The rise of Steam Deck (which followed the Nintendo Switch) has encouraged many manufacturers to make and present their own portable consoles. In the past year, we have seen a surge in the number of models and the companies trying to make them, and one of the giants that have hopped onto the bandwagon is Asus with their ROG Ally. Considering there are so many options right now, it could be hard to choose the right handheld console for your needs. Hence, here are the 10 best handheld gaming consoles that you can buy right now.
1. Steam Deck
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 16:10 7-inch 1200x800p IPS display @ 60Hz |
| Storage and RAM | 64GB eMMC, 256GB, 512GB NVMe M.2 2230; 16GB LPDDR5 RAM |
| GPU | AMD Aerith Custom APU (4-15W) |
| Operating System | Steam OS by default; Windows installable |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | No/No |
| Battery | 40Wh |
| I/O | 1 x Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2, microSD card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Price | $399, $549, $649 |
Right when we thought the handheld gaming console industry was almost dead and dominated by Nintendo Switch, Valve made the Steam Deck official. In Steam Deck’s case, while there were people who looked into the technical aspects, most were mostly moved by its price as the base model only ended up costing $399. The price-to-performance ratio is impossibly good as Valve even admitted selling the console at a loss and making up for it with the commission of selling games on the Steam Store. It’s a smart move.
For those unaware, Valve partnered with AMD to make Steam Deck’s APU and it strikes a great balance between performance and efficiency, something that handhelds from companies that followed later couldn’t achieve. Naturally, Valve sold 3 million units and is still improving the Deck.
Steam Deck runs a form of Arch Linux and not every game might run on it. Hence, if you don’t like fiddling with the OS, it may not be for you. However, for Linux enthusiasts and those who have always dreamt of gaming on Linux, it’s a perfect handheld-cum-computer.
Pros Cons Incredibly value for money Cannot play all games from the Steam library Can play AAA titles with ease The display isn’t great Decent battery life Highly repairable
Buy on Amazon ($495)
2. Asus ROG Ally
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 16:9 7-inch 1080p IPS display @ 120Hz |
| Storage and RAM | 512GB, 1TB NVMe; 16GB LPDDR5 RAM |
| GPU | AMD Z1/Extreme APU |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | Yes/No |
| Battery | NA |
| I/O | Type-C USB 4 with ASUS’s proprietary eGPU connector, microSD card slot, headphone jack |
| Price | $599, $699 (Rumored) |
Lots of manufacturers have called their handheld consoles Steam Deck killers, but nothing comes close to gaming on the Steam Deck than the ROG Ally. We would argue that Ally even surpasses the Deck in a few scenarios, but it’s got a big problem, i.e. battery life. The ROG Ally has a 1080p 7-inch IPS touchscreen display with a 120Hz refresh rate, AMD Ryzen Z1 and Z1 Extreme processors with RDNA 3 graphics, 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage on the base variant. Moreover, it runs Windows 11 with ASUS’s ROG gaming aesthetics on top.
Much like the Steam Deck, it’s a portable computer with controls attached. As for AMDs Z1 Extreme, since it’s an APU especially made for handhelds and not a notebook chip, we can expect it to significantly outperform Steam Deck’s Aerith APU at both lower and higher TDPs. Unlike Steam Deck, it will support far more games on launch because it’s running Windows 11. Now that the price of ROG Ally 2 has been officially revealed and it’s launching at $700, Steam Deck looks like a more value-for-money product.
Pros Cons Can play all AAA titles with ease Pricey Windows allows you to play non-Steam games from other launchers No trackpads Higher refresh rate display with adaptive sync
Buy on Best Buy ($699)
3. Ayaneo 2
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 16:9 7-inch 1200p IPS display @ 60Hz |
| Storage and RAM | PCIe 4.0 512GB, 1TB, 2TB NVMe; 16/32GB LPDDR5 RAM |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 680M |
| Operating System | Windows/Ayaneo OS |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | Yes/Yes |
| Battery | 50.25Wh |
| I/O | 2 x Type-C USB 4, microSD card slot, headphone jack |
| Price | $1099, $1299, and $1499 |
Ayaneo was one of the first brands to offer alternatives to Steam Deck, and it all started with the original Ayaneo, which launched in 2021. The company has since then launched lots of portable consoles, notably the Ayaneo Air, the Air Pro, Next, and more. The Ayaneo 2 is the latest handheld from the company, and it gets a lot of things right, for the most part. For starters, the build quality of the console is known to be phenomenal and premium.
The console is powered by AMD Ryzen 7 6800U, which comes with the Radeon 680M graphics. The 680M is capable of playing games at 1080P in low to medium settings. It’s a tad bit faster compared to Steam Deck’s Aerith APU due to the higher clock speed of compute units (2.2GHz vs 1.6GHz). Subsequently, it also has a higher TDP of up to 25W, and powering that is a 50Whr battery.
The base variant of the Ayaneo 2 comes with 16GB LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM and 512GB PCIe NVMe drive, which is expandable (using M.2 2280). At $1,100, the Ayaneo 2 isn’t exactly affordable and experts may argue that the Steam Deck is still a better choice, which it is, but if you can afford the Ayaneo 2, you certainly won’t regret buying the handheld gaming console.
What makes Ayaneo 2 better are the nifty features and touches here and there to enhance the experience. The hall joysticks and triggers, glass front, eGPU support via USB 4, a 1200p display, haptics similar to the Nintendo Switch, and a bezel-less display do try to justify the price.
Pros Cons Can play all AAA titles with ease Significantly costly than its counterparts Windows allows you to play non-Steam games from other launchers AyaSpace offers cool software tricks Hall effect joysticks and triggers Faster RAM, eGPU support via USB 4, and a 1200p screen
Buy from Ayaneo (starts at $1,099)
4. Ayaneo Geek
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 16:9 7-inch 800/1200p IPS display @ 60Hz |
| Storage and RAM | PCIe 3.0 512GB, 1TB, 2TB NVMe; 16/32GB LPDDR5 RAM |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 680M |
| Operating System | Windows/Ayaneo OS |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | Yes/Yes |
| Battery | 50.25Wh |
| I/O | 2 x Type-C USB 4, microSD card slot, headphone jack |
| Price | $949, $1169, $1269, and $1369 |
The Ayaneo Geek features the same processor as Ayaneo 2 but with a few differences here and there. Ayaneo Geek comes in 1200p/ 800p variants, lacks the two-axis haptic motor, and supports PCIe 3.0 standard compared to Ayaneo 2’s PCIe 4.0 standard. Of the two, the Geek is on the thicker side and the height is also long.
Ayaneo calls it a budget offering as it sells for $949 for the base variant with an 800p screen, 16GB RAM, and 512GB memory, which is not bad at all. The price difference of $100 does mean that you miss out on PCIe 4.0 and a Full-HD screen, which makes us think that it’s worth spending $100 more and getting the Ayaneo 2 handheld gaming console. However, if your budget is firm at sub-$1,000 and you don’t need a Steam Deck, the Ayaneo Geek is worth checking out.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can play all AAA titles with ease | Significantly costly than its counterparts |
| Windows allows you to play non-Steam games from other launchers | PCIe 3.0 instead of 4.0 |
| AyaSpace offers cool software tricks | Base variant has 800p screen |
| Hall Effect Joysticks and Triggers | |
| Faster RAM, eGPU support via USB 4 | |
Buy from Ayaneo (starts at $949)
5. OneXPlayer 2 – AMD
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 16:9 8.4-inch 2.5k IPS display @ 60Hz |
| Storage and RAM | PCIe 3.0 512GB, 1TB, 2TB NVMe; 16/32GB LPDDR5 RAM |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 680M |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | Yes/Yes |
| Battery | 65.5Wh |
| I/O | 1 x Type-C USB 4, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1 x USB-A 3.0, microSD card slot, headphone jack |
| Price | $1099, $1199, $1299, and $1499 |
OneXPlayer sells its second-gen handheld console for $1,099 for the base variant with Ryzen 7 6800U. Like the Nintendo Switch, you can detach the joysticks, attach a keyboard to it and use it as a laptop. Moreover, you can use the official dock and get a fully-fledged console-like experience, or use it as a tablet. It also has a larger, more powerful 65.5Wh battery to power its 2.5k 8.4-inch display. For its price, the OneXPlayer 2 is probably worth getting over the Ayaneo Geek or Ayaneo 2.
The company also sells OneXPlayer Mini Pro AMD, which is yet another console powered by the Ryzen 7 6800u and Radeon 680M. The device features a 7-inch 1200p display, 16GB DDR5 RAM at 6400MHz, PCIe 3.0 M.2 2280 SSD slot, Hall joysticks and triggers, a 48Whr battery, and USB 4.0.
Features-wise, it’s quite similar to the Ayaneo Geek but with a 1200p display. OneXPlayer also offers the same device with an Intel Core i7-1260P which we don’t recommend buying unless you despise AMD. For an asking price of $1049, it costs the same as Ayaneo 2 which has far more features and offers a better handheld gaming console experience.
Pros Cons Can play all AAA titles with ease Significantly costly than its counterparts A bigger 8-inch 2.5k display Battery life will be bad Windows allows you to play non-Steam games from other launchers PCIe 3.0 instead of 4.0 Detachable controllers for added flexibility Hall Effect Joysticks and Triggers Faster RAM, eGPU support via USB 4, and a 1200p screen
Buy OneXPlayer 2 (starts at $1,099)
6. GPD Win Max 2 2023
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 16:9 10.1-inch 1080p/2.5k IPS display @ 60Hz |
| Storage and RAM | PCIe 4.0 1TB, 2TB NVMe; 16/32/64GB LPDDR5x RAM. 2 x PCIe 4.0 slots. |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 760M, 780M |
| Operating System | Windows |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | Yes/Yes |
| Battery | 67Wh |
| I/O | 1 x Type-C USB 4, 2 x USB-A 3.0, microSD card slot, headphone jack, Oculink slot for eGPU |
| Price | $799, $1049, and $1199 |
Launched in 2022, the Win Max 2 2022 was one of a kind machine (?), or should I say a handheld console? Anyway, the Max 2 2023 ups the specifications and should offer slightly more performance, thanks to AMDs latest RDNA 3 graphics in the 7000 series U chipsets. The Win Max 2 2023 comes in two variants, one powered by a Ryzen 5 7640u and Radeon 760M and the other uses a Ryzen 7 7840U with the Radeon 780M. The 760M is a mixed bag as it comes with 512 shaders compared to 768 shaders in Radeon 680M. However, the max boost clock on the 760M is on the higher side at 2.8GHz vs 2.4GHz. The 780M, on the other hand, is a significant upgrade from the 680M.
The Win Max 2 comes with 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM with speeds of 7500 mt/s (not to be confused with MHz). There’s support for two M.2 SSDs (1x 2280, 1x 2230), one of them is at PCIe 4.0. The device includes a 10.1-inch IPS display, USB 4, 67Wh battery, a full QWERTY keyboard, an SD card slot, and a “highly efficient” cooling system. The Win Max 2 has built-in hall joysticks and triggers, and a trackpad in the middle.
GPD was recently funded for the Win Max 2 and hence the device isn’t available for purchase immediately. However, it should arrive at the official GPD e-commerce sellers soon. For an asking price of $1,200, the Win Max 2 is not at all a bad offering. If you want to both play and work on the go, it might be for you.
Pros Cons Can play AAA titles with ease Expensive Windows allows you to play non-Steam games from other launchers Can be used as a laptop; Has a fully-fledged keyboard Hall Effect Joysticks and Triggers Faster RAM, eGPU support via USB 4, and a 1080p screen Dual SSD slots for more storage
Buy GPD Win Max 2 2023 ($1,199)
7. Nintendo Switch
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 16:9 7-inch 720p IPS display @ 60Hz |
| Storage and RAM | 32GB eMMC; 4GB RAM |
| GPU | NVIDIA Tegra X1 |
| Operating System | Nintendo Switch OS |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | No/No |
| Battery | 16Wh |
| I/O | 1 x Type-C, microSD card slot, headphone jack |
| Price | $349 |
Nintendo Switch is the best-selling handheld gaming console of all time after Nintendo DS, and there are lots of reasons why that’s the case. Although the console is almost six years old at this point, Nintendo has managed to keep it alive and kicking by launching an OLED variant of the same a year ago. The Switch is known for its Nintendo-exclusive games from the Pokemon, Legends of Zelda, and Super Mario franchises.
The Switch is powered by the ancient NVIDIA Tegra X1 chipset, which is still surprisingly capable of running games, thanks to the optimizations from game developers. Well, they can’t miss bringing out on bringing their games to a giant platform like Switch. That said, the Tegra X1 is almost at its end, as it can hardly run the latest PC and Nintendo titles without running out of breath. Plus, recent rumors suggest that Nintendo may finally launch or give us a glimpse of Switch’s successor this year.
The original Nintendo Switch costs $250 whereas the OLED model costs $360. The OLED model brings some significant improvements over the original Switch, and if you’ve made up your mind about buying the Switch, you should get the OLED variant. If you’re more into PC gaming and have little interest in Switch games, we would suggest getting the Steam Deck as it lets you emulate Switch games and is way more value for money for $399.
Pros Cons Games on the OLED version look great The Tegra X1 is too old at this point Nintendo exclusives are some of the best Slower eMMC storage and RAM Detachable Joycons add flexibility Nintendo exclusives are a bit on the pricey side
Buy on Amazon ($340)
Buy on Best Buy ($350)
8. Nintendo Switch Lite
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 16:9 5.5-inch 720p IPS display @ 60Hz |
| Storage and RAM | 32GB eMMC; 4GB RAM |
| GPU | NVIDIA Tegra X1 |
| Operating System | Nintendo Switch OS |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | No/No |
| Battery | 13.6Wh |
| I/O | 1 x Type-C, |
For those who want to play Switch titles but cannot afford the Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite is an option. The Switch Lite features the same Tegra X1 chipset and screen resolution as the Switch but a smaller screen and is a lighter and more portable console overall. It doesn’t have detachable joy cons; hence, you cannot detach the joysticks and play games by connecting the Switch Lite to a TV.
That said though, for an asking price of $169, you cannot ask for more. It’s a pretty decent console, which, again, is great value for people who want to play Switch-exclusive games. The battery on the Lite is a tad bit smaller than the Switch and should last for 3-5 hours instead of 4-7 hours on the Switch. Overall, it’s one of the best and most affordable handheld gaming consoles in the market right now.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Nintendo console on a budget | The Tegra X1 is too old at this point |
| Nintendo exclusives are some of the best | Slower eMMC storage and RAM |
| Incapable of running latest PC titles; Nintendo exclusive are pricey | |
| Lesser battery life than the Switch | |
| No detachable Joycons |
Buy on Amazon ($196.99)
Buy on Best Buy ($199.99)
9. Retroid Pocket 3
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 16:9 7-inch 720p IPS display @ 60Hz |
| Storage and RAM | 32GB eMMC; 4GB RAM |
| GPU | Unisoc Tiger T310 SoC |
| Operating System | Android 9.0 |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | No/No |
| Battery | 4000mAh |
| I/O | 1 x Type-C, |
The name says it all. Retroid Pocket 3 is an Android-based console and its forte is emulation. It packs a 4.7-inch 720p display, and a 4,000mAh battery and comes in one variant 3+32GB. It’s powered by a rather basic Unisoc T310 processor. On the connectivity front, it comes with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and all of that is powered by a 4000mAh battery.
The Pocket 3 is not a handheld capable of running AAA titles but retro titles from the original PSP, PS2, Nintendo Wii, DS, etc. As it’s based on Android, you could install emulators like Dolphin, Citra, PPSSPP, etc., and play games on it. For an asking price of just above $100, it is not a bad option. However, if you already own a fairly modern, decently powerful Android phone, there’s no point in buying a handheld gaming console like the Pocket 3 but the next listing on our list.
Pros Cons Uses Android and can emulate a variety of games The hardware isn’t great Decent display Slower eMMC storage and RAM Good for casual, retro gaming Incapable of running older demanding titles
Buy on Amazon ($110)
10. Playdate
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 1-bit 400×200 black and white display |
| Storage and RAM | 4GB eMMC; 16MB RAM |
| GPU | 168MHz Cortex M7 |
| Operating System | – |
| Hall Triggers / Hall Joysticks (Yes/No) | No/No |
| Battery | 8 hours on continuous usage, 14 hours on Standby |
| I/O | 1 x Type-C, |
Warning! If you love spending money on cute things, you would want to give in and won’t be subdued by Playdate’s cuteness and its overall design. Although the handheld isn’t available right now and ships in late 2023, you can preorder it right now. The console comes with over 20 unique games, can connect to Wi-Fi, and requires an external USB power source for power.
The console has a little crank on the side that can rewind your game or move it forward to a certain point. Besides, there’s a D-pad and two buttons A and B. The screen isn’t backlit but is a black-and-white unit that uses negligible power. The console works with what they call “Seasons.” Once set up, you receive two new games every week for 12 weeks.
In the future, the manufacturer will also sell a stereo dock that your Playdate can connect to, to act as a clock, a speaker, and a pen holder. While it may not be the best gaming handheld out there, it’s a great piece of hardware to sometimes sit back and relax, and then wonder about how far we have truly come in gaming.
Pros Cons One-of-a-kind pocketable console Expensive for what it has to offer Great design Free games; new games every week
Buy Playdate ($199)
Bonus: Razer Kishi V2 for Android
Yes, yes, the Kishi V2 is not a handheld gaming console, but it can convert your phone into one. Gaming phones are still trending and not all people can afford them. Besides, if you already have a capable phone like Nubia Red Magic or Xiaomi Black Shark, it wouldn’t be a wise decision to spend more money on a few features when you can get something like the Razer Kishi V2 to get a console-like gaming feel. The Kishi V2 has a universal fit, meaning, it can fit to any phone as long as the phone has a USB type-C port.
It also has a passthrough type-C port for charging your phone during gameplay, and the app allows you to browse through games, record them, and customize the Kishi V2. As long as your phone’s under 11.5 mm thick (including the camera) and under 170mm long, the Kishi V2 will fit with no issues. For an asking price of $99, the Kishi V2 is a great gadget for your Android device and a great way to convert your Android device into a fully-fledged gaming console. If you think the Kishi V2 is expensive and need something less costly the GameSir X2 Pro ($80, Buy on Amazon) is also a great gadget.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Portable | A bit on the expensive side |
| Great feel for controls | |
| Fits a variety of different Android devices with a Type-C port |
Buy on Amazon ($96)
Have we missed any handheld gaming consoles that you think are worth including in this list? Let us know in the comments section below.
