It’s like It’s a distant memory now, but just before the release of the Nintendo Switch in 2017, portable gaming seemed to have come to an end. Mobile gaming has taken up a large portion of the market, and most modern games require a lot of power to run on devices like the Nintendo 3DS. Fast forward to today, and there are more ways than ever to take gaming outside of your living room.
This is a bit of a strange category because, frankly, many of the devices on the market aren’t very good. Valve’s Steam Deck sparked a wave of manufacturers trying to compete with the Nintendo Switch, but many of their products were rushed, buggy, or not the best way to play games. Several companies have risen to the challenge, and I can safely say that we finally have some good options. I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing as many gaming handhelds as I can with my dirty hands. These are the best.
Be sure to check out our other gaming buying guides like Best Retro Game Consoles, Best Mobile Game Controllers, Best Steam Deck Accessories, Best Switch Accessories, Best Gaming Laptops, and more.
Updated November 2024: Added information about Analogue Pocket and Logitech G Cloud.
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What to look for in a gaming handheld
The Nintendo Switch may have set a new standard for portable gaming, but the category has only gotten more complex since then. A new platform, a new control scheme, and a wide range of battery life from a few hours to “never stray too far from the charger.” With that in mind, here are some factors to keep in mind when deciding which one is right for you.
Platform: The Switch runs games designed (or at least adapted) for the Switch. Easy enough. Other handheld devices may be a little more complicated. For example, with Steam Deck, Valve uses custom software and a Proton compatibility layer to ensure the game runs properly and can be played on handhelds. Some handhelds just run Windows directly (although this has its drawbacks). Before you buy, be sure to check which platforms the game you want to play is available on and how well it runs. Display: If you’re going to be staring at a handheld game all day long, you better have a great display. Many devices, like the Switch and Steam Deck, come with OLED versions that have incredibly crisp and vibrant displays. However, better doesn’t necessarily mean better. The higher the screen resolution and the faster the refresh rate, the more battery it uses. Power: When it comes to battery life, this is one area where gaming handhelds can vary greatly. Some devices, such as the Switch and Steam Deck, are optimized for maximum battery consumption. Still, running a graphics-intensive game like Tears of the Kingdom will always consume more battery than a simple game like Stardew Valley. Handheld devices running non-optimized operating systems, such as Windows, can drain the battery more quickly. If you plan on using a lot of battery-draining features or games, you may want to buy a portable charger. Performance: The Switch is notorious for running on less powerful processors compared to its competitors. Still, the company’s games take full advantage of their capabilities by being optimized for the hardware they run on. When it comes to games designed for Windows (whether running on a Steam deck or directly on a Windows handheld), you may need more power to get the same kind of performance. A faster and more powerful processor means a smoother gaming experience. However, faster processors use more battery, so try to balance performance and power consumption.
