Nvidia RTX Spark Delivers Strong Gaming Performance in Gamescom Hands-On, TechRadar Reports
A TechRadar hands-on at Gamescom found Nvidia's RTX Spark laptop chips run games smoothly, with pricing and future handheld use still uncertain.
TechRadar reported that the RTX Spark was first unveiled at Computex in May. It is designed for Windows on ARM laptops and compact PCs, combining a central processing unit with an integrated RTX graphics processor and AI features. The chip is meant to keep workspaces clear and make both creation and gaming easier on the move, the report said.
The hands-on test occurred at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, on an HP OmniBook Ultra 16. The laptop was running Borderlands 4, which TechRadar noted had a notoriously rough performance at launch. The game improved since then, and the OmniBook Ultra 16 delivered a clear frame rate above 60 fps using Nvidia's Frame Generation x2 technology.
The writer said the common criticism of generated frames as 'fake frames' did not matter in practice, as input delay and overall latency were not problematic on the RTX Spark system. Other RTX Spark laptops at the Nvidia booth were running 007 First Light and Arc Raiders, also with smooth, solid frame rates.
Despite the strong gaming impression, the writer's main remaining concern is price. The article warns that the current RAM crisis and the nature of these compact devices could make RTX Spark laptops expensive, potentially slowing their adoption. The writer said it would be a shame if memory shortages derailed the product.
In a conversation with Nvidia staff at Gamescom, the writer asked whether RTX Spark is intended for handheld gaming PCs. TechRadar reported that Nvidia indicated it is completely open to any handheld manufacturer interested in using the superchip. Nvidia has relevant experience in that area, as the Nintendo Switch 2 uses Nvidia's Tegra T239 processor, which allows DLSS technology across supported games.
While AMD and Intel processors continue to offer strong performance in most handheld gaming PCs, the writer told Nvidia that DLSS integration on devices like the Lenovo Legion Go or MSI Claw would be 'untouchable.' However, the article notes that performance would have to be balanced with battery life, power usage, and price, which is a difficult equation for manufacturers.
The writer added that if the RTX Spark or a similar future Nvidia chip powered a handheld, using aggressive upscaling such as DLSS Super Resolution would benefit image quality on small screens. Whether such devices materialize, TechRadar said, is up to handheld manufacturers.