India based gaming company Arc has launched its first gaming handheld, the Arc X1, positioning it as an affordable option in the growing portable Android gaming device market. The handheld is built around a Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 chipset, a 120Hz display, and a large 9,300mAh battery, combining several features typically associated with pricier gaming handhelds into a single, more accessible package.
The device runs OwlOS, a custom Android based operating system built by Arc specifically for gaming, based on the Android Open Source Project. The software supports Android games, emulators, and cloud gaming services, while also giving users the ability to adjust game specific performance and control settings, including resolution scaling and fan curve adjustments tailored to individual titles. On the display side, the Arc X1 features a 7-inch LCD screen with Full HD resolution, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and a 120Hz refresh rate, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to help guard against everyday wear and accidental drops.
For controls, the handheld includes replaceable analog sticks specifically designed to prevent stick drift, a common complaint among long term handheld gaming device users, along with microswitch ABXY buttons and a D-pad. Two programmable buttons are positioned on the rear of the device, while two Linear Resonant Actuators provide haptic feedback during gameplay. The Arc X1 weighs approximately 500 grams and includes front facing stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and dual microphones, rounding out its audio and input hardware.
On the performance side, the device pairs its Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 chipset with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, with additional storage expansion available through a built-in microSD card slot. Arc has also included an active cooling system with a fan, designed specifically to help keep the handheld cool during longer gaming sessions. For connectivity, the Arc X1 supports Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4, along with a USB Type-C 3.1 port. The 9,300mAh battery supports 27W wired fast charging, with Arc claiming up to eight hours of usage in silent mode. The Arc X1 is currently priced at $349 in India, though it remains unclear whether the device will be made available in international markets beyond its home country launch.
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