Notebookcheck News — Tech — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 19:36:00 +0200
Summary
OneXPlayer has launched the Apex Air, an Intel-powered version of its Apex gaming handheld, now available on its official store in a single configuration with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for $1,839. Powered by the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip, it competes with devices like the Legion Go 2, Xbox Ally X, and MSI's Claw 8 EX AI+, the latter of which uses the same chip but launched at $1,799. The Apex Air distinguishes itself with a mini SSD slot supporting up to 2TB drives, microSD expansion up to 2TB, and a removable external 85Wh battery that enables battery swapping on the go. However, that battery design adds weight: the handheld weighs 699 grams alone and about 1,079 grams with the 380-gram battery attached, compared to the Claw 8 EX AI+'s 785 grams with its built-in battery. Other specs include an 8-inch 120Hz display, dual-fan cooling, a 2280 PCIe M.2 slot, WiFi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4, though it lacks a DC power port.
The Apex Air retails the same overall design as the AMD version. Pictured: a promo picture showing the front of the device.
OneXPlayer has quietly launched the Apex Air, which is essentially the Intel version of the non-Air gaming handheld. It's powered by the Arc G3 Extreme, making it a proper rival to Legion Go 2, Xbox Ally X, and ROG Ally X20.
The OneXPlayer Apex Air made its debut weeks ago, and it seems that the company has quietly put it on the shelves. This Intel-powered gaming handheld is now available on the official store, and it won’t necessarily get any attention for being affordable.
Specifically, only one configuration is available, and it comes with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. It costs $1,839 at the official store, making it slightly more expensive than the Claw 8 EX AI+, which is also powered by the Intel Arc G3 Extreme and has a launch price of $1,799.
However, compared to the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, there are some aspects that make the Apex Air stand out a little. First of all, the OneXPlayer gaming handheld has a mini SSD slot, and the company highlights that there’s support for up to a 2TB drive. There’s microSD card support as well, and that slot also brings up to 2TB storage expansion.
Another notable aspect of the OneXPlayer Air is the external battery, which can be considered an advantage. With a spare battery, this design makes uninterrupted gaming easy when there’s no wall outlet around. However, such a design makes the handheld relatively heavy as well.
To be specific, the Apex Air weighs 699 grams (around 1.54lbs) without the external 85Wh battery installed. The battery itself weighs around 380 grams (about 0.84lbs), making the entire setup weigh around 1,079 grams (about 2.38lbs).
In comparison, the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, which we recently reviewed, weighs 785 grams (about 1.73lbs) with its 80Wh built-in battery (small-sized 65W Iniu 20K power bank curr. $42.29 on Amazon). So, the Apex Air can be a bit less easy to carry around when compared to the MSI gaming handheld.
Nonetheless, the other specs of the Apex Air are pretty much the same as the AMD-powered OneXPlayer Apex. That includes an 8-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a dual-fan cooling setup, and a 2280 PCIe M.2 slot. However, it’s worth noting that there’s no DC power port available on the Intel device, but it brings better wireless connectivity with WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Check out the spec sheet attached below to learn more.
Abid Ahsan Shanto - Senior Tech Writer - 2987 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2023
Abid's journey as a technophile began when he first assembled his PC. Since then, his insatiable curiosity has driven him to delve into every aspect of this rapidly evolving technological landscape. And as a tech reporter, he prioritizes transparency, accuracy, and unbiasedness.
Original article: https://www.notebookcheck.net/New-OneXPlayer-gaming-handheld-launches-with-Intel-Arc-G3-Extreme-and-32GB-RAM.1382721.0.html Source: Notebookcheck News