Qualcomm unveils Snapdragon G chips for handheld gaming PCs to rival Intel and AMD

Qualcomm Technologies has announced a new lineup of gaming-focused chips at GDC (Game Developers Conference) 2025. This new series is known as the Snapdragon G-Series, specifically designed for upcoming gaming handheld devices.

The G-series consists of three Snapdragon chips: the G1 Gen 2, G2 Gen 2, and G3 Gen 3. Each chip features distinct CPU configurations and GPU generations, making them very different from one another. Only the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 offers support for hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

Designed for compatibility with Unreal Engine 5's “Lumen” technology, the top-tier G-series chip stands out as the only one in the lineup that delivers high-quality visuals. Qualcomm promises a 30% improvement in CPU performance compared to the previous generation, along with “28% faster advanced graphics capabilities.” It also claims to provide “better power optimization and energy efficiency.”

The Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 offers a “2.3x increase in CPU performance and 3.8x faster GPU capabilities” when compared to the G2 Gen 1. This is a significant performance enhancement, although its lack of features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing limits its potential.

Finally, the Snapdragon G1 Gen 2 is primarily focused on cloud gaming, targeting more budget-friendly devices designed to utilize cloud gaming services such as Xbox Cloud or GeForce Now.

Qualcomm has reported several design successes with their new G-Series chip designs. Notably, Retroid has confirmed that its Retroid Pocket PR Classic will use the G1 Gen 2. Additionally, the Ayaneo Pocket S2 is set to incorporate one of these new SOCs.

While Snapdragon has secured numerous design wins, none of these products have reached mainstream status and lack the software support seen in PC gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. Nonetheless, these niche devices cater to their own markets and offer unique advantages, which is positive news for Qualcomm and non-Windows gamers.

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