Though the Sport Builders Convention is not till subsequent week, Google made a shocking announcement anyway, introducing Vulkan as the brand new default graphics API for Android. Till now, builders might depend on both Vulkan or OpenGL, though the latter has been round for fairly a very long time.
This transfer to Vulkan because the default opens up a world of superior rendering options for builders, reminiscent of ray tracing and multithreading. This will help allow richer, extra immersive visuals for video games that put it to use.
Usually, this is not that I’d care all that a lot about, as I normally have one of many newest Android telephones operating the most recent software program. Nevertheless, the transfer to creating Vulkan the default for graphics will kick in when the ultimate model of Android 16 arrives. That is an vital level of distinction once you’re deciding on what gaming handheld to select up.
With many of those handhelds, you will not discover the most recent model of Android on the helm. As a substitute, corporations embrace anyplace between Android 11 and, on very uncommon events, Android 14. However more often than not, you are getting Android 13 with little to no hope of seeing newer variations.
A few of this may be attributed to compatibility, seeing as one thing just like the Retroid Pocket 5 and its Snapdragon 865 is healthier suited to older variations of Android. On the similar time, some, just like the Pimax Portal and Retroid Pocket Mini, ship with Android 10. Pimax not sells the Portal, and though the Pocket Mini might be upgraded to Android 13, it comes with the caveat of a drop in efficiency.
This leads me to why I am intrigued by Google’s resolution to modify to the Vulkan API. I doubt gadgets such because the Pocket Mini will ever even sniff Android 16, however that is utilizing a six-year-old chip. Nevertheless, it is likely to be a unique story with gaming handhelds just like the AYN Odin 2 or AYANEO Pocket EVO. The previous makes use of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with the latter reliant upon the G3x Gen 2.
After all, neither of those are the most recent and biggest, however each are nonetheless fairly performant. To not point out that, partially, due to neighborhood driver help, they’re even higher for cell gaming than the Snapdragon 8 Elite. There’s hope that the neighborhood shifts its focus to try to unlock the horsepower of Qualcomm’s newest chips, however that may not ever occur.
Nevertheless, that is the place I am questioning if a (comparatively) easy software program replace might present even higher efficiency and compatibility with newer chips. I am not so positive that is what is going to occur, however I am hopeful that no less than one firm will launch an Android 16 replace, even when it is simply to see what occurs.
There’s one other aspect of the coin, and it is that some corporations use a closely skinned model of Android. In doing so, it is in a position to implement numerous instruments that may take full benefit of the {hardware}.
AYANEO handhelds, for instance, normally have just a few further buttons than even what you may discover on many controllers. Not solely that, however once you begin up one thing just like the AYANEO Pocket S for the primary time, you are not going to be greeted by the standard Android residence display. As a substitute, it is a launcher distinctive to AYANEO handhelds, full with a fly-out menu that gives extra granular profile controls.
In the meantime, should you had been to fireside up a Retroid Pocket 5 for the primary time, you are taken by way of a novel setup course of that guides you thru the whole lot. And when the whole lot is claimed and executed, it is simply your fundamental previous Android residence display, providing you with the liberty to put in any customized launcher that you really want. Or, simply depart it as is that if that is the best way you wish to roll.
Nonetheless, I am nonetheless fairly excited to see what sort of impact Google’s newest announcement has not simply on gaming handhelds but in addition on telephones and tablets. I believe, in the long term, this will probably be good for everybody. I simply hope that these gaming handheld OEMs do not find yourself kicking and screaming all the time.
