Different gamers prefer gaming on different platforms, but c’mon, you can hardly go wrong with a handheld console–the portability, ease of use, and swiftness are just things to love. From the old-school Nintendo GameBoy to modern PSPs, Switch, Steam Decks, and all, handheld consoles are fun to use and compatible with many titles across genres.
With lots of options available in the markets right now, I have compiled these best ones to help you streamline your choices and make the best pick! Talking about the best handheld game consoles to own in times like this, it must be really portable and be one that you can play a ton of titles on. I got all that considered in putting up this list, and here you go.
The Best Handheld Computer Game Consoles To Own At Least One
Here are some of the best handheld computer game consoles to consider owning in 2025 and beyond. Whether you’re a fan of Nintendo, Sony, Steam, or any other popular handheld console brand, what matters is that there’s a handheld console that suits your needs, and here are my top picks.
1. Nintendo Switch 2
Would’ve easily said the Nintendo Switch, but hey, the Switch 2 is announced to launch in April, this year. Yes, the Nintendo Switch is a great console, and this newer model is an upgrade for those who want more; this next-gen console builds upon the success of the original Switch, offering improved hardware, battery life, and a better OLED screen.
It comes as a hybrid console, which means it is both a handheld and a docked gaming console. Also, being a newer model, the Switch 2 comes with an upgraded processor chip while allowing backward compatibility with previous Switch games.
Specifications
- Display: 8-inch LCD display
- Processor: eight-core Arm Cortex-A78C with 8 cores
- GPU: Nvidia T239 Ampere with 1534 CUDA cores
- RAM: 12 GB LPDDR5
- Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
- Storage: 128GB internal (expandable via microSD)
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
- Rumored Specs: DLSS 2 support and FSR 3 support
Note: Most of these specs details are “leaked” and “rumored.” However, the Switch 2 does come with much better Joy-Cons. The current Nintendo Switch costs $350, so the Switch 2 would be slightly higher.
2. Valve’s Steam Deck
Talking of the Steam Deck from Valve, it is another top-of-the-class handheld gaming device. No, this is not about reviewing the most popular devices in the market, it is about recommending devices that deliver just what a gamer needs and the Steam Deck does that perfectly.
Valve’s Steam Deck has been a game-changer for PC gamers on the go. The OLED screen, high-refresh-rate, and bright colors bring life to your gameplay. Also, the processors are top-notch and you’re getting a battery power of around 4 hours. With the Steam Deck, you already know you’re up with every title you find on Steam.
Specifications:
- Display: 7.4-inch OLED (90Hz, 1280 x 800 HDR)
- Processor: 6nm AMD APU, Zen 2 4c/8t, (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
- GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.6GHz (1.6 TFlops FP32)
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR5
- Battery Life: 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay
- Storage: 512GB/1TB SSD (expandable)
- OS: SteamOS with Windows compatibility
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, BT 5.3
Note: With Steam Deck, you can only play PC game titles, mostly. Well, there are a lot of titles in the Steam library. The retail price for this PC gaming beast is around $485.00
3. ASUS ROG Ally X
Talk about a higher premium handheld PC gaming device with support for the latest Windows OS, and there you have the ROG Ally X beast from ASUS. The ASUS ROG Ally X is a high-performance handheld for gamers who want raw power. Running Windows 11, it supports all major PC games, emulators, and Xbox Game Pass–a really versatile device.
The ASUS ROG Ally X supports a 120hz refresh rate, oh, that’s just a little. It is packed with the bleeding-edge AMD Ryzen Z1 extreme processor, deployed on a 4nm process, with AMD Zen 4 architecture and RDNA 3 graphics, do you really understand what that means? On top of that, you’re getting an 80Wh battery. If this doesn’t convince you to love the Ally X, I don’t know what else would, but hey, this handheld is very expensive.
Specifications
- Display: 7-inch 120Hz OLED, FHD
- Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 extreme processor, Zen4 architecture with 4nm process
- GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics (AMD RDNA 3) up to 8.6 teraflops
- RAM: 12GB*2 LPDDR5
- Battery Life: 5-7 hours
- Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
- OS: Windows 11 Home
Note: The ASUS ROG Ally X is considered the sturdiest handheld gaming device for PC game lovers. It’s a badass powerhouse for any title, with crystal clear display and easy controls.
4. PS5 Portal and PSP
PSP and PS5 Portal are definitely not the same, but they are from the same company, Sony, and developed for the same purpose–they just fulfill the “purpose” in different ways. Starting with the PS5 Portal, it is a well-designed “extension” of the Sony PlayStation 5; this means you need to own a PS5 to be able to use the PS5 Portal. As the name implies, the PS5 Portal is like a remote access device that allows you to play the games on your PS5 console on the go.
On the other hand, the PSP (PlayStation Portable) is a standalone handheld gaming device that allows you to play titles that are available on the PlayStation Store. Well, the PSP is almost outdated and no one wants it now, but then, it’s still a good handheld gadget for playing PlayStation games. It has a miniature onboard storage capacity, so you can’t get too many games on it.
PS5 Console Specifications:
- Display: 8-inch LCD, 60fps @1080p
- Processor: Works off your PS5
- Battery Life: 6-8 hours
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3
Note: You need a PS5 before the PlayStation Portal. Also, it comes with an LCD screen, quite limited. But it does use the PS5 DualSense controller and offers a massive 8-inch screen with a cool, bespoke design.
5. Ayaneo Kun Pro
Told you it wasn’t about the popular devices in the market, now, you probably haven’t heard of the Ayaneo Kun Pro. Well, this handheld gaming PC is a powerhouse that delivers a premium gaming experience on a portable device. Featuring a quite big display, concealing a powerful AMD processor chip, and a 75Wh super large battery. Now we’re talking? The 8.4-inch screen delivers super brilliant colors and you will enjoy some high-level gaming experience with the built-in hall-effect joysticks that deliver precise controls.
Quick Specifications
- Display: 8.4-inch 1600P IPS
- CPU: AMD Rayzen 7 8840U
- RAM: 16GB – 32GB LPDDR5X
- Storage: 512MB – 4TB NVMe SSD
- Battery Life: 6-8 hours, 75Wh
- OS: Windows 11
Notes: The beast delivers the best on-the-go PC gaming experience with a screen size bigger than most other handhelds. Also, its battery power is impressive and the floating D-pad is fun to use!
What More?
These are hands down the best handheld gaming devices to check out right now: They allow you to explore many interesting titles on the go while delivering the same experience as though you’re playing on a console. The big screen offerings, high resolutions, bright colors, and all are meant to heighten your experience. Other worthy mentions include Lenovo Legion Go, Logitech G Cloud, and Razer Edge.
