One-Netbook clearly isn’t done experimenting.
After the eye-catching (and surprisingly successful) Sugar 1 earlier this year, the company has now lifted the lid on something even stranger: the OneXSugar Wallet, a foldable clamshell retro handheld built around a single, continuous screen.
The reveal comes via a short showcase video posted under the title “Redefining ‘portability’! The ONEXSUGAR WALLET foldable wallet is coming soon” (translated from Chinese), and while details are still thin, what’s shown is enough to get retro fans talking.
A foldable screen done properly?
Unlike the dual-screen Sugar 1, the OneXSugar Wallet appears to use a single foldable OLED panel. When opened fully, it reveals an 8.01-inch display with a 2480 × 1861 resolution and a 4:3 aspect ratio — a welcome choice for retro emulation.
That aspect ratio immediately suggests Nintendo DS and 3DS emulation as a major focus. Instead of juggling two separate displays with a gap in between, both screens can sit cleanly on one tall, uninterrupted panel. For games that rely heavily on the second screen, that’s potentially a much more elegant solution than anything we’ve seen so far on Android handhelds.
Pocketable… at least in theory
Fold it closed and the OneXSugar Wallet shrinks down into a compact clamshell form factor, clearly inspired by modern foldable phones like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip line. One-Netbook is even suggesting it’s small enough to fit in a wallet, which may be optimistic, and it may be that something is lost in translation, but it’s undeniably more pocket-friendly than chunkier handhelds like the Sugar 1.
Controls look reassuringly traditional. The video shows a standard D-pad, face buttons, shoulder buttons, and a pair of low-profile analogue sticks. But the novelty is almost entirely in the screen.
A first for retro handhelds
What really stands out is that this may be the first retro handheld to use a single, continuous foldable display in this way. Even Microsoft couldn’t quite pull it off with the Surface Duo, and OneXSugar itself stuck to dual panels in earlier designs.
That said, there are obvious questions. Foldable phone screens have a habit of attracting dust and lint around the hinge, and it remains to be seen how One-Netbook plans to protect a gaming device that’s designed to be opened, closed, and pocketed regularly.
A 2026 arrival on the cards
In the preview trailer, One-Netbook states that the OneXSugar Wallet is “Coming Soon 2026”. If that holds, we could be looking at a summer or autumn launch — and likely a fair bit of demand from DS and 3DS fans eager for a cleaner way to revisit those libraries.
But if I’m honest, I suspect that this clamshell with its foldable display will be on the pricey side.
OneXSugar has built a reputation for doing things differently, sometimes at the risk of practicality. The Wallet feels like another roll of the dice, but this time one that makes sense for Nintendo 3DS retro gamers. If the hinge holds up and the software keeps pace, this could be one of the more interesting handhelds in 2026.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
