Handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally offer powerful portability, but screen-size limitations are inherent to the form factor.

Enter the TECNO Pocket Go, unveiled at MWC [Mobile World Congress] 2024 here in Barcelona, Spain. This groundbreaking gaming handheld ditches a built-in screen completely, relying on AR video glasses instead to maximize portability and deliver a stunning 215-inch virtual display.

All the internals are housed in the controller itself — and they’re quite powerful, actually. The TECNO Pocket Go controller houses an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor coupled with 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. Without a built-in display, this half of the system boasts a 50% smaller footprint and is 30% lighter than traditional Windows-based gaming handhelds. To keep things cool, TECNO has integrated a PC-sized fan alongside three copper pipes.

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TECNO let MWC 2024 attendees like us try the Pocket Go

The controller itself features a standard layout — think a slightly bulkier Xbox game pad. It includes two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm audio jack. The Transsion sub-brand wisely made the 50Wh battery replaceable, boosting the device’s longevity and repairability.

The included AR glasses are where the magic happens. Along with the massive virtual display, they support head tracking, vibration, and feature a six-axis gyroscope. Adjustable diopter settings ensure a comfortable viewing experience even for users who wear glasses.

This level of innovation will probably not be cheap. The TECNO Pocket Go will likely compete with high-end handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally, making a price point above $700 (around P39,381) highly probable. And while mass adoption seems unlikely, the fact that such a device like this exists could significantly impact the future of handheld-gaming design and potentially disrupt the industry.

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Innovations galore

TECNO envisions the Pocket Go as more than a portable gaming PC. It seamlessly transitions into a mobile workstation when connected to other TECNO products via the TECNO Smart Box, which streamlines the setup process and expands the Pocket Go’s functionality.

Whether it sparks widespread change or remains a unique offering, TECNO deserves recognition for pushing the envelope and envisioning a future where portable gaming becomes even more immersive — and, perhaps more importantly for many, convenient. We can only hope that other manufacturers will be inspired to follow suit.

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