Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on TechRadar.
It’s not taken very long since the GPD Win 5’s reveal, but there’s a new contender in town that may take its throne before its global launch, as the best handheld gaming PC on the market in terms of power and performance.
OneXPlayer announced its new handheld gaming PC (on X), the OneXFly Apex, powered by AMD’s most powerful mobile gaming processor, the Ryzen AI Max+ 395, which is the same processor used in the GPD Win 5 – and the OneXFly Apex looks set to become the world’s first water-cooled handheld gaming PC.
We’ve only got a video teaser of the device (available below), so for now, it’s unclear how this ‘silent liquid cooling’ setup will work. However, this handheld promises up to 120W of power, exceeding the GPD Win 5’s 75W TDP limit. It reportedly also features an 85WHr removable battery, an upgrade from the GPD Win 5’s 80WHr detachable battery.
Perhaps most importantly, at least for me and other handheld enthusiasts, the OneXFly Apex will feature an 8-inch 120Hz VRR display, unlike the GPD Win 5’s 7-inch screen – and seemingly takes after the Lenovo Legion Go S’s ergonomics (noticeably from the adjustable multi-stage triggers), which I still laud as the most comfortable handheld on the market.
OneXPlayer appears to be addressing all the main points of contention on handhelds, ensuring that the OneXFly Apex satisfies users on all fronts. A bigger display alleviates complaints of small screens; the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip is a powerhouse for gaming, and an 85WH removable battery that lasts long, which you’ll likely be able to charge while using a separate option.
On paper, it sounds like this new handheld will be the best on the market, and most importantly, one that likely warrants its high price, which may be upwards of $1,500.
Analysis: If you’re willing to pay $1,000 for an ROG Xbox Ally X or more for a Lenovo Legion Go 2, why not consider this?
Let’s get one thing straight: I’ll never pay $1,000 for a handheld gaming PC, as I believe that price tag should only be reserved for a gaming laptop or a desktop gaming PC upgrade. However, for those who are willing to cough up the cash and are looking at the new ROG Xbox Ally X or Lenovo Legion Go 2, it only makes sense to consider the GPD Win 5 or the OneXFly Apex. too
Just to highlight, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 starts at $1,099 / £899 / AU$1,809, and that’s for the Ryzen Z2 model. For the version with the Ryzen Z2 Extreme (a processor I’m not particularly fond of), you’ll be spending $1,349.99 / £1,099 / AU$2,109, which is a step closer to the prices you’ll be paying for the GPD Win 5 ($1,850 / around £1,720 / AU$2,800) or the OneXFly Apex.
The Ryzen Z2 Extreme that powers both the ROG Xbox Ally X and the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is hardly much of an upgrade from the previous Z1 Extreme processor, and the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 absolutely blows it out of the water – so if your goal is greater performance, it might be worth saving up and reconsidering your purchase path.
About the Author
Isaiah Williams is a Staff Writer for the Computing channel at TechRadar. He’s spent over two years writing about all things tech, specifically games on PC, consoles, and handhelds. He started off at GameRant in 2022 after graduating from Birmingham City University in the same year, before writing at PC Guide, which included work on deals articles, reviews, and news on PC products such as GPUs, CPUs, monitors, and more. He spends most of his time finding out about the exciting new features of upcoming GPUs, and is passionate about new game releases on PC, hoping that the ports aren’t a complete mess.
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