Intel's official entry into the handheld gaming landscape is now here as the company has unveiled two new chips under the Intel Arc G-series line, debuting the new processors for a new age of gaming.
Intel Unveils 2 Arc G3 Chips with Integrated GPU and More
Intel introduced the Intel Arc G3 and Intel Arc G3 Extreme processors, a new family of chips designed for next-generation handheld gaming systems.
The series builds on the architecture of Intel Core Ultra Series 3 to bring optimized performance and power efficiency to portable play.
Both chips feature integrated graphics from Intel's latest Xe3 architecture, which features up to Intel Arc B390 graphics, enabling real-time ray tracing for high-fidelity visuals. In addition, they support Intel XeSS 3 for higher performance, smoother gameplay, and improved responsiveness.
XeSS 3 itself combines AI-based upscaling, multi-frame generation, and a low-latency system that integrates directly with game engines.
Intel Unveils Arc G3 Processors Specs
On the hardware side, the chips are built for efficiency as much as raw power as they feature processors with two P-Cores, eight E-Cores, and four LP E-Cores manufactured on the Intel 18A process node. Intel said that this is the most advanced logic node developed and manufactured in the United States.
They also include integrated Intel Wi-Fi 7 R2, dual Bluetooth 6, and Intel Thunderbolt 4, giving users up to 40 Gbps bandwidth for high-speed storage, peripherals, and transferring large game libraries.
Another notable addition is Precompiled Shaders, which downloads prebuilt shader files from the Intel cloud for select titles, delivering faster game launch times right out of the box.
Intel Arc G3 Is For Handhelds: Which Are Getting It?
Handheld designs from leading partners will launch in the coming months, beginning with Acer's Predator Atlas 8, MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, and OneXPlayer.
The Predator Atlas 8 is the handheld that has more information as of press time, with Acer officially revealing the device to be powered by the Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor and featuring up to Intel Arc B390 graphics.
Additionally, it also features an 8-inch WUXGA 120Hz touchscreen with Variable Refresh Rate support, up to an 80 Wh battery, and Predator AeroBlade cooling with the first metal fan in a handheld.
The device supports dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 7, and comes with XBOX Game Pass out of the box. Acer has confirmed the Predator Atlas 8 will launch in the United States by October 2026.
Intel and its OEM partners will share more details on Intel Arc G3 processors at Computex 2026, with handheld systems beginning to roll out from June 2026 and broader availability continuing throughout the year.
