The OneXFly APEX Air, a gaming handheld featuring the Intel Arc G3 Extreme processor, is now available for purchase. It’s priced at $1,839 and comes with 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 1TB SSD. The device is available from the OneXPlayer global store.
Intel Arc G3 Extreme Processor
The Intel Arc G3 Extreme is a purpose-built handheld processor designed from scratch for portable gaming. It features a 12-core Xe3-architecture integrated graphics unit and a 14-core CPU. The chip is manufactured on Intel’s 18A fabrication process, which provides efficiency advantages at low power envelopes.
The Arc G3 Extreme has a 46 TOPS NPU, enabling on-device AI features like Live Captions and Recall. It’s also paired with a dual-fan, copper heat-pipe cooling system rated for up to 45W sustained TDP.
Performance Comparison
According to the review of the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, which uses the same Arc G3 Extreme processor, the chip delivers 40-65% more frames per second than AMD’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme at equal 35W power. The Arc G3 Extreme also outperforms the Ryzen Z2 Extreme in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur’s Gate 3.
In terms of efficiency, the Arc G3 Extreme has a configurable TDP range of 8W to 35W. The OneXFly APEX Air’s chassis is rated to sustain the high end of this range continuously.
Modular Battery Design
The APEX Air’s defining feature is its removable 85Wh external battery pack. This allows for hot-swapping batteries mid-session, making it ideal for gaming on the go.
The trade-off for this feature is weight. The APEX Air body weighs 699 grams without the battery, while the battery itself adds 380 grams. This brings the total weight to 1,079 grams.
One notable aspect of the APEX Air’s design is that it treats battery life as a modular, replaceable resource rather than a fixed constraint. This is a key differentiator from other gaming handhelds on the market.
Storage and Connectivity
The device comes with a 1TB SSD.
One important consideration for buyers is that the APEX Air ships with Windows 11, and SteamOS support for the Arc G3 Extreme is not yet confirmed.
As a Chinese company, One-Netbook is subject to China’s National Intelligence Law, which requires cooperation with state intelligence work.
The OneXFly APEX Air’s key features make it a compelling option for gamers.
In the middle of the premium handheld market, devices like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 and Lenovo Legion Go 2 offer alternative options. The APEX Air’s value proposition rests on its unique features and performance advantages, making it a strong contender in this space.
For buyers who game away from outlets regularly, the APEX Air’s removable battery addresses a fundamental constraint of gaming handheld use cases. The device’s lighter body and storage expandability also make it an attractive option for those who want a premium gaming experience on the go, similar to how investments in new technologies can provide unique benefits.
It is a strong contender.