GoKawiil
Tech News
Reports indicate Valve is evaluating a new processor codenamed Gainsborough for a future handheld, widely assumed to be the Steam Deck 2. Details on the chip's specifications and manufacturer have not been officially confirmed by Valve.
Ayaneo's budget sub-brand Konkr unveiled the Pocket Block, a compact vertical handheld resembling a Game Boy, priced from $89 with a $79 preorder deal. It features a 3.3-inch 960x720 LCD screen, a MediaTek Helio G85 chip, a 3.5mm jack, microSD slot, USB-C, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth. Higher storage models cost $99 and add color options, with shipping expected by the end of October.
Retroid Pocket has launched a third handheld in its Duo family, the Duo Lite Plus, which pairs the slim body of the Duo Lite with the more powerful Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-7790 chip used in the standard Duo. It's priced at $219 (or $199 with an early bird code) and ships mid-November, arriving just over a week after preorders opened for the original Duo and Duo Lite models.
Retroid released a short teaser confirming a new dual-screen retro handheld called the Pocket Duo, styled after the Nintendo DS. The video revealed only a dark glimpse of the device, withholding specs, pricing and release timing, though it appears to use a clip-free, cable-free clamshell design rather than Retroid's existing screen add-on accessory.
At IFA, Acer unveiled Project DualPlay Mini, a concept device that flips and swivels its eight-inch screen to switch between a handheld gaming console and a compact laptop. The prototype features an Xbox-style controller layout with dual-fan cooling but no trackpad, and Acer's own demo shows a mouse being used in laptop mode. Acer says it remains a concept with no confirmed plans for retail release.