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Intel's Budget Handheld Chip: Low Power, Lower Price?
17 Aug
Summary
- Intel is reportedly developing a cheaper handheld chip.
- This new chip may feature four performance and four efficiency cores.
- The goal is to reduce the cost of gaming handheld devices.
The high cost of memory has significantly hampered the handheld PC gaming market. Intel is reportedly exploring a new, lower-end handheld chip designed for more budget-conscious devices. This unannounced processor is expected to be less powerful than current Intel offerings, potentially featuring four performance cores and four efficiency cores, with a reduced GPU core count.
This strategy aims to address the affordability issue, as high-priced components like those in the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ ($1,800) make portable gaming inaccessible for many. While this new chip might only be capable of running older AAA titles and indie games, or modern titles at low settings with upscalers, it could revive interest in the segment. Intel's Panther Lake microarchitecture, also found in many laptops, may underpin these new chips.
The key challenge for Intel, as with other manufacturers, remains the inflated cost of memory. Devices like the Steam Deck OLED and Lenovo Legion Go S have seen significant price increases, making it difficult for new handhelds to compete on price while offering adequate performance. Intel's success may depend on optimizing software and leveraging technologies like frame extrapolation to enhance performance.
