- Computing
- Computing Components
- CPU
DLSS would be king on a handheld PC
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Shutterstock, Nvidia)
- Copy link
- X
- Threads
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter- Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang teased new N1X and N1 SoCs for AI computers
- They’re the product of a collaboration with Mediatek
- Nvidia may eventually use them for handheld PCs based on recent advancements in handheld hardware
While Nvidia is a leading manufacturer of desktop and gaming laptop GPUs, it hasn’t yet produced a chip for a handheld PC, with the closest to it being Nvidia Shield and the Nintendo Switch 2 – but that could change very soon.
As reported by VideoCardz, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently discussed the N1X and N1 chips – the result of Nvidia’s system-on-a-chip collaboration with Mediatek – in remarks to local media in Taiwan, hinting that they could serve as a low-power and high-performance solution for computers with AI capabilities.
While the N1X and N1 have yet to be officially revealed, we know that they’re designed for AI PCs, and according to multiple rumors, they’re also expected to appear in high-performance gaming laptops, with potential RTX 5070 performance levels.
You may like-
Nvidia N1X chip could arrive in laptops soon with a powerful integrated GPU
-
We might see a successor to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ soon with a Panther Lake CPU
-
The MSI Claw A8's potential price could ruin the handheld gaming appeal
The new chips could place Nvidia in direct competition with AMD and Intel, with the latter recently announcing a dedicated handheld gaming platform within its new Panther Lake processor lineup. And while there’s no guarantee that Nvidia will use its upcoming N1X and N1 processors for handhelds, it's looking likely.
We've already seen AMD's Strix Halo Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU provide RTX 4060 levels of performance, with the chip employed to impressive effect in the GPD Win 5 and the upcoming Ayaneo Next 2, so it's not far-fetched to imagine that these high-performing Nvidia and Mediatek SoCs could be used for handheld gaming PCs.
It's no longer impossible to use such powerful hardware in handheld devices, but if Nvidia does decide to use the N1X in handhelds, performance would be the least of my concerns.
Analysis: an Nvidia-powered handheld would be super-expensive
It's important to note here that Nvidia hasn't suggested the N1X or N1 will be used for handhelds, but rather that the primary use case will be in AI PCs and laptops, so this is all speculation on my part.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inboxContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.In a world where we do see an Nvidia-powered handheld, particularly one that supposedly offers RTX 5070-tier performance with DLSS 4.5 available, I'd very much expect it to be a device with a premium price tag – and definitely upwards of prices for popular handhelds like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go 2.
The RTX 5070's performance in a portable device is already impressive enough, but DLSS in this hypothetical handheld has the potential to single-handedly do the heavy lifting and trump AMD and Intel's handhelds, which use FSR and XeSS, respectively. I can say that confidently after testing DLSS 4.5, which provides a significant improvement in image clarity over previous iterations.
I have some doubts about an Nvidia-powered handheld PC becoming a reality, as the new chips aren’t officially slated for such devices, and it would naturally require collaboration between Team Green and a manufacturer like Asus or Lenovo. But I’m hoping that it does happen – the handheld gaming space has been revitalized by devices like the successful Steam Deck, and there’s ample opportunity for Nvidia to capitalize on this fledgling market.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course, you can also follow TechRadar on YouTube and TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
The best gaming laptops for all budgetsOur top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons➡️ Read our full guide to the best gaming laptops1. Best overall: Razer Blade 162. Best budget: Acer Nitro V 153. Best premium: Alienware 16 Area-514. Best 18-inch:MSI Titan 18 HX AI5. Best for creatorsLenovo Legion Pro 7i
TOPICS Nvidia AI CATEGORIES GPU
Isaiah WilliamsSocial Links NavigationStaff Writer, ComputingIsaiah is a Staff Writer for the Computing channel at TechRadar. He's spent over two years writing about all things tech, specifically games on PC, consoles, and handhelds. He started off at GameRant in 2022 after graduating from Birmingham City University in the same year, before writing at PC Guide which included work on deals articles, reviews, and news on PC products such as GPUs, CPUs, monitors, and more. He spends most of his time finding out about the exciting new features of upcoming GPUs, and is passionate about new game releases on PC, hoping that the ports aren't a complete mess.
View MoreYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout Read more
Nvidia N1X chip could arrive in laptops soon with a powerful integrated GPU
We might see a successor to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ soon with a Panther Lake CPU
The MSI Claw A8's potential price could ruin the handheld gaming appeal
The 'world's first' glasses-free 3D PC handheld looks a little ridiculous, especially at $1,799 – and honestly, I'd rather have a Steam Deck
A water-cooled AMD AI 14-inch tablet with 16 CPU cores, a 5060-class GPU, and 128GB RAM is exactly what I need for Christmas — I don't think it will cost less than $2000, though
Nvidia CEO hints older graphics cards may return to solve GPU price crisis
Latest in CPU
Asus responds to worries about Ryzen 9800X3D CPUs dying in its motherboards
AMD's Ryzen 9850X3D gaming champ CPU is out next week, and we like the price
Nvidia N1X chip could arrive in laptops soon with a powerful integrated GPU
We might see a successor to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ soon with a Panther Lake CPU
The Intel Core Ultra series 3 processors look impressive enough, but the Arc B390 iGPU is the real game-changer here
The 25 best gadgets we saw at CES 2026
Latest in News
Where hi-fi, art and chemistry collide, you get Molecular Audio
I didn't even know Netflix was on the PS3, but it won't matter soon — the streaming app will leave the console after 16 years next month
Independent auditors confirm NordVPN never stores your data – for the 6th time
Sea of Remnants has 400+ named NPCs in its open world, each 'with their own individual story arcs' that can be altered by your actions
Windows 11's February update is imminent — here are the top 4 features
SpaceX and xAI merger starts a new AI space race, but big questions remain
LATEST ARTICLES- 1Our chances of seeing a new Nvidia-powered handheld PC with RTX 5070-level power are improving – but I'd expect the price to be a dealbreaker
- 2These speakers are what you’d find in the center of an art, molecular science and hi-fi Venn diagram and I want them
- 3I didn't even know Netflix was on the PS3, but it won't matter soon — the streaming app will leave the console after 16 years next month
- 4Dangerous new malware targets macOS devices via OpenVSX extensions - here's how to stay safe
- 5Quordle hints and answers for Wednesday, February 4 (game #1472)