I need someone to tell Lenovo that cloud handhelds aren't the answer to the handheld situation right now. That said, it might already be too late, as a C700 portable has popped up designed with Tencent's START streaming service in mind, and while that likely means it's for the Chinese market, I'm worried that will change.
First highlighted by Videocardz, a Weibo post provides a good look at the Lenovo Legion C700, including its buttons and backside. At a glance, it looks like most contempoary gaming handhelds, boasting asymmetrical dual analogue sticks, a disc d-pad, and full-sized triggers up top.
The C700 isn't quite cut from the same cloth as the Lenovo Legion Go S, but you can tell they're from the same lineage. Both actually have near-identical back buttons and ergonomic contours, but since this is a streaming handheld, there's noticeably less heft and girth.
That'd normally be a good thing, except it means there's not much actually going on inside the C700. Keep in mind that cloud streaming devices aren't expected to run anything natively, and just like the Logitech G Cloud or even the PlayStation Portal, internet connectivity will make or break Lenovo's proposed portable.
Don't get me wrong, some devices can serve as both a cloud device and a solid retro handheld. Technically speaking, high-end emulation portables like the Ayn Odin 2 and other Android contenders can run the latest games through streaming services, but they also boast better chipsets and more RAM than gadgets specifically made for a subscription service.
Here's the thing - cloud streaming handhelds can be valid as an option for those willing to pay subscriptions every month rather than own games. They can provide a nice experience too if your internet connection has the stomach for it, but that applies to very few players. Try as they might, the world at large isn't ready, or wants devices that take ownership out of the equation (if Sony's physical disc discontinuation is anything to go by), even if prices are currently bananas.
The message from me is clear: do not try to fill the sub-$500 void with cloud streaming handhelds. No one asked for AI datacentres to exercise gluttony and create a situation where the Steam Deck OLED costs up to $1,000, and while the Lenovo C700 might be exclusively for the Chinese market (just like that sus Lenovo G02 handheld with questionable ROMs), I'm worried there's a trend kicking off.
Is that because Acer unveiled a Nitro Blaze Link "streaming portal" last month? Well, yes, actually, it feels like all the names we'd expect to provide affordable handheld PCs are exploring ways to keep making portables without having to navigate extreme component prices. That in itself could pivot the scene into a situation where streaming is presented as the norm, and as a lifelong lover of handhelds, that's the last thing I want to see happen.
The Lenovo C700 teaser suggests we'll hear more in August, so let's hope it at least boasts the specs to play PS2 games natively (I doubt it, but let's stay optimistic).
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