PC gaming handhelds are available in all styles and sizes now, but this N97 Elite from Sugar Cubes may be one of many smallest that really works. Taking inspiration from the traditional Nokia N97 sliding cell phone, this intelligent gadget drops the complete keyboard for easy gaming controls, and whereas it gained’t be difficult the Steam Deck for energy, it’s a enjoyable novelty merchandise that has me very curious.
Many of the best handheld gaming PCs should steadiness energy, practicality, and compatibility. This is the place the Steam Deck excels, because it’s removed from essentially the most highly effective handheld in the marketplace, but it makes up for it elsewhere. The N97 Elite, as intriguing because the idea is, would finally fall brief on all three fronts, but it’s a good journey down reminiscence lane for somebody who as soon as purchased a very related phone solely to find how woefully impractical it was.
The N97 Elite is powered by the Snapdragon 855+ which is a six-year-old SoC and wasn’t essentially a chief in energy even on the time of launch. It is, nonetheless, nonetheless one of many higher chips for emulation.
This handheld backs up the dated cellular chip with 12GB of RAM and a whopping 512GB of storage. As for the show, it’s a 4.7-inch panel, bigger than the three.5-inch show or the unique Nokia N97, that may be slid as much as reveal the fundamental gaming controls beneath. In the Nokia N97, this is the place a full keyboard can be positioned.
It could possibly be argued that a lack of ordinary controls, like analog sticks, means that this micro handheld isn’t essentially well worth the hand cramp you’ll undergo making an attempt to play trendy video games on it.
Reception to the gadget has been combined within the West on locations like Reddit, with excessive reward for the idea but heavy criticism of the execution. Even on bilibili, some video critiques have translated titles like “The first product I regret buying”.
My emotions are related with regards to the surface-level impressions in that whereas paying homage to an iconic piece of tech like the Nokia N97 is enjoyable, the size of the mission ought to have been addressed to make this handheld viable for contemporary gaming.
The N97 Elite will quickly make its option to markets outdoors of China but its value is but to be confirmed. It’s at present being offered for 1,499 CYN (Chinese yuan renminbi) which might convert to round $206 or £164.
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