ONEXSUGAR 1: A Shapeshifting Dual Screen Gaming Handheld

The gaming handheld space is very crowded at the moment, making it tough for new devices to stand out.

Modular options, like the recently announced AYANEO 3, seem to be the answer, and now ONEXPLAYER is grabbing everyone’s attention with their intriguing new device, the ONEXSUGAR 1.

Marketed as “the world’s first transformable dual-screen gaming handheld,” the ONEXSUGAR certainly brings something different to the table. But can it deliver?

The device will feature a 6.01-inch primary screen and a smaller 3.92-inch secondary screen, paired with a number of hinges and modular controls. This will allow users to play in three configurations: a single-screen handheld mode, a smaller-screen compact mode, or a dual-screen setup like the Nintendo 3DS. Add in the ability to change controller layouts, and the ONEXSUGAR 1 is nothing if not versatile.

Under the hood, it packs some serious power, too. The device will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 chipset, with an 8-core Kryo CPU and an Adreno A32 GPU. This means you’re not just getting the fun of shape-shifting gameplay options but also a powerful platform capable of handling the most demanding Android games and advanced emulation.

There’s no doubt the ONEXSUGAR is an ambitious product, but it also seems a bit overengineered, which raises some concerns about durability. With all those hinges and moving parts designed to enable its cool modular functionality, we can’t shake the feeling that these features might be prone to failure, just like many other similar devices in the past. Only time will tell how this design holds up in the long run.

Still, the idea of a dual-screen, customizable gaming handheld is definitely exciting. If ONEXPLAYER has managed to engineer this balance of flexibility and reliability, the ONEXSUGAR could be a compelling new niche device in the market. For now, we’ll have to wait and see if its unique modular design lives up to the hype without any long-term reliability issues.

Details on pricing and a release date are yet to be announced, but the handheld does have an Indiegogo page and more details can also be found on ONEXPLAYER’s website. Considering the amount of engineering involved to run this modular dual-screen setup, the ONEXSUGAR 1 is likely to be a pricey, niche product. But while their website currently shows a placeholder price of $2,999, we’re hoping the final cost won’t be quite that steep.

Would you take a chance on the ONEXSUGAR 1? Or would you rather stick to tried-and-true handhelds? Whatever your pick, one thing’s for sure: modular gaming devices are getting more and more interesting.