Tecno has launched a fundraising campaign on Kickstarter to release a portable gaming console, Pocket Go, which is devoid of a conventional screen and instead is equipped with augmented reality glasses. More precisely, the new product is offered in two versions – complete with an AR headset or as a separate device. The price range is from $589 to $1079 at the crowdfunding stage.
Image source: TECNO
The portable console is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS processor with a 30-watt thermal package. The processor features eight AMD Zen 4 cores clocked at up to 5.1 GHz and an integrated Radeon 780M with 12 RDNA 3 GPU cores clocked at 2.7 GHz. Three heat pipes and a built-in fan are used to dissipate heat.
System memory with a capacity of up to 32 GB is soldered on the motherboard. An M.2 2230 solid-state drive with a capacity of up to 1 TB is used as storage. Network interfaces are represented by the Intel AX210 wireless module with support for Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
A pocket computer that only works when an external display is connected is certainly unusual. But Tecno is positioning the Pocket Go as a “215-inch micro OLED” virtual display device, thanks to a headset with dual 0.71-inch micro-LED displays that simulate the experience of viewing a 215-inch screen from 6 meters away.
The headset has 1080p resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate. It features a six-axis gyroscope for head tracking, a vibration motor, stereo speakers, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack. It can be used with any other devices that support video output via a USB Type-C cable.
Tecno Pocket Go allows you to connect to any display that supports USB Type-C input. If necessary, the owner can use an adapter from USB Type-C to DisplayPort or HDMI.
The set of ports includes a 3.5mm audio jack, a UHS-II microSD card reader and two USB Type-C ports with support for charging, data transfer and DisplayPort Alt Mode for video output. Joysticks and triggers of the device are based on the Hall effect
The Tecno Pocket Go measures 181.7 x 129.7 x 67.4 mm and weighs 550 grams. The device is equipped with a removable battery with a capacity of 50 Wh. The included power supply with a USB Type-C connector has a power of 65 W.
The devices are expected to begin shipping to backers in December 2024. Prices depend on configuration and date of purchase:
- Augmented Reality Headset: $379 on Kickstarter, $539 retail;
- Pocket Go without headset 16 GB RAM / 512 GB storage: $589 on Kickstarter, $1,160 retail;
- Pocket Go without headset 32GB RAM/1TB storage: $769 on Kickstarter, $1,699 retail;
- Pocket Go with 16 GB RAM / 512 GB storage headset: $899 on Kickstarter, $1,160 retail;
- Pocket Go with 32GB RAM/1TB storage headset: $1,079 on Kickstarter, $2,054 retail.
Analysts believe that retail prices are deliberately inflated to make buying on a crowdfunding site seem more profitable. It should be noted that competing handheld consoles with screens are available at similar prices. For example, the Lenovo Legion Go with an 8.8-inch 144Hz display, Ryzen Z1 processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage currently sells for $650. And nothing prevents you from connecting it to an external or wearable display.