Report: Logitech Plans Switch-Like Handheld Android Console with Google Play Support

There are many Nintendo-Switch-style Android-based gaming handhelds, usually available for import on eBay or AliExpress. Some of them, such as AYN Odin, enjoy a good reputation. Others, like the Retroid Pocket 2+, are less good, but so cheap that they’re still worth buying for people who want a handheld console for old-school game console emulators. But rarely do any of them have the support of a big company, reliable hardware and warranty support, or clear software update policies (besides periodic Android version updates or support for alternative Android distributions).

That’s why rumors of Logitech’s Switch-like portable Android device caught our attention. Originally announced by prolific insider Evan Blass (and kept by The Verge after the DMCA removal), the PDA definitely resembles the Switch Lite. It has four face buttons (arranged in Xbox style with an A at the bottom and a B on the right, rather than Nintendo style with those buttons reversed), left and right shoulder buttons and triggers, asymmetrical dual sticks, a D-pad, and four other face buttons. for various system functions. But the device appears to be running a customized version of Android with full access to Google Play and appears to have built-in access to Microsoft, Nvidia and Valve’s game streaming services for portable PC gaming.

Blass points out that the PDA is likely the product of a recently announced collaboration between Logitech and Chinese tech company Tencent. In early August, the companies said they would “combine Logitech G’s expertise in hardware with Tencent Games’ expertise in software services”to create a streaming-focused handheld gaming console at some unknown date in the future.

While we know what it looks like, we don’t know the device’s specs, including its SoC, screen size or resolution, its RAM or storage capacity (however it does appear to include a microSD slot on top), or its battery. life. A faster chip would make the console more expensive, but would also effectively emulate newer consoles such as the Dreamcast, GameCube, PS2, and Wii, while many cheap handhelds outperform the original PlayStation or Nintendo 64.

And pricing will be key. The console could probably afford to be more expensive than some unnamed $100 Android consoles, but it would ideally be a bit cheaper than x86-based handhelds like the Steam Deck. These consoles are bigger and heavier than most Android consoles, but they’re also much more versatile because they’re powerful enough to run PC games directly rather than via streaming. They can also emulate newer consoles at higher quality settings.