ONEXPLAYER Mini handheld gaming PC with Ryzen 7 5800U goes global

The ONEXPLAYER Mini is a handheld gaming computer with a 7 inch display, built-in game controllers, and Windows software that makes it possible to run many PC games. Originally launched earlier this year as a smaller alternative to the 8.4 inch ONEXPLAYER line of handhelds, One Netbook has been rapidly expanding the lineup with additional models featuring different processors.

The latest to ship globally is the new ONEXPLAYER Mini AMD Edition with a Ryen 7 5800U processor and Radeon Vega 8 integrated graphics. After launching in China last month, it’s now available for pre-order worldwide for $999 and up (which represents a discount off the $1259 retail price), and should begin shipping by April 20, 2022.

The global version of the ONEXPLAYER Mini AMD Edition has a 1920 x 1200 pixel display, 16GB of LPDDR4x-4266 RAM, and PCie 3.0 x4 NVMe storage options ranging from 512GB to 2TB.

Other features include support for WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C and TYpe-A ports, a headset jack, and a 12,600 mAh battery and 65W fast charger.

But what sets this little computer apart from a notebook or tablet are the built-in game controllers, including dual analog sticks with ALPS rockers, shoulder keys that include a touch click bumper and linear analog trigger, a D-Pad and Xbox-style action buttons. There’s also a gyroscope for motion controls.

While the ONEXPLAYER itself doesn’t have a physical keyboard, One Netbook offers a foldable Bluetooth keyboard as an optional add-on for folks willing to pay an extra $59. There’s also an optional case that costs another $29.

As for pricing… it’s complicated. One Netbook says that retail prices will range from $1259 for a model with 512GB of storage to $1499 for a 2TB version of the little computer. But folks who pre-order will be able to save up to 21 percent depending on the model they select and the day they place their orders:

The retail prices, by the way, are identical to what One Netbook is charging for an Intel-powered version of the ONEXPLAYER Mini. That model has a similar design but it’s powered by an Intel Core i7-1195G7 processor and has a 10,455 mAh battery and 100 watt fast charger. At 587 grams (1.29 pounds), it’s also a little lighter.

But there’s a new model on the way that features a 12th-gen Intel Core i7-1260P Alder Lake processor. International pricing for that version hasn’t been announced yet, but it sells for around $1,255 and up in China.

The elephant in the room, of course, is Valve’s Steam Deck. While that device has a bigger, heavier design, ships with a custom Linux-based operating system, and has a less powerful CPU, the Steam Deck has higher-performance graphics and a much lower price – it sells for $399 to $649 depending on the configuration.

The ONEXPLAYER Mini does have a few things going for it. One Netbook’s handhelds ship with Windows pre-installed, so you don’t need to pay extra for a Windows license and you don’t need to wait for Valve to perfect its Windows drivers. The systems are available with more storage for folks who don’t want to perform their own upgrades. And, perhaps most importantly, the ONEXPLAYER Mini AMD Edition is expected to begin shipping to customers in a few weeks, while Valve’s Steam Deck is in short supply – place an order today and your Steam Deck most likely won’t arrive until October or later.

But the handheld PC space looks a lot different with Valve in it than it did when companies like One Netbook, GPD, and AYA started playing in the space a few years ago… especially since Valve is the only one of those companies that offers any serious after-purchase customer service and support for its products.