Qualcomm revealed its next line of Snapdragon G-series chips during Gamescom 2023 in Cologne, and reports from socialbites.ca confirm that Ayaneo plans to launch the Pocket S portable game console as one of the first devices powered by the G3x Gen 2 platform. The announcement sets the stage for a trio of new processors designed to push handheld gaming further, with a clear focus on performance, efficiency, and modern visual effects.
The flagship in the lineup is the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2. This chip brings advanced features such as ray tracing support and readiness for devices that include cameras, signaling Qualcomm’s intention to blend high-end graphics with versatile mobile hardware. Qualcomm asserts that the Gen 2 iteration delivers meaningful gains over the first generation G3x, including graphics that are reported to run about twice as fast thanks to the Adreno A32 GPU and a processor core family that outpaces the previous generation by more than 40 percent in overall performance.
Next in line is the Snapdragon G1, aimed at devices optimized for game streaming over local networks or cloud services. The G1 focuses on delivering crisp visuals and high-quality audio while maintaining low power draw, which is crucial for devices intended for extended play sessions away from a fixed power source. This makes it a practical option for compact streaming handhelds and similar gear looking to balance fidelity with efficiency.
Then there is the Snapdragon G2, which strikes a balance between strong performance and energy efficiency. The G2 is positioned to extend battery life in portable consoles that rely on this silicon, helping gamers squeeze more playtime between charges. Across the entire G-series, a common eight-core Kryo processor cluster appears across G1, G2, and G3x Gen 2, underscoring a shared foundation. However, the G1 and G2 do not include ray tracing or integrated camera support, highlighting a tiered approach to feature sets within the family.
The first device to showcase the flagship Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 is Ayaneo’s Pocket S handheld, which is slated for a full public reveal in December 2023. Developers promise a high level of performance wrapped in a thin and light chassis, with an active cooling system to keep temperatures in check during intense gaming. The Pocket S is expected to offer multiple memory configurations, giving users options for storage and RAM that suit both casual play and more demanding titles on the go.
Sony has also signaled continued interest in dedicated handheld gaming devices by introducing a successor to its PSP lineage, underscoring the competitive landscape Qualcomm is helping to energize with its new G-series chips.
Source: Qualcomm press release. The Gamescom reveal positions the G-series as a flexible stack for portable gaming, with the G3x Gen 2 targeting visually demanding titles, the G1 optimizing for streaming experiences, and the G2 delivering efficient performance suitable for battery-powered play. In the Canadian and US markets, expect to see a range of devices adopting these chips in late 2023 and into 2024, as manufacturers align hardware capabilities with increasingly capable software libraries and cloud gaming options. The emphasis remains on combining strong graphics with practical power usage to extend play sessions, all while enabling thin, portable form factors that gamers can comfortably carry on the move.