Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox handheld, likely releasing by 2027, may feature a Switch-style docking system, allowing both handheld and TV play. Reports suggest two handheld projects: one by ASUS (possibly 2025) and a “true” successor by Microsoft (2027). The latter may use Qualcomm chips, support games from Microsoft Store, Epic, and Steam, and could even run PlayStation titles—a first for Xbox. However, details remain unconfirmed. Release timelines vary, with some pointing to 2027 and others to 2028.
Why didn’t they go AMD, or heck, even Intel? They have GPU-heavy APUs in the pipe that would mostly just work.
Intel, in particular, is not bad power-wise as long as they aren’t clocking chips to very edge like they’ve been doing, and won’t necessarily have the TSMC capacity constraint. That’s huge.
I honestly thought the entire point of the Series S was that they would later be able to shrink it down into a portable device without any game patches
Call it the “xbox series s” without capitalization lol, Microsoft loves confusing names, right?
It means emulation with pretty much every current title, and graphics driver issues and sluggish game out of the wazoo (as Qualcomm is very different than AMD/Intel/Nvidia).
ARM being more power efficient is also kind of a meme. Intel/AMD can be extremely good when clocked low (which they can do since there’s no emulation overhead), with both the CPU/GPU. Apple just makes x86 look bad because they burn a ton of money on power efficiency, but Qualcomm is more in the “budget” space. No one is paying $2K for an Xbox handheld like they would for an Apple product.
Yeah, I know it would mean emulation, the question is more if they can deliver. Since they state it will work with all Microsoft, Epic, and Steam games. Assuming any of the leaks are right.
Games are complex. Qualcomm/MS may tune it for the most popular titles, but I just don’t see how they can catch up to years of desktop GPU driver development.
The base M4 is a very small chip with a modest memory config. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fantastic, but it’s more Steam Deck/laptop than beefy APU (which the M4 Pro is a closer analogue to).
$1200 is pricey for what it is, partially because Apple spends so much on keeping it power efficient, rather than (for example) using a smaller die or older process and clocking it higher.
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Oof.
Why didn’t they go AMD, or heck, even Intel? They have GPU-heavy APUs in the pipe that would mostly just work.
Intel, in particular, is not bad power-wise as long as they aren’t clocking chips to very edge like they’ve been doing, and won’t necessarily have the TSMC capacity constraint. That’s huge.
I honestly thought the entire point of the Series S was that they would later be able to shrink it down into a portable device without any game patches
Call it the “xbox series s” without capitalization lol, Microsoft loves confusing names, right?
Yeah, that would be perfect!
Or (alternatively) they could majorly underclock the a shrunken series X chip to make it equivalent to an S.
I mean choosing Qualcomm means they’re targeting Arm chips, which Intel and AMD don’t make.
It would probably mean a longer battery life, but I’m not sure how that would work for backwards compatibility and power.
If that’s true though, it would really set this device apart from the competition.
It means emulation with pretty much every current title, and graphics driver issues and sluggish game out of the wazoo (as Qualcomm is very different than AMD/Intel/Nvidia).
ARM being more power efficient is also kind of a meme. Intel/AMD can be extremely good when clocked low (which they can do since there’s no emulation overhead), with both the CPU/GPU. Apple just makes x86 look bad because they burn a ton of money on power efficiency, but Qualcomm is more in the “budget” space. No one is paying $2K for an Xbox handheld like they would for an Apple product.
Yeah, I know it would mean emulation, the question is more if they can deliver. Since they state it will work with all Microsoft, Epic, and Steam games. Assuming any of the leaks are right.
Games are complex. Qualcomm/MS may tune it for the most popular titles, but I just don’t see how they can catch up to years of desktop GPU driver development.
Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking.
spoiler
sadfasdfsadf
The base M4 is a very small chip with a modest memory config. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fantastic, but it’s more Steam Deck/laptop than beefy APU (which the M4 Pro is a closer analogue to).
$1200 is pricey for what it is, partially because Apple spends so much on keeping it power efficient, rather than (for example) using a smaller die or older process and clocking it higher.
I thought he meant more R&D, but even $1200 would be way too expensive for a console (especially a handheld).
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