Intel and its partners are reportedly targeting a Computex reveal for the first Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme-powered gaming handhelds. These custom SoCs are expected to be based on the brand’s latest Panther Lake and Xe3 architectures, offering graphics performance equivalent to dedicated laptop GPUs such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050.
Designed to meet the power and cooling requirements of handheld gaming, the G3 series will directly compete with AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme APUs. The lineup includes two variants, the Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme. Both reportedly feature a 4.7GHz, 14-core CPU configuration consisting of two performance cores, eight efficient and four low-power efficient cores. On the all-important GPU side, the G3 gets 10 Xe3 cores clocked up to 2.2GHz, while the G3 Extreme ups the ante with 12 Xe3 cores clocked up to 2.3GHz.
Naming for these GPUs has reportedly changed compared to earlier references, with Intel said to be using Arc B390 and Arc B370 branding instead of Arc B380 and Arc B360. This is identical to what Intel uses in its laptop segment, which should simplify things while keeping uniformity within the brand’s portfolio.
Seeing as Arc B390 iGPU performance on Panther Lake laptops is a known quantity, we expect the G3 Extreme SoC to deliver RTX 4050 laptop-like results. Comparative benchmarks from Digital Foundry showed that this iGPU can even beat the Xbox Series S in Alan Wake 2, delivering around 28fps at 1440p with FSR 2 balanced. Even on a thin-and-light, productivity-focused machine like the Zenbook Duo, the B390 performed admirably, though not to the level of AMD’s flagship Ryzen AI Max + 395 and its Radeon 8060S iGPU.
Taking into account the smaller screen size and often lower resolution of handheld devices, we expect a smooth 60fps in many games, including demanding AAA titles, especially when enabling XeSS upscaling. Furthermore, XeSS multi-frame generation should also be available for those who prefer motion smoothness over latency.
When it comes to power consumption, sources at VideoCardz state that the G3 series will be configurable from 25W base TDP up to 65W, with the additional option of an 80W turbo mode. The latter will likely only be sustainable for short bursts given the cooling and battery life challenges facing handheld devices, but don’t rule it out should liquid-cooled solutions become available.
Reports also indicate the lifecycle of the G3 series spans from Q2 2026 to Q2 2027, so while the first machines could appear at Computex next month, we expect to see pre-production units, with retail availability later in the year. MSI and OneXPlayer are expected to be among the first to showcase handhelds powered by the G3 chips, followed by GPD, Acer, and even Microsoft Xbox-branded devices.
While the G3 lineup has everything on paper to please gamers, we can’t help but worry about the impact current RAM prices could have on these machines. The Lenovo Legion Go 2, for example, saw its price jump from $1,480 up to $2,849 in the US, and others have been forced to follow suit.
Nevertheless, it’s been eerily quiet leading up to Taiwan’s annual tech expo, and we’re optimistic at the idea of G3-powered handhelds giving us something to get excited about. Club386 will be on the show floor bringing you all the latest developments. Stay tuned as Computex Taipei kicks on June 2nd.
