AOKZOE has just released their new handheld, the “A2 Ultra,” which will be based on the Core Ultra platform, becoming the second in the world after the release of the MSI Claw. The innovative design of the AOKZOE A2 Ultra includes a single-piece high-aluminum glass front panel, almost bezel-less, to increase the viewing experience. Under the hood, it is powered by the Core i7-155H with 6 Performance Cores, 8 Efficiency Cores, 2 Low Power Efficiency Cores, and a 24MB L3 cache. It holds the boost up to 4.8 GHz on the P-Cores and the all-core frequency at 4.6 GHz.
What makes this game console stand out?
Handheld game consoles are becoming famous, and most of them have been equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7000/8000 series mobile processor, while very few models use Intel processors. This might change in the near future, as Intel rolls out a new breed of Core Ultra Processors code-named Meteor Lake. It has increased battery life drastically compared to the earlier Core-series processors while increasing graphics performance. With this, together with Intel’s strong points in compatibility and stability, many manufacturers have been starting to release a wide array of handheld game consoles sporting Core Ultra processors.
Through the built-in OneXConsole front-end software, console performance is allowed to be managed. One can adjust the power consumption from a minimum of 6W to a maximum of 32W based on gaming needs. It has a 7-inch borderless IPS full screen, a 16:10 aspect ratio, a resolution of 1920×1200, a 100% sRGB color gamut, and a refresh rate of 60Hz.
Other features include 32GB or 64GB LPDDR5X-7467 RAM, PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 2280 SSD, a 12600mAh (48Wh) battery, Wi-Fi 6E (integrated), and BT 5.2. The weight of the whole device is 666 grams, while for the A2 model, it is 649 grams, on the Windows 11 operating system.
Appearance
It inherited the A2’s white design language, featuring a stunning 7-inch borderless full screen, eliminating the usual black bezels. In addition, high-strength and high-transmittance stamped high-aluminum glass protects the display for higher durability and clearer visuals.
The console measures 265x105x22mm and weighs 666 grams. The integrated handle design houses a large Hall effect gaming joystick, measuring 22 degrees/8.6mm. It also packs micro-switch shoulder buttons with a travel distance of 0.2-0.8mm and 130GF actuation force, Hall effect linear triggers offering up to 8.5mm of travel, and an actuation force of 150GF. There are also five white function keys on either side of the screen.
On the top, there is a single USB 3.2 Gen1, a full-function Type-C that supports up to 100W of power, and a 3.5 mm headphone/microphone jack. The microSD card slot is located on the lower left side, while the bottom of the console hosts another full-function Type-C. The back is slick and clean, hosting only a centered vent for heat dissipation.
It supports up to 65W PD fast charging and has multiple profiles: 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/3A, 15V/3A, and 20V/3.5A; it can charge up to 65W. Compared with the previous model, AOKZOE A1L, there are distinct improvements in its internal construction since it is much smaller and has reduced exposure to cables.
Now, another important feature is the addition of an M.2 2280 interface, which contains a 1TB SSD PCIe 4.0, allowing user replacement in case larger capacity drives are required; hence, flexibility for gamers seeking more storage.
Game performance
1. 3DMark
2. Grand Theft Auto V
3. Final Fantasy 15
START Cloud Gaming Experience
This AOKZOE A2 Ultra handheld game console has not only local gaming but also streaming between the console and a computer, accessible via both LAN and public network connections. This function is realized with the assistance of Tencent.
First, download the client software from the official START cloud gaming website: [https://start.qq.com/hgc.htm](https://start.qq.com/hgc.htm). For PC users: Download the “Handheld Streaming” option in the middle-right part of the page. For handheld devices: Just choose the version corresponding to your gaming needs.
If gaming is primarily based on the PC, “Handheld Streaming” will suffice. However, if one wants to gain access to START cloud games, download the “Streaming version of START cloud games.” The program launched on the PC will give a stream ID and password that one can set. By entering the corresponding ID and password in the handheld device, the connection can be established.
You have two choices: “LAN” and “Public Network.” The LAN mode offers ultra-low latency for interconnection within the same local area network. The Public Network mode connects through the internet, which is a bit delayed, yet usually endurable for RPG games.
The software also encompasses various streaming picture settings for the best gaming experience. Provided is a screenshot of how the game ran on the AOKZOE A2 Ultra, portraying its smooth gameplay much better.
Performance Test
Battery Life Test
The AOKZOE A2 Ultra holds a high-capacity 65Wh lithium battery. We ran the PCMark 10 modern office scenario to see how its battery life held up. In this test, the OneXconsole was preset to 30W performance mode, and all other processes were closed. The screen brightness is also preset to 50%. The A2 Ultra reached a battery life score of 7 hours and 31 minutes in this scenario.
For light gaming or general use, this would further extend the battery life.
Disk Performance Test
The AOKZOE A2 Ultra has an M.2 2280 interface and is equipped with a custom 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. This SSD scored 6841 in the AS SSD Benchmark, showing a sequential read and write speed of over 5200MB/s and 5000MB/s, respectively, with a 4K random read speed of 86MB/s and a random write of 207MB/s.
Further CrystalDiskMark testing returned sequential read and write speeds of 6960MB/s and 4248MB/s. 4K random read and write were 28MB/s and 261MB/s, respectively. Finally, the memory performance testing returned read, write, and copy bandwidths of 58376MB/s, 103GB/s, and 74927MB/s, respectively, at a latency of 129ns.
Conclusion
Workmanship and Design
The AOKZOE A2 Ultra boasts about its design and workmanship over the previous AOKZOE A1 Series, which was under heavy criticism due to its looks and internal build quality. The A2 Ultra impresses with a streamlined all-glass design at the front for a far sleeker look compared to others in this class. On the inside, there has been an enormous change due to a compact, modular layout for the console. Noticeably, the compact 7-inch body contains a full-size M.2 2280 interface, making it extremely convenient for SSD upgrades, which no other manufacturer can really offer.
Gaming Performance
At 1080p, the gaming performance of the A2 Ultra, which is equipped with the Ultra i7-155H processor, delivered around 6% better performance than that of the Ryzen 7 6800U. However, at 720p, it represented approximately 6% less performance.
Battery Life and Cloud Gaming
Typical battery life for handheld game consoles running AAA titles is less than 1.5 hours, with frame rates below those of desktop systems. The AOKZOE A2 Ultra changes this by utilizing Tencent START cloud gaming, allowing remote streaming of AAA games.
The recommended platform for Tencent START cloud gaming is officially listed as Core 14th generation, but testing with an i9-13900K didn’t report any problems. At that, when streaming over a local area network, the system manages to get down as low as 5ms latency, comparable to or better than many monitors’ actual response times. The bitrate can hit 13Mbps for clarity like locally run games. Streaming over a public network adds around 20ms delay, still good enough for non-competitive games.
Battery Performance
The battery life differs based on use:
- At 32W and 70% brightness, the AOKZOE A2 Ultra uses 44W, delivering about 1 hour of gaming per charge.
- Reducing power to 15W uses about 26W in total, giving 1.8 to 2 hours of battery life.
- For lighter tasks like emulator games, power usage drops to 6W, offering 4 to 6 hours of battery life.