Handheld games consoles have experienced a resurgence in recent years, as demand for gaming on the go continues to grow. At the same time, a brand-new category of AR glasses has emerged, enabling a viewing experience that’s unique to you.
With that in mind, why not combine the two into a single gaming setup? That’s what Chinese company Tecno has brought to life with the Pocket Go, its new portable Windows handheld.
Here, a futuristic-looking pair of smart glasses works in tandem with an Xbox-style controller, although it looks more like a chunky smartphone than something you’d use with Microsoft’s console. It’s also much lighter than both the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally.
At MWC 2024 in Barcelona, I tried the Pocket Go for a game of Cyberpunk 2077. My expectations weren’t particularly high, but this short demo left me very impressed.
Much of this centred around the glasses, known officially as the ‘AR Pocket Vision’ headset. Their design is a little unusual, and sure to turn heads if used in public, but they felt very comfortable on my face.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Despite only having a 0.71-inch display, wearing the glasses feels deeply immersive. It puts you right at the centre of the action, which is perfect for a first-person title like Cyberpunk. Detail and clarity are excellent, with physical controls helping everything stay in focus.
Even with its slightly unusual design, the controller (dubbed ‘AR Pocket Windows Handheld’) is very intuitive and easy to use. If you’ve used any recent console controller, this will be relatively familiar to you.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Combined, they deliver an immersive gaming experience that’s up there with the very best from a handheld device. Cyberpunk 2077 is a notoriously demanding game, yet it looked fantastic on the Pocket Go. Gameplay was smooth and lag-free, while the response to any button presses on the controller was almost instant.
I’d be very curious to see how it performs with other games. As the Pocket Go is running Windows, it should have access to the same wide variety as any other Windows handheld.
However, Tecno has another trick up its sleeve. Not only does the Pocket Go have a generous 50Wh battery, it can easily be removed and replaced whenever you like. Tecno says you can expect to get at least two hours of gaming on a single charge, but you could easily get it to last all day if you bought enough spare batteries.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
However, if you’re based in the US or UK, it’ll probably be almost impossible to get one. Tecno hasn’t confirmed pricing or availability for the Pocket Go, but the company isn’t active in Europe or North America.
I hope that changes soon, as the company clearly has some innovative ideas.