At IFA 2024, I used to be capable of wrap my fingers across the Tecno Pocket Go. This controller is barely bigger than a conventional Xbox controller, is definitely a Home windows 11-powered mini PC. It is a screen-less Steamdeck, which you’ll be able to hook up with any TV, monitor, and even a pair of AR glasses to play anyplace. It is the hand-held console I am most enthusiastic about proper now.
Once I go to tech reveals, the key phrases “AR glasses” and “VR headset” normally scare me away. It was no shock that I lacked any enthusiasm after I dropped by Tecno’s stand at IFA 2024 in Berlin. Initially, I went there primarily to see if the Phantom Final 2, the smartphone that folds into three, was on show. It wasn’t, so I settled for the Tecno Pocket Go. Typically, destiny has a humorous approach of doing issues.
A Home windows 11 mini PC in a controller
Visually, the Tecno Pocket Go seems to be like a giant, unofficial Xbox controller. It is fairly giant and, above all, thick as a result of it incorporates a 50 Wh battery. I did not get any data on its battery life, sadly.
We’ll speak concerning the AR glasses that may be linked under. Nonetheless, the Tecno Pocket Go may also be used by itself. All you must do is hook it as much as a display screen.
On the technical facet, we discover an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS CPU. Such a 8-core processor is normally present in pocket book PCs, however there’s additionally 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. The Tecno Pocket Go has no built-in display screen. There’s more room contained in the chassis, and the producer has maximized it. The controller options a big fan linked to a few copper tubes for cooling.
With the AMD Radeon 780M GPU built-in into the chip, most fashionable video games will be performed. In fact, we can’t be capable of obtain 120 FPS in 4K on Cyberpunk 2077, as an example. Throughout my session, I used to be capable of play a racing recreation. Your entire expertise appeared pretty fluid, however I am undecided I used to be enjoying at a relentless 60 FPS.
The Tecno Pocket Go runs on Home windows 11. Sadly, I could not navigate the interface as a result of my unit ran out of battery. There have been additionally fifteen different journalists round me, simply ready for me to present them a flip. Tecno defined they’d their very own pores and skin to make navigation extra intuitive with the joystick. You too can join a keyboard and a mouse in any case.
Gaming anyplace, in every single place, and in augmented actuality
The thought is to make use of this moveable console on the transfer. Because it does not have a built-in display screen, you must join it to a pair of AR glasses through USB-C, referred to as AR Pocket Imaginative and prescient.
The glasses characteristic two 0.71-inch micro OLED screens. You too can modify the diopter from 0 to 600°, and the sector of view is meant to be equal to a 215-inch display screen positioned 6 meters away from you. Personally, I discovered the gap a little bit too far however visibility was nonetheless excellent.
The glasses observe your head actions with a six-axis gyroscope and a home made algorithm. It labored very effectively throughout my session. The digital display screen at all times remained straight in entrance of me. The glasses may ship you vibrations, however I did not discover something throughout my hands-on.
What I additionally discovered very cool was, in idea, you possibly can join these Pocket Imaginative and prescient AR glasses to different units (smartphone, Nintendo Swap, one other PC).
I am unable to actually touch upon the audio high quality of the glasses. The Tecno stand at IFA was swarming with individuals, and the present is at all times very noisy. I had set the amount low sufficient to listen to the Tecno supervisor’s explanations when he spoke to me.
All that is lacking is European availability
Sadly, the Tecno Pocket Go is just not but accessible in Europe. Other than a “quickly” as promised by one of many model’s native representatives, I’ve had no further info.
What is definite is that the Pocket Go controller and Pocket Imaginative and prescient AR glasses will be bought collectively or individually. There are additionally a variety of unanswered questions that I am unable to reply but.
The console’s battery life is a vital level. Is it price strolling round with a giant controller and glasses if the battery lasts for under two hours?
My too-short hands-on session did not permit me to correctly gauge efficiency both. I hope to have the ability to get a overview unit to benchmark and take a look at extra video games on it.
In any case, the Tecno Pocket Go is my favourite system on this yr’s version of IFA. I believe it is a extremely unique idea that deserves to be explored additional.
What do you consider the Tecno Pocket Go after this hands-on? Does the controller + AR glasses combo make sense to you? What do you consider the potential of utilizing the console with none glasses?
