by The ONEEXPLAYER 2 is a handheld gaming PC with an 8.4-inch display of 2560 x 1600 pixels, an AMD Ryzen 7 6800U processor with 12-core RDNA 2 graphics, at least 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage space, and optional support for configurations of up to 32GB/2TB.
Unlike most other handheld gaming systems with x86 chips, it also features detachable game controllers that slide into the sides when you want them and slide off when you want to use them wirelessly or just use ONEXPLAYER 2 as a tablet. First unveiled in November, ONEXPLAYER is now up for pre-order through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, and is expected to begin shipping to backers in February 2023.
Early bird pricing starts at $899 under crowdfunding for an entry-level configuration with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
While the ONEXPLAYER 2 is one of the more expensive handhelds out there (and it will get even more expensive after crowdfunding ends), it’s also one of the more powerful, versatile options.
It has a large screen with high resolution. It has a 65.5 Wh battery which the company says is good for 3+ hours of gaming time or around 6 hours of video playback. And it has a 100W power adapter for fast charging. A netbook says you can get a 50% charge by plugging in the handheld for 40 minutes.
It supports WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, a fan for active cooling, a user-replaceable M.2 2280 SSD (it comes with a PCIe 3.0 NVMe SSD, but supports PCIe 4.0 drivers) and 6400 MHz LPDDR5x memory.
One netbook says the analog sticks have hall sensors, the shoulder buttons have 8.1mm of travel, and there’s a 6-axis sensor for motion control.
The detachable controllers are what really set the ONEXPLAYER 2 apart from other recent handheld gaming PCs. But it is worth remembering that while they see as if they would work in the same way as the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers, the One Netbook controllers do not use Bluetooth by default, and do not have their own batteries. So when connected to the sides of the tablet, they act as game controllers. But if you want to detach them and use them without wires, you need an optional “handheld switch”. Available as a $29 add-on during crowdfunding, there’s a triangle-shaped gadget that sits between the two controllers, effectively turning them into one wireless controller that can be used with the handheld or other devices.
ONEXPLAYER 2 has a built-in stand that you can use to stand up on a desk or table, and it can be used with an optional keyboard that plugs into the base.
Thanks to a 40 Gbps USB4 port, you can connect ONEXPLAYER 2 to an external GPU, high-resolution monitor or other accessories while using the controllers in wired or wireless mode.
Or you can pick up the ONEXPLAYER 2 and use it for writing, drawing or other forms of stylus, thanks to support for an optional digital pen with 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
Here’s a rundown of some key specs:
| ONEXPLAYER 2 specifications | |
| Show | 8.4 inches 2560 x 1600 pixels IPS LCD 350 nits Active stylus support |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 6800U 8 Zen 3+ cores / 16 threads Up to 4.7 GHz 4W – 28W TDP |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon 680M 12 RDNA cores Up to 2.2 GHz |
| RAM | 16 GB or 32 GB LPDDR5x-6400 |
| Storage | 512 GB / 1 TB / 2 TB M.2 2280 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe SSD |
| Battery charging | 65.5 Wh 100W GaN fast charger |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E BT 5.2 |
| Gates | 1 x USB4 Type-C (40 Gbps) 1 x USB 3.0 Type-A 1 x microSD card reader (up to 60MB/s) 1 x 3.5mm audio |
| Speakers | Stereo speakers tuned by Harman |
| Sensors | 6-axis motion sensors |
| Cooling down | Active fan Double 8.6 m copper heating pipes Cooling conductor in aluminium |
| Dimensions (with controllers) | 310 x 127 x 23 mm 12.9″ x 5″ x 0.9″ |
| Dimensions (without controls) | 208 x 127 x 23 mm 8.2″ x 5″ x 0.9″ |
| Weight (with controls) | 848 grams 1.9 pounds |
| Weight (without controls) | 709 grams 1.6 pounds |
And here’s the breakdown of pricing and configuration options available during (and after) crowdfunding:
| Configuration | Early Bird price | Indiegogo price | Retail price |
| 16 GB + 512 GB | $899 | $989 | $1249 |
| 16 GB + 1 TB | $999 | $1099 | $1349 |
| 16 GB + 2 TB | $1099 | $1209 | $1500 |
| 32 GB + 1 TB | $1099 | $1209 | $1500 |
| 32 GB + 2 TB | $1299 | $1429 | $1599 |
A netbook had previously suggested that it will also offer ONEXPLAYER 2 models with 13th generation Intel Core mobile processor options. But since Intel hasn’t announced these chips yet, it’s not surprising that the company is launching its AMD Ryzen-powered models first.
However, there are a few things you should keep in mind before pulling out your wallet.
First, the company doesn’t expect to start shipping ONEXPLAYER 2 until February 2023.
Second, this isn’t the only game in town – there are a growing number of handheld gaming PCs on the market. A few hours after the ONEXPLAYER 2 crowdfunding campaign went live, rival GPD launched a crowdfunding campaign for GPD Win 4 which has similar specs but a more compact design with a smaller screen and a QWERTY keyboard that appears when you slide the screen up.
Other competitors come from companies including AYA, which has spent much of this year promising to deliver new models and AYN, which has some of its own x86-powered handhelds on the way. And of course, the elephant in the room is Valve’s Steam Deck, which is less powerful but also much more affordable, with prices starting at just $399.
And then there is the issue of customer service and support – most of the companies playing in this space these days are relatively small Chinese companies that offer little or no reliable support to overseas customers. The good news is that they tend to push the envelope on what’s possible in these compact form factors. The bad news is that customers experiencing hardware and software problems regularly complain that they have trouble getting support or processing returns. So I’d honestly be wary if you’re spending money on any gaming handheld with a different x86 processor than the Steam Deck right now… but if you’re waiting for a more powerful Steam Deck, you might have to wait a while. And that might make devices like the ONEXPLAYER 2 a little more attractive despite the risks.
