According to Qualcomm, it works on an Android-powered, handheld game console similar to a Nintendo Switch Android Police and XDAsay editor-in-chief Mishaal Rahman. The device is powered by Qualcomm’s silicone and could hit store shelves next year – if it’s a real product at all.
According to the article, which mentions the images seen Android Police, the device will include removable, Joy-Con-like controllers, an SD card slot, Android 12 and (of course) 5G. Also noted, and substantiated by Rahman, is a large 6,000 mAh battery. While the physical dimensions are not clear, Rahman tweeted that the screen could be 6.65 inches, with a resolution of at least 1080p (the switch’s screen is 6.2 inches and runs at 720p). He also indicated that it may have a fan.
In other words, the device sounds like a big smartphone with attached controllers and active cooling, though that may not be a bad thing – the Switch also looks like a giant phone. But it also has a library with great games that only he can play, which is the biggest attraction. Although there are many great gaming experiences on Android, from retro emulators to games like Fortnite and Genshin Impact, Qualcomm will need to give customers a reason why they should play the games on a separate device, rather than on their Qualcomm Snapdragon powered game phones with built-in buttons or controller accessories (or on their regular phones).
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Or, at least, if it’s trying to sell the device to people – the Android Police article indicates that Qualcomm does want it to be commercially available, possibly in transportation companies. It also says that the price target for the device is $ 300, the same as a full size switch. Currently, the cheapest phone I found with Qualcomm’s flagship 888 processor, the Realme GT 5G, costs about $ 430 (and is only sold in China).
But, Rahman remarks that his source believed that the product was closer to a reference design than something that would ever see store shelves. Chipmakers, including Qualcomm, often build sample devices to help other manufacturers design their SOCs or radios. Sometimes these reference products are even sold by other companies under different brands, known as white brand.
It is noteworthy that the disagreement between the sources may be due to the uncertainty of Qualcomm itself – AP believes that the project is almost a year after it is completed, and the company may not yet know for sure what it wants it to become.
Whether the device eventually ends up as a product or not (it can be easily canceled before making a public appearance), Qualcomm designs or builds a dedicated Android gaming device. This is understandable why the company will be looking at the manual gambling market: it’s been booming since the handheld Shield idea of Nvidia turned into the Nintendo Switch, with powerful power phones, Windows computers with switch-like form factors and a variety of mods. classic redesigns on hand, and latest pocket game systems.