PC gaming handhelds come in all shapes and sizes now, but this N97 Elite from Sugar Cubes might be one of the smallest that actually works. Taking inspiration from the classic Nokia N97 sliding cell phone, this clever device drops the full keyboard for simple gaming controls, and while it won’t be challenging the Steam Deck for power, it’s a fun novelty item that has me very curious.
Many of the best handheld gaming PCs have to balance power, practicality, and compatibility. This is where the Steam Deck excels, as it’s far from the most powerful handheld on the market, but it makes up for it elsewhere. The N97 Elite, as intriguing as the concept is, would ultimately fall short on all three fronts, but it’s a nice trip down memory lane for someone who once bought a very similar phone only to discover how woefully impractical it was.
The N97 Elite is powered by the Snapdragon 855+ which is a six-year-old SoC and wasn’t necessarily a leader in power even at the time of release. It is, however, still one of the better chips for emulation.
This handheld backs up the dated mobile chip with 12GB of RAM and a whopping 512GB of storage. As for the display, it’s a 4.7-inch panel, larger than the 3.5-inch display or the original Nokia N97, that can be slid up to reveal the basic gaming controls below. In the Nokia N97, this is where a full keyboard would be located.
It could be argued that a lack of standard controls, like analog sticks, suggests that this micro handheld isn’t necessarily worth the hand cramp you will suffer trying to play modern games on it.
Reception to the device has been mixed in the West on places like Reddit, with high praise for the concept but heavy criticism of the execution. Even on bilibili, some video reviews have translated titles like “The first product I regret buying”.
My feelings are similar when it comes to the surface-level impressions in that while paying homage to an iconic piece of tech like the Nokia N97 is fun, the scale of the project should have been addressed to make this handheld viable for modern gaming.
The N97 Elite will soon make its way to markets outside of China but its price is yet to be confirmed. It’s currently being sold for 1,499 CYN (Chinese yuan renminbi) which would convert to around $206 or £164.
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