Intel Launches Arc G3 Chips for Handheld PCs in Acer Predator Atlas 8

Intel is formally announcing its first custom chips designed specifically for handheld gaming PCs, naming them the Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme. The announcement follows the mixed results of earlier Intel-based handhelds, including the initial MSI Claw and the improved MSI Claw 8 AI Plus. There is still much unknown about the chips themselves, which are rumored to have two fewer CPU cores than Intel's Panther Lake laptop chips while featuring a full complement of Xe3 GPU cores.

The chips will first appear in the newly announced Acer Predator Atlas 8, which Acer is positioning as a potential successor to its previously teased but unreleased Nitro Blaze handhelds. The Predator Atlas 8 comes in two variants. One uses the Intel Arc G3 Extreme with Arc B390 graphics and 12 Xe3 GPU cores. The other uses the Intel Arc G3 with Arc B370 graphics and 10 Xe3 cores. Both configurations include 24GB of LPDDR5x RAM running at 7467 MT/s.

Cooling for the device relies on what Acer calls the first metal fan in a handheld, featuring 89 blades and delivering a claimed 10 percent airflow increase over competing devices. The handheld will be available in two weight configurations: 810 grams with an 80Wh battery or 770 grams with a 60Wh battery. All ports are positioned on the top of the device.

The display is an 8-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS panel in 16:10 aspect ratio and native landscape orientation. It offers 500 nits brightness, a 48-120Hz variable refresh rate, and is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus with Corning's DXC anti-glare coating. The panel covers 100 percent of sRGB and 77 percent of Adobe RGB color spaces.

Input hardware includes carbon film joysticks that may be prone to drift over time, though the triggers use Hall effect sensors with adjustable hair-trigger stops. Additional controls consist of two back buttons and a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. The device runs Windows 11 with Xbox Mode and supports up to a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD in the full-length M.2 2280 form factor. It measures 28.5mm at its thinnest point and 58.37mm at the grips.

Connectivity features two Thunderbolt 4 ports that support 65W USB-C charging, Intel's Wi-Fi 7 implementation, a UHS-II microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm headset jack. Acer has not disclosed battery life figures or pricing. The Predator Atlas 8 is scheduled to launch in October.

Intel named MSI, GPD, and OneXPlayer as additional partners for the new handheld platform. There is reportedly an MSI device in development as well, rumored to be the MSI Claw 8 EX AI Plus, though retailer leaks suggest it will carry a high price tag. The source notes that the Steam Deck received a significant price increase just yesterday.