The Future of Handhelds and Mini Gaming PCs at CES 2026

CES 2026 highlights the growing shift toward compact gaming systems with powerful hardware and evolving performance standards.

Hardware by Okazaki on Jan 09, 2026

Steam Machine is coming out soon, and gaming handhelds are everywhere. This has made people more interested in the future of tiny PCs and handheld gaming. CES 2026 showcased several small systems that demonstrate where the industry is headed, with an emphasis on performance, mobility, and evolving hardware trends

The Thunder Robot Mix Gaming 2 was one of the best small PCs at CES. Right now, this is the smallest compact PC that can accommodate a separate RTX 50-series graphics card. The computer on display had an RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD.

The Future of Handhelds, Mini Gaming PCs at CES 2026, NoobFeed

The company said the device is now on the market. Still, ambitions to expand into other countries are being held back by a lack of RAM and rising memory prices. Costs remain a major concern, given the system's 32GB of RAM. Anyone who has ever built or bought a prebuilt PC knows that RAM price affects the machine's total cost.

Mini PC for Thunder Robot Mix Gaming 2

Thunder Robot is holding off on releasing the Mix Gaming 2 to more people until the market settles down. They want to start this year, but things are still up in the air for manufacturers who depend on RAM parts.

The unit is taller than a Steam Machine, although its overall volume is about the same. It has more power than a Steam Machine because it features a separate RTX 50-series GPU. But it's still not clear when it will be available, and upgrades are still in progress.

OneXFly Apex Gaming Handheld

OneXFly Apex was the best high-end gaming handheld at the 1XPlayer booth. It works like an ASUS ROG Ally and runs Windows. The device has an AMD AI395Plus CPU, an 8-inch screen, and a 120 Hz refresh rate.

We played Cyberpunk 2077 at 1200 p. with high settings, achieving frame rates between 50 and 60. The tablet works well; however, the larger screen makes it feel heavy in your hand.

There is a special connector on the back that lets you connect an extra battery pack for more power and better performance. Even if the device becomes hot, it still works. Another version has a separate Frostbay cooler that cools the water, allowing it to run at even higher power and performance. Adding external cooling, on the other hand, makes the device less portable, which hurts the handheld experience.

The Future of Handhelds, Mini Gaming PCs at CES 2026, NoobFeed

We couldn't test the battery life; the alternative battery pack is a vital feature, even though it adds weight. The buttons' positioning works, though they might be bigger. The standard for comfort has risen as newer handhelds adopt controller-style ergonomics.

With AMD AI395Plus CPUs, performance is no longer the most important factor to consider when buying a modern handheld. The focus has shifted to ease of use, flexibility, and overall convenience. OneXFly Apex ships with Windows, which requires some adjustments to work well for gaming.

Prices start at about $1,500 and can go up to $2,000 or more, depending on how much RAM and storage you need. The liquid-cooled version costs an extra $100 to $150 per setup.

Mini PC from Minisforum G7 Pro

Minisforum G7 Pro was another interesting system at CES. Minisforum has made little PCs before, and this one has a tall, thin shape that is different from prior models and the Steam Machine.

G7 Pro has an Intel Core i9 14th-generation CPU and an RTX 5070 laptop GPU. It runs Windows. The price of RAM still affects the final expenses, and the official prices have not yet been disclosed.

We tried Black Myth: Wukong at 1080p with maximum settings and achieved 90-100 fps, which is what we expected from a high-end laptop GPU configuration. G7 Pro is one of Minisforum's most sophisticated designs so far for people who want small PCs.

Final Thoughts

As Intel prepares to deliver new chips and manufacturers continue to look at small, high-performance systems, the future of gaming handhelds and mini PCs is becoming more active. Gaming on smaller devices keeps getting better thanks to advances in technology, improved cooling systems, and ever-changing software platforms.

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