For gamers seeking portable gaming experiences, the market offers a diverse array of handheld consoles, providing a welcome departure from the bulkier options like the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5. While these high-performance consoles excel in various aspects, they are not the most convenient for on-the-go gaming. Fortunately, a multitude of excellent handheld alternatives cater to different preferences, from retro gaming enthusiasts to those wanting handheld PCs for playing top-notch PC games outside the home. The abundance of choices may seem overwhelming, prompting us to compile a handy list of the current best handheld gaming consoles. Our selection criteria encompass considerations for PC gamers aiming to leverage their existing game libraries, as well as budget-friendly options. Moreover, we continually assess and update this list to reflect the latest products on the market, ensuring that our recommendations stay current and reliable.
Nintendo Switch OLED
The Nintendo Switch OLED stands out as the pinnacle of the company’s current console lineup, maintaining the familiar internals of the original Nintendo Switch while introducing a significant upgrade in the form of a larger 7-inch OLED panel. This enhancement in screen technology offers a more immersive gaming experience by delivering vibrant colors, higher contrast, and improved visual quality. The OLED display makes a notable difference, allowing the best Nintendo Switch games to truly come to life with sharper details and more vivid graphics. While the internal hardware remains consistent with the standard Nintendo Switch, the OLED model’s focus on display quality enhances the overall gaming experience, making it a compelling choice for those seeking an upgraded visual feast.
The Nintendo Switch OLED carves a niche for itself by offering a more budget-friendly option compared to several alternatives, particularly handheld PCs. While its lower price tag comes with some performance trade-offs, particularly noticeable in ported games like Mortal Kombat 1, the impact is more pronounced for those primarily engaging in docked mode on a TV. The real strength of the Nintendo Switch OLED lies in its appeal to portable play.
This variant not only presents a cost-effective option but also introduces notable improvements such as an enhanced kickstand and markedly improved speakers. These enhancements contribute to a significantly enhanced experience while playing in handheld mode. Moreover, the compatibility with the entire original Nintendo Switch library means immediate access to a plethora of exclusive titles, including popular games like Animal Crossing New Leaf and Splatoon 3. In essence, the Nintendo Switch OLED strikes a balance between affordability, portable play, and an extensive library of engaging games.
Chipset: Custom Nvidia Tegra X1
Storage: 64 GB
Display: 7″ OLED
Weight: ~422g
Nintendo Switch Lite
The Nintendo Switch Lite emerges as a top choice for budget-conscious shoppers, particularly those prioritizing portable play. Its compact form factor makes it easily portable, fitting snugly into a rucksack or even a spacious pocket for on-the-go gaming. The available range of vibrant colors, including blue, pink, purple, grey, and yellow, adds a touch of personalization to the handheld experience.
Constructed from robust plastic, the design of the Nintendo Switch Lite proves more durable in testing compared to the original Nintendo Switch model. This durability is a valuable feature for individuals prone to dropping or scratching their gaming systems. The fixed Joy-Con controllers add another layer of convenience, as they are impossible to lose during your adventures.
While the Nintendo Switch Lite sports a slightly smaller screen, it maintains the same 720p resolution as its larger counterparts, the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch OLED. This consistency ensures there’s no compromise in performance or visual quality, and the smaller size may even contribute to a sharper image.
However, it’s essential to note that the Nintendo Switch Lite lacks the ability to dock and play games on a TV, serving as its primary limitation. Potential buyers should consider this aspect before making a purchase, especially if TV connectivity is a crucial factor in their gaming preferences.
Dimensions: 3.6 x 8.2 x .55 inch
GPU: NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor
Screen: Capacitive touch screen / 5.5 inch LCD / 1280×720 resolution
Storage: 32GB (expandable)
Portable battery life: approx 3 – 7 hours
Valve Steam Deck
The Steam Deck presents an enticing concept—a powerful, portable gaming PC that, despite its substantial size, packs the punch of a high-end gaming, it offers an impressive array of high-end hardware, making it an attractive option for gaming enthusiasts.
Available directly through Valve’s Steam client, the Steam Deck provides access to a growing list of Steam Deck Verified titles, including popular games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Apex Legends. While not every favorite game may be supported initially, ongoing updates increase the likelihood of broader compatibility.
Valve’s debut in the handheld hardware market is not without its imperfections, notably in terms of battery life, particularly with more resource-intensive titles. However, considering the impressive performance and visual quality for demanding games, many users find this trade-off acceptable. Running on a modified version of the Linux operating system, the Steam Deck may not offer flawless compatibility with every game in your Steam library. Still, a significant portion of titles is likely to run seamlessly right out of the box, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a portable and powerful gaming solution.
CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz (up to 1.6 TFlops FP32)
RAM : 16 GB LPDDR5
Resolution : 7-inch 1280 x 800px
Refresh rate: 60 Hz
Internal storage: 64GB eMMC; 256GB NVMe; 512GB NVMe SSD
Expandable storage: MicroSD card compatible
Super Pocket
The Super Pocket stands out as a remarkable performer for its small size, particularly excelling in handling older titles, making it the top choice for those seeking a handheld console for playing retro games. During testing, no noticeable slowdown or graphical issues were encountered, showcasing its reliability for gaming experiences from the past. Despite its 320x240px IPS screen, which might seem less impressive on paper compared to the Nintendo Switch OLED’s 720p display, the Super Pocket’s 2.8-inch size proves to be a formidable asset, delivering a satisfying visual experience.
Currently available in two versions—the mint green and black Taito Edition and the yellow and blue Capcom Edition—the Super Pocket comes with its own built-in library of games. Each version focuses on popular titles from their respective publishers, featuring classics like Space Invaders, Bubble Bobble, Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting, Final Fight, and Mega Man.
The included game library displays with crisp and vivid colors, offering additional display options such as CRT scanline filters and alternate resolutions to customize the visual aesthetics in the software.
A highly desirable feature of the Super Pocket is its Evercade cartridge slot, providing owners access to an expanding library of affordable cartridges. These cartridges encompass a wide range of games, from classic Namco arcade titles to modern indie gems like Micro Mages and Foxyland. This versatility makes the Super Pocket a compelling choice for retro gaming enthusiasts looking for a compact yet powerful handheld console.
Screen: 2.8” IPS 320 x 240
Ports: 3.5mm Headphone Jack, USB-C Charging Port, Evercade Cartridge Slot
Dimensions: 4.12 x 0.43 x 6.62 inches; 0.71 Ounces
AyaNeo Air Plus
For those willing to invest in top-tier performance, the AyaNeo Air Plus emerges as one of the premier premium offerings in the market, surpassing the Steam Deck in our tests and providing an exceptional experience for players aiming to push settings to the max in the latest PC games. A notable advantage lies in its Windows-based operating system, offering compatibility with a broader range of games compared to the Linux-based Steam Deck.
The AyaNeo Air Plus distinguishes itself further by its compact design, making it highly suitable for travel when compared to the Steam Deck. The tactile buttons, featuring a satisfyingly clicky feel, are particularly well-suited for diving into the best fighting games. The inclusion of a convenient fingerprint reader enhances the user experience by allowing quick access to games.
However, the Aya Space game launcher software, while serviceable, falls short compared to the Steam Deck’s launcher, being somewhat clunky to use. Despite this drawback, it adequately serves its purpose of getting users into their games. It’s worth noting the limited battery life, a common consideration for portable PC handhelds. When playing games at maximum graphical settings, users should anticipate only a few hours of use per charge, a trade-off that is inherent in such devices.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
RAM: 32GB LPDDR5 6400
SSD: 512GB
Size: 237mm X 91.4mm x 23.1mm
Weight: 525g
Screen: 1920 x 1080 / IPS / 6-inch / 400nits / 368 PPI / Touch-enabled
Input: Hall sensor joysticks / Hall sensor triggers / Fingerprint scanner