The ONEXSUGAR SUGAR 1 is probably the most attention-grabbing handheld I’ve ever used

It isn’t usually that one thing completely new crops up within the gaming house. Nintendo is the one participant nonetheless innovating with regards to handhelds, however even then the evolution from the Wii U in 2012 to the Nintendo Change 2 launched only a few months in the past feels much more iterative than say, the leap from the Recreation Boy to the Nintendo DS.

Then there’s the ONEXSUGAR SUGAR 1. With two screens, folding controllers, and extra energy than practically another Android gaming handheld in the marketplace, this factor is in contrast to something I’ve ever seen or examined.

I’ve spent the previous few days tinkering with an early prototype, and whereas I can’t say that is the right handheld for everyone, the expertise is so distinctive that I feel it’s definitely worth the early adopters’ danger.

Earlier than I get too far, I have to reiterate that this was a prototype. The internals are the identical because the retail mannequin, however the chassis and hinges usually are not. The ultimate model will use an aluminium body with chrome steel hinges, which ought to make it considerably extra resistant. Due to that I’m not going to present this system a evaluation rating or something like that.

Nonetheless, I’ve to say I used to be very impressed. I used to be anticipating the ostentatious design to really feel far flimsier than it did, particularly when swapping between modes (extra on this in a second).

As an alternative, it felt rock stable. There are highly effective magnets reverse the hinge to carry the controllers firmly in place, with nearly no flexing when hooked up. The Nintendo Change 2 Pleasure-Cons additionally use magnets to remain in place, so it’s not too stunning that the strategy works. I wouldn’t maintain the controller and swing the system round like a nunchuck, however for regular use it must be completely high-quality.

That mentioned, I solely examined the system for a number of days. It’s greater than attainable that the hinges degrade after months of use. Once more, the ultimate construct can have improved hinges in comparison with the prototype, so I’ll reserve my last judgement for now.

As for the controls themselves, they’re a bit hit or miss. The Corridor impact sticks are a pleasure to make use of, and the buttons are good and clicky. The shoulder buttons rotate with the controller in a intelligent approach, however they really feel just a little low-cost to me. I hope these are improved on the retail mannequin.

The D-pad can be an enormous disappointment. Since they rotate, they’ve separated, Pleasure-Con model buttons. This works high-quality for cardinal instructions, however the diagonals usually are not nice.

There’s a magnetic D-pad cowl to transform it right into a extra conventional expertise, however it’s even worse than the naked buttons. I used to be additionally very afraid that I’d lose it because it doesn’t home anyplace on the machine. As an alternative, it sticks to the perimeters with those self same magnets.

In fact, these flippy controllers are solely attention-grabbing due to the opposite distinctive a part of this system, and that’s the second display screen. When utilizing the principle 6.01-inch OLED, it tucks away into the physique of the system. When opened, the almost-square 3.92-inch OLED sits between the 2 controllers. I imagine this is identical panel used within the AYANEO Pocket DMG and Retroid Pocket Basic.

Each screens are glorious, and I used to be stunned by simply how compact the entire thing is. It’s positively top-heavy when enjoying with each screens, however there’s an open house behind the smaller display screen that lets you get just a little additional grip. I truly discovered it extra comfy to flip the entire thing the other way up, with the smaller display screen on high, as proven above. This solely works for video games that don’t require frequent contact inputs on the second display screen, however it’s not one thing you are able to do on an ordinary Nintendo 3DS console.

A giant cause why the ONEXSUGAR SUGAR 1 is so nice for Nintendo DS and 3DS emulation is due to the software program. Android is notoriously finicky with two-screen gadgets, however the firm appears to have provide you with a really distinctive resolution.

The software program menu provides you many choices for the display screen format. You may flip both display screen off (the smaller show turns off routinely when stowed), change the 2 screens, or use the distinctive Fusion mode. This seems to mix the 2 shows into one lengthy show, no less than so far as the emulation software program is anxious.

That’s actually the key sauce right here. Fusion mode utterly sidesteps wonky help for second screens on Android, as an alternative counting on customized layouts inside the emulator itself. The result’s a significantly better expertise for 3DS and DS emulation, though it does require just a little additional setup.

For the whole lot else, you should utilize one or each screens usually. You may, for instance, be enjoying one sport on the big display screen with a information open on the smaller display screen, or play a traditional Recreation Boy sport on the smaller display screen whereas watching YouTube on the bigger display screen.

To be sincere, I don’t discover this as comfy as propping my cellphone up subsequent to me, however possibly it’s only a matter of getting used to it. I did, nonetheless, like that I might use the second display screen as a type of kickstand when enjoying on the principle display screen with a Bluetooth controller. I doubt this was the supposed use, however it’s very sturdy.

The software program helps a number of different options, like including overlays to completely match 16:9, 3:2, and 4:3 content material. It’s also possible to change fan settings and swap the ability profile from Saving to Balanced. There isn’t the next energy profile in the mean time, however based mostly on my testing, it’s nonetheless an extremely highly effective handheld.

Earlier than I get into precise emulation efficiency, let’s take a look on the benchmarks. This is without doubt one of the first handhelds with a Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 chipset, which was designed particularly for gaming handhelds. It’s basically a modified Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, and it’s an absolute beast.

The graphs beneath examine the outcomes of the AYANEO Pocket ACE (Snapdragon G3 Gen 2), AYN Odin 2 Portal (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2), and the ONEXSUGAR SUGAR 1. The brand new chipset sports activities a stable 20% increase in multi-core scores, with extra modest positive factors in single-core efficiency.

GPU efficiency additionally sees a big increase, once more exhibiting a roughly 20% increase over the G3 Gen 2-sporting Pocket ACE. That implies that this system, in addition to the upcoming AYANEO Pocket S2 with the identical chipset, are actually the highest canine when it comes to Android gaming handheld efficiency.

Regardless of this, temperatures by no means spiraled uncontrolled like I’ve seen on gaming telephones with a Snapdragon 8 Elite. The height temperature I recorded was 45°C (113°F), which is cooler than the Pocket ACE however a lot hotter than the Odin 2 Portal. The SUGAR 1 has two followers on either side of the chassis, however I think this additionally makes it pretty troublesome to chill.

Benchmarks are one factor, however the ONEXSUGAR SUGAR 1 additionally delivers in emulation efficiency. Clearly, Nintendo DS video games run flawlessly, as do all retro methods as much as and together with PS2. Nintendo 3DS video games additionally run properly and look spectacular when upscaled on the bigger OLED display screen. I nonetheless suppose 3DS video games are finest performed on a 3DS, however this comes shut.

Fortunately, the chipset is able to excess of that. Not solely can it play probably the most demanding video games like Genshin Influence with ease, it may well additionally readily deal with Nintendo Change emulation.

Eden with the most recent Turnip driver ran most video games cleanly, and though I wouldn’t advocate shopping for an Android-based handheld to play Change video games, it exhibits that this chipset is constructed to deal with no matter you throw at it.

My solely criticism right here is the battery. I think the second display screen doesn’t go away lots of house for a big cell, which is why it’s going to ship with a 5600mAh battery. Battery life wasn’t as dangerous as my authentic ROG Ally, however the two screens and highly effective chipset want lots of juice.

I didn’t understand how a lot the ONEXSUGAR SUGAR 1 would price whereas testing it, however yesterday the corporate lastly introduced early fowl pricing at $599 through the Indigogo marketing campaign, which launched simply now. That’s a number of hundred {dollars} lower than I used to be anticipating for a tool this distinctive. I’m reserving my last judgement for the completed product, however based mostly on what I’ve seen to date it’s a reasonably compelling provide.

Up till now, your choices for 3DS emulation have been fairly restricted on Android handhelds, so the truth that the SUGAR 1 works this properly out of the field is a breath of recent air. The highly effective chipset means it may well play actually the whole lot that’s attainable to emulate on Android, though you’ll make some sacrifices when it comes to ergonomics and battery life.

Usually I’d advocate a number of extra gadgets to think about as an alternative, however this time there merely aren’t any. The AYANEO Flip 1S DS has two screens in an analogous format, however it’s a conventional clamshell handheld, and it runs Home windows. You may slap considered one of Retroid’s second display screen attachments onto an ordinary handheld, however it’s not going to be anyplace close to as seamless as this with out the software program.

And people flippy controls? They’re a novelty for positive, however a novelty that truly provides to the expertise, fairly than taking away from it. It makes different handhelds look boring by comparability, which is one thing solely Nintendo has managed to do till now.

Granted, I nonetheless suppose it’s finest for early adopters and collectors. I actually hope ONEXSUGAR continues to iterate on this design, however it’s one of the fascinating gadgets I’ve utilized in my 35+ years of gaming. That alone is likely to be definitely worth the worth of entry.