Nvidia's RTX Spark is more impressive for gaming than I expected after going hands-on at Gamescom 2026 but I still have one wish

Date:
Sat, 05 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
Nvidia's RTX Spark left a strong, long-lasting impression on me after my hands-on at Gamescom 2026, and I'm hoping handheld makers might step up.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Gaming on the go has reached fresh heights over the years, with slim laptops and compact handhelds delivering great performance. AMD and Intel have spearheaded the charge with their mobile processors, but a new player is in town.

Nvidia revealed its RTX Spark at Computex in May, an ARM-based superchip designed for Windows on ARM laptops, with AI capabilities and obvious strong suits for creators but also gamers, too, with a powerful integrated RTX GPU. It's designed for slim laptops and compact PCs, keeping workspaces less cluttered and making creation alongside gaming much easier when travelling. I was lucky enough to go hands-on with an RTX Spark laptop at Gamescom 2026, specifically the HP OmniBook Ultra 16, which was running Borderlands 4 . Gearbox Interactive's latest entry in the franchise was notorious for its rough performance at launch . Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

It has significantly improved since then, and the OmniBook Ultra 16 was running the game at an incredible frame rate, one I could tell was above 60 frames per second, with the help of Nvidia's Frame Generation x2.

The mention of Frame Generation may throw some off; after all, it's been frowned upon for a long time with the 'fake frames' nickname (a criticism I disagree with). However, the input delay and overall latency weren't an issue for me on this RTX Spark system. You may like Nvidia RTX Spark-powered
laptops launch in October, and won't throttle performance on battery How Nvidia RTX Spark will change laptops forever... for better and worse Upcoming Intel Arc G3-powered gaming handhelds offer great performance, but eye-watering MSRPs miss the point (Image credit: Future) I didn't get the chance to put the system through its paces other than playing that particular game, but it's worth noting that the other RTX Spark laptops at Nvidia's
booth were running games like 007 First Light and Arc Raiders , both of which ran at smooth, solid frame rates.

If it wasn't clear already, I think RTX Spark is great for laptops and
compact PCs, and my only concern is the price. I'm hoping for something that isn't too expensive, but that's probably wishful thinking due to the nature
of these devices and the ongoing RAM crisis. However, it would be a shame if RTX Spark laptops don't blossom as a result of memory shortages. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Handheld manufacturers could use RTX Spark (Image credit: Siberian Art / Shutterstock) Speaking with Nvidia's staff at Gamescom, I asked if the RTX Spark was intended to be used with handheld gaming PCs, and it was made clear that Team Green is completely open to any handheld manufacturer reaching out to use the superchip.

Handheld territory isn't exactly foreign to Nvidia either. The Nintendo
Switch 2 uses the Tegra T239 processor, with access to DLSS across multiple games and the upscaling technology does wonders for image quality and performance.

While AMD and Intel's processors continue to provide fantastic performance on most handheld gaming PCs, especially with Intel's new G3 Extreme CPU, I told Nvidia that DLSS on something like a Legion Go or MSI Claw would be untouchable. What to read next Intel CPU with integrated Nvidia RTX GPU rumored to arrive early in 2028 Dell's new XPS RTX Spark mini PC could prove
a problem for the Mac Studio Acers new RTX Spark mini PCs are giving me M6
Mac mini vibes: great-looking, but who is it for?

Of course, performance has to be balanced with battery life and power usage, as well as pricing, and I'm very aware that this could be a tricky equation
to deal with.

If the RTX Spark (or any similar chip in Nvidia's plans going forward) could be the engine of a handheld gaming PC, using more aggressive upscaling wouldn't be something to avoid in terms of any easy win to boost performance. DLSS Super Resolution is great at maintaining sharp image quality, and it would work even better on the smaller screen of a handheld.

Will this ever happen, though? That's down to the manufacturers of these devices. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/laptops/nvidias-rtx-spark-is-more-impressi ve-for-gaming-than-i-expected-after-going-hands-on-at-gamescom-2026-but-i-stil l-have-one-wish


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)