. The final version will use an aluminium frame with stainless steel hinges, which should make it significantly more resistant. Because of that I’m not going to give this device a review score or anything like that.
Still, I have to say I was very impressed. I was expecting the ostentatious design to feel far flimsier than it did, especially when swapping between modes (more on this in a moment).
The SUGAR 1 has a surprisingly sturdy build, especially for a prototype.
Instead, it felt rock solid. There are powerful magnets opposite the hinge to hold the controllers firmly in place, with virtually no flexing when attached. The Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons also use magnets to stay in place, so it’s not too surprising that the approach works. I wouldn’t hold the controller and swing the device around like a nunchuck, but for normal use it should be absolutely fine.
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