Arc Enters India Handheld Gaming Market with Snapdragon-Powered Arc X1

Homegrown hardware company Arc has formally entered the Indian portable gaming market with the release of the Arc X1, a dedicated handheld gaming console driven by Qualcomm's Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 Gaming Platform. Developed over a 16-month period incorporating feedback collected directly from its gaming community, the portable device runs on a custom operating system built atop the Android Open Source Project.

The console features a 7-inch Full HD LTPS TFT LCD display carrying a 1,920 by 1,080-pixel resolution, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and a 120Hz refresh rate. Visual output reaches up to 500 nits of typical brightness alongside full sRGB colour gamut coverage and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Processing is handled by the 4nm Snapdragon platform, which pairs an octa-core Qualcomm Kryo CPU and an Adreno A22 GPU with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM operating at 8,533 MT/s and 128GB of internal UFS 3.1 storage. Storage capacity can be expanded up to 1TB via a compatible microSDXC card slot.

Arc has structured its market release around a tiered pricing model that rewards early supporters. Consumers who secured a spot on the initial product waitlist can purchase the Arc X1 at a special introductory price of Rs 29,500. Early-access ordering windows are scheduled to open on October 2, preceding a broader commercial release.

For general buyers who did not join the waitlist, the handheld will retail at a fixed price of Rs 33,500. The commercial rollout positions the device directly within India's growing portable entertainment segment, competing for mobile gamers seeking dedicated hardware controls rather than smartphone attachments.

Input architecture on the Arc X1 incorporates zero-drift Tunnel Magnetoresistance analogue sticks paired with built-in calibration tools. The directional and action interface includes microswitch-based ABXY buttons, a standard D-pad, and Hall-effect analogue triggers equipped with mechanical trigger locks for tactile adjustment.

Additional physical inputs include two programmable buttons positioned on the rear grips. For physical feedback, the handheld integrates dual Linear Resonant Actuators designed to deliver responsive haptic sensations during gameplay sessions across different titles.

Sustained performance is managed by an active cooling system built around a centrifugal fan. The thermal layout draws intake air through vents situated on the rear casing and expels heated air through exhaust ports located on the top edge of the chassis.

Power is supplied by a 9,300mAh battery supporting 27W fast charging. According to manufacturer specifications, the power unit delivers more than eight hours of continuous operation when running under Silent Mode settings. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, USB Type-C with OTG support, and a conventional 3.5mm headphone jack.

The device operates on OwlOS, a proprietary interface derived from the Android Open Source Project. The software suite provides system-level tools including per-game performance and control profiles, real-time frame-rate monitoring overlays, and resolution scaling utilities.

Further system features include user-adjustable fan curves for thermal tuning and a Quick Resume utility that allows players to return to active gaming sessions without extended loading times. Early access orders for the device commence on October 2.