Tecno Pocket Go: more than just a gaming controller

The Steam Deck portable gaming PC is one of the most practical solutions for gaming on the go, but in certain cases the 7-inch screen may not be enough. In response, some manufacturers make larger devices, which ultimately limits their portability.

At MWC 2024, smartphone maker Tecno unveiled a new approach to portable gaming technology with the Pocket Go device. This portable gaming PC is designed to fit the shape of a traditional game controller. But the main ingredient is missing – screen – which makes it possible to say that it is a portable console. The answer lies in AR (augmented reality) glasses.

Tecno decided to take an innovative approach and instead of attaching a portable screen to the controller, it equipped the Pocket Go with AR video glasses. These enable an experience comparable to viewing a 215-inch screen from a distance of approximately 6 meters. Due to the absence of a physical screen, the part of the device that contains the PC components is 50 percent smaller and 30 percent lighter compared to other portable gaming devices running on the Windows operating system. The Pocket Go is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS chip, features 16GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 1TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. To ensure effective cooling, Tecno has installed a desktop-sized fan and three copper pipes into the device, making the Pocket Go visually reminiscent of a more robust version of the Xbox controller.

The controller is designed according to standard specifications with asymmetrical sticks, D-pad, four buttons, triggers and bumpers. The two halves of the Pocket Go appear to connect via a USB-C cable, enabled by two USB-C ports and a 3.5mm audio jack on the controller. Tecno points out that the Pocket Go has a replaceable battery with a capacity of 50 Wh, which contributes to greater repairability of the device.

The AR glasses not only display a 215-inch virtual screen, but also they also support tracking of head movements, vibrations and include a six-speed gyroscope. For users who wear glasses, the Pocket Go enables dioptre adjustment, which ensures adaptation to the glasses of the individual. The price is still unknown, as is the release date and whether the device will be available in Europe.