Intel announced two new Arc G-Series processors, the Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme, built specifically for handheld gaming devices on May 29, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Both chips use Intel’s Panther Lake architecture and the advanced 18A manufacturing process [1, 2, 4, 6, 7].

The Arc G3 Extreme features 14 CPU cores paired with a 12-core Arc B390 GPU running at 2.3 GHz. It is designed to handle most AAA games at low to medium settings with frame rates above 60 fps [3, 4, 5]. The standard Arc G3 also has 14 CPU cores but a slightly cut-down GPU: a 10-core Arc B370 clocked at 2.2 GHz, expected to deliver 10-20% lower performance than the Extreme model [3, 4, 5].

Intel’s new chips support gaming technologies including DirectX 12, ray tracing, AI-based XeSS 3 upscaling with multi-frame generation, and Intel Precompiled Shaders to reduce stutter [4, 5, 6, 8, 7]. The company also aims to improve power management and battery life with these processors, targeting longer gaming sessions without frequent charging [1, 4, 9, 8, 7]. Acer SVP and GM Jim Johnson described the Acer Predator Atlas 8 handheld’s battery life as "exceptional" [9].

Initial handheld devices powered by Arc G-Series chips include the Acer Predator Atlas 8, MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, and models from OneXPlayer [1, 2, 3, 10, 5, 6, 8, 7].

The Acer Predator Atlas 8 features an 8-inch 1920x1200 IPS display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightness protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. It weighs between 770 grams and 810 grams depending on whether it has a 60Wh or 80Wh battery [3, 5, 9, 8]. It includes up to 24 GB LPDDR5x RAM, a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, Hall effect analog triggers, a fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, and a "metal fan" to enhance cooling performance [3, 8].

The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ uses the Arc G3 Extreme chip and sports an 8-inch 1920x1200 touchscreen at 120 Hz. It also features Hall effect triggers and sticks, and a new chassis design to improve grip and haptics for gaming [10, 11].

The handheld market has been largely led by AMD’s Ryzen Z2 series, but Intel’s Arc G3 entry is expected to increase competition among high-performance handheld gaming PCs [5, 12].

Intel expects the first handhelds with Arc G-Series chips to become available starting in June 2026, beginning with OneXPlayer models. The Acer Predator Atlas 8 is projected to launch around October 2026 [2, 5, 8].