PGS Lab has just introduced their latest version of concept hybrid gaming device + smartphone that has just finalized its funding round in Kikcstarter. The device' special feature lies in the hardware and software configuration. The device has two CPUs that take care of the operations: Intel Atom Z8750 to run the Windows 10 mobile version and Mediatek X20 running the Android side. In addition to the two CPU system the PGS has two displays. Main display is 5.9 inch Full HD in Hardcore version and 5.5 inch HD in Lite version. The smaller display is the same in both variants. Hardcore variant also has 8GB RAM compared to 4GB in Lite and 128GB internal memory compared to 64GB in Lite variant. Both variants are cellular connected with LTE.
The device has a cleverly designed hinge system that folds the main display to a 25 degree angle revealing the game pad and the additional display from beneath. Device is running full version of Windows 10 and is able to connect to external display and other peripherals such as mouse.
Company promises 5 hours gaming time (12 days in Android mode only) for the Hardcore variant that has 6800mAh battery whereas the Lite variant only has 4080mAh. The Hardcore variant also includes one feature rarely, if ever, has been seen in a smartphone, cooling system. The device includes a turbine with a highly efficient fan and an air cooled ribbed heatsink. Naturally, with bigger battery, cooling system and larger display the size of the Hardcore variant is also slightly bigger than the Lite version. Both variants are bulky by current smartphone standards but still very compact for a mini computer/gamepad.
The the PGS is a clear reminder of multiple different attempts to create/remake the mobile gaming console market. Outside of smartphones, only Nintendo has successfully built and maintained a mobile console gaming ecosystem. In fact, arguably, only Nintendo has created such an ecosystem, Period. That’s because smartphone gaming is a history of short successes – various apps that enjoy meteoric rises and then slowly wither away, to be followed by a new one – PokemonGo was only the most recent example of this.
From a hardware perspective, smartphone gaming consoles have a rich history of failure, dating from the N-Gage to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play to the 3G Sony PSP, with a number of others in between.
We at Strategy Analytics don’t expect the PGS Lab to buck this trend – because mobile gaming consoles are about ecosystem, not hardware, and this newest device is focused on building the platform, not creating a new ecosystem and content to play on the platform.