What just happened? Handheld gaming PCs are experiencing a revolution right now, one started by the Steam Deck. There are plenty of options to choose from, and for those who like their displays big and fancy, Tencent's newly announced device could be for you – if it ever releases. Not only does it measure 11 inches, it also offers glasses-free 3D capabilities.
Chinese gaming giant Tencent has announced the Sunday Dragon 3D One, a gaming handheld with a slew of interesting features.
The device is claimed to be the world's first glasses-free gaming handheld, thanks to the use of eye-tracking cameras – the same technology used in glasses-free monitors, TVs, and laptops.
Some PC games are optimized to take advantage of this 3D technology, including Path of Exile, Blade & Soul, and Arena Breakout: Infinite. We don't know if users' 3D experience will be as impressive in games that haven't been optimized.
Beyond the 3D abilities, the handheld's screen doesn't feature the kind of specs usually seen on these mobile devices. It measures an iPad Pro-like 11 inches. For comparison, the Steam Deck OLED has a 7.4-inch screen, smaller than the Lenovo Legion Go's 8.8-inch display. The 3D One also boasts a 2560 x 1440 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate.
Internally, Tencent's device packs an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU. The Lunar Lake chip has 4 Lion Cove cores and 4 Skymont cores, can boost up to 4.8 GHz, and comes with Intel Arc Graphics 140V, featuring 8 Xe2 cores.
The handheld also has 32GB of LPDDR5X – 8533 memory, 1 TB storage, and a battery with 100W charging. The side handles can be removed, just like the Nintendo Switch, at which point its size means you can use it like a tablet. Users can also attach a keyboard accessory.
There's no word on how much the 3D One might cost or its availability. Sadly, the press release states that this is an experimental product independently developed by Tencent Games and technically supported by Intel, which means it might never get beyond the prototype stage.
In related news, it was reported this week that Sony is working on a handheld gaming device that will be able to play PS5 games without streaming them.
Tencent unveils 11" gaming handheld with glasses-free 3D, Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU
