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Intel is seemingly ready to send its Arc G3 line up to the best gaming handheld battlefield, and the grand unveiling could happen tomorrow. That's May 28 for those of you looking to circle your calendars, which might be handy if you've been waiting for anything portable PC-shaped by Acer.
In an Intel Arc G3 report by Videocardz, the publication says it has information regarding the May 28 unveiling. The core of the leak links to MSI's Claw 8 EX AI+, a successor to the excellent Claw 8 AI+ that's already popped up a few times via accidental retail listings and benchmarks. It pairs 32GB RAM, a 1TB SSD, an 80Wh battery, and an 8-inch 1920×1200 120Hz display with a 14-core Panther Lake chip.
The new MSI handheld should pile some pressure on existing premium portables like the ROG Xbox Ally X, although that ultimately hinges on price. It apparently isn't alone on the reveal podium, though, as Acer is apparently set to release a contender known as the "Predator Atlas 8".
The longstanding tech maker's Predator Atlas 8 is technically a sequel to Acer's original Nitro Blaze lineup. What's that? You had no idea Acer handhelds were a thing? Well, that's probably because the company released a 7-inch model in very limited quantities before deciding to put the two 8-inch options on hold.
For all intents and purposes, the Acer Nitro Blaze handhelds feel like vaporware, but the new Predator portables could serve as a redemption arc. The alleged plan right now is for Arc G3 Extreme and Non-extreme flavors that use the same 14-core chipset as the Claw 8 EX AI+, but there's zero mention of potential pricing or other specs.
ROG Ally (2023) | $499.99 at Best Buy(open-box)
ROG Xbox Ally | $539.99 at Amazon
I'd take all these Intel Arc G3 rumors with the usual grain of salt, but if the new Acer handheld swaps out the Nitro branding for a Predator logo, it could be a worrying pricing clue. The latter is the laptop maker's "premium" brand reserved for gaming PC, laptops, and graphics cards with higher specs and features.
My personal fear is that, rather than focusing on challenging affordable devices like the Steam Deck OLED (still AWOL, FYI), or even the non-X ROG Xbox Ally, Acer will instead lean into the saturated premium portable market and create another $1,000 monster.
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