ARC has entered the handheld gaming market with the X1, a portable console powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 processor. The device features a 7 inch 120Hz display, a custom Android interface called OwlOS, and a massive 9300 mAh battery. It is set to launch early next month with a price tag of roughly $310.
Under the hood, the console runs on a 4nm Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 processor paired with Adreno A22 graphics and 8GB of LPDDR5X memory. Storage sits at 128GB of UFS 3.1 flash memory, which users can expand by up to 1TB using a microSDXC card. The 7 inch LTPS TFT LCD screen runs at 1920x1080 resolution with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and reaches 500 nits of peak brightness. An active cooling fan pulls fresh air through the back and expels heat through top vents to keep internal temperatures steady under load.
Software is handled by OwlOS, a custom platform built on top of the Android Open Source Project. ARC designed this interface specifically for physical game controllers, combining native Android titles, cloud streaming, and emulation into 1 central hub. Players get access to on the fly performance tweaks, customizable fan curves, game resolution scaling, a built in frame rate counter, and a quick resume feature for suspended gameplay.
For inputs, the handheld uses drift proof TMR sticks and microswitch buttons across both the ABXY layout and the directional pad. The triggers use Hall effect sensors with mechanical stop locks for switching between racing and shooter titles. You also get 2 programmable rear buttons and dual LRA vibration motors for tactile rumble. Both the analog sticks and the battery are modular, meaning owners can swap them out when worn down.
Power comes from a large 9300 mAh battery pack that supports 27W USB Power Delivery charging. The software includes an option to cap charging at 80% to protect long term battery health. Wired connectivity includes a USB 3.1 Type C port with video output support, a 3.5mm headphone jack, stereo speakers, and 2 built in microphones. Wireless connections run over Wi Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4. Retail units roll out early next month priced at around $310.
