Driving the news: A new company to the handheld gaming scene, Meteorish, has unveiled the TJD T101, a Windows device of similar power to that of the ASUS ROG Ally.
- The TJD T101 features a 10.1-inch full HD screen with a 1920 by 1200 resolution.
- It uses the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU and RDNA 3 for the GPU.
- The battery size comes in at 60Wh – larger than both the Steam Deck and the ROG Ally.
- Two different price points will be available – $599 and $999.
Why it matters: The Meteorish TJD T101 is a new system by a company many won’t have heard of before. With any lesser-known company, it’s always worth taking the news with a pinch of salt. Everybody needs to start somewhere, of course, but always tread with caution just to be safe.
The TJD T101 boasts a 10.1-inch full HD screen, which to date is the largest screen available on a Windows handheld. In terms of power, the TJD T101 comes equipped with the choice of the AMD Ryzen 5 764OU or the 7840OU. The latter of the two is an almost identical chipset found in the ASUS ROG Ally.
For the GPU, Meteorish has gone for the AMD Radeon 780M, which runs on RDNA 3 architecture. Again, it’s the same GPU found in the ROG Ally and most new handhelds.
Why are so many companies being drawn to this popular setup? The 7840OU and RDNA 3 is a popular choices at the moment thanks to the level of AAA compatibility it offers at a lower price. Even the forthcoming AYANEO Kun uses the same GPU.
Different Price Points: Meteorish has said two price points will be available, with each price offering different tech.
- The $599 TJD T101 comes with the AMD Phoenix R5-7640U, 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 1TB SSD.
- The more expensive $999 TJD T101 will come equipped with the AMD Ryzen 7 7640U, 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 2TB SSD.
While it’s still in the same realm as the ASUS ROG Ally when it comes to power, the 35-watt operating mode means the internal chips can draw more power and, thus, provide a smoother, more vibrant gaming experience.
Though I’d advise people to keep in mind that’s only on paper. How a company reigns in the Windows 11 operating system can also have an effect on how it performs. If a company just throws a bunch of cool-sounding parts together and hopes for the best, that’s when problems can occur.
Confusing messaging: The main Meteorish website features both products in three different colors (white, black, and yellow). And while it does list the specifications for each, there are also several mentions of other factors.
64GB of RAM is mentioned, as is a 512GB SSD, but these don’t correspond directly to either of the consoles being sold. I’d wager good money on there being other models available and Meteorish has yet to announce them. Still, it’s not a good look for new potential customers looking for straightforward info.
There’s also a line that says the TDP limit is 30 watts, but the device can run at 35 watts.
What’s next: The Meteorish TJD T101 is due to launch on IndieGoGo in late August or early September. Hopefully, by then all of our questions will be answered.