Back in 2022, OpenAI ushered in an era of AI with ChatGPT and all other companies started playing catch up. Fast forward to 2026, and ChatGPT is an inherent part of many of our lives today. Students rely on it for assignments, professionals rely on it for support and almost every industry uses it in some form or another. And in major tech expos across the globe, you can always feel AI taking centrestage. This is exactly what is expected to happen at Computex this year. Brands have showcased the future of computing at the event for years and this year the story will be similar.
But beneath all the AI excitement, another trend has quietly started building momentum – gaming handhelds. We all remember the Sony PSP craze of 2004. Every kid just dreamt of having the handheld device. Now in 2026, handhelds are still there but the hype around them isn’t 2004-level. However, as more and more companies invest in handhelds, the story might change soon.
Also read: Acer unveils Predator Atlas 8 gaming handheld ahead of Computex 2026: Features and top specs
Perhaps one of the most successful handhelds in recent years has been the Steam Deck. Valve’s handheld did not just sell well, but it changed the conversation around portable gaming. Suddenly, the idea of carrying a large PC gaming library in your hands did not feel like a tech demo anymore. It felt practical.
And since then, almost every major gaming brand has wanted a piece of the market.
ASUS jumped in with the ROG Ally. Lenovo followed with the Legion Go. MSI launched the Claw series. Smaller brands like AYANEO and OneXPlayer kept experimenting with different designs and form factors.
There also have been plenty of improvements in handheld gaming in the last few years. Displays are getting better, cooling systems are becoming more sophisticated, batteries are growing larger and performance is improving with every generation.
These devices still have limitations and of course, are not replacing gaming desktops anytime soon. But compared to where the category was a couple of years ago, the progress has been hard to ignore.
One of the biggest signs that handheld gaming is expected to be a focus at Computex this year is Intel’s latest announcement.
The company has recently announced its new Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme processors designed specifically for gaming handhelds. On paper, it may sound like another chip launch. In reality, it says a lot about where the industry is heading.
For years, AMD has been the name most people associated with gaming handhelds. Devices like the ROG Ally and Legion Go relied heavily on AMD hardware, and the company effectively became the default choice for portable gaming PCs.
Intel was present in the conversation, but never really at the centre of it. And that could change this year.
The new Arc G3 platform is said to have been designed with handheld gaming in mind. Intel says that the chips focus on balancing performance, battery efficiency, and thermals, which are probably the three most important areas for any portable gaming device.
The company is also bringing technologies like XeSS 3 AI upscaling and Multi-Frame Generation. In simple words, technologies like these promise to help games run smoother while keeping battery drain under control.
Now what’s important to note is that the first major example of Intel’s new handheld strategy has already arrived – Acer’s Predatory Atlas 8.
Ahead of Computex, Acer has just unveiled the Predator Atlas 8, a gaming handheld powered by Intel’s Arc G3 platform.
The Atlas 8 comes with an 8-inch WUXGA touchscreen, a 120Hz refresh rate, Variable Refresh Rate support, Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and up to 24GB LPDDR5X RAM. Acer is also offering configurations with Intel Arc B390 graphics, along with support for ray tracing and XeSS 3 AI upscaling.
Moreover, the handheld runs Windows 11, supports Xbox Game Pass out of the box, and is designed to give users access to a full PC gaming experience. Acer also claims the Atlas 8 includes the first metal cooling fan used in a gaming handheld alongside a dual-fan cooling setup. Whether that translates into noticeably better real-world performance is something we will have to test ourselves, but it shows where the industry is focusing its attention.
Now the question is, why are gaming handhelds suddenly being talked about so much these days? The reason could be as simple as changing habits.
A lot of people no longer want to sit at a desk every time they want to play a game. Gaming laptops remain extremely popular, but they are still larger devices that require a charger, a bag, and enough space to use comfortably.
Now when you talk about handhelds, they offer a different kind of flexibility.
You can use them while travelling, during a flight, or just while relaxing on a couch after a long day at work. Most of these devices can also be connected to larger displays when users want a more traditional gaming experience. And that convenience is what sets them apart.
Cloud gaming is helping too. Services like Xbox Game Pass have made large gaming libraries easier to access than ever before, while faster internet speeds and technologies like Wi-Fi 7 are making remote gaming much more practical.
Put all of those trends together and it becomes easier to understand why so many companies are suddenly paying attention to this space.
Now AI will almost certainly dominate headlines next week when Computex 2026 kicks off. There is simply too much momentum around it for that not to happen. But there is another battle quietly unfolding in the background.
Intel is entering the handheld gaming market with dedicated processors. Acer has already revealed the Predator Atlas 8 and MSI is also reportedly planning to launch the Claw 8 EX AI+. Asus, meanwhile, is also expected to unveil a new handheld at the event. ROG celebrates its 20th anniversary this year which is reason enough to believe that a new gaming device is in the works.
With so much happening, the category feels much more competitive. And competition is usually where things get interesting.
So while AI may dominate the presentations, there is a good chance gaming handhelds will end up generating some of the loudest reactions from people walking the Computex show floor.
Because unlike many futuristic AI concepts, the appeal of a gaming handheld is simple yet impactful- You pick it up, launch a game, and just take it with you wherever you go.
Also read: Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo to launch in India soon? Here is what we know