Our favorite portable pals, including the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and everything in between.

Since the Game Boy’s inception, the greatest portable gaming options have changed, but there has never been a better moment to get one. Not only have we arrived at the point where you can play PC games on a true computer with devices like Valve’s Steam Deck, but hybrid solutions like the Nintendo Switch function as both a home console and a mobile device.

Again, things change quickly, and the greatest handheld game device available today is far more capable than its predecessor was even ten years ago. All things considered, we continue to believe that the Switch will appeal to a wider audience because everyone may enjoy playing the newest Mario or Pokémon adventure while travelling. But there are now more options than ever to fit a range of playstyles and price ranges, such as affordable emulation devices that can run the classics well and potent mobile gaming PCs.

Prior to choose any old portable, consider the games you really want to play. With a portable console or PC, you can play more games than ever before, regardless of where your backlog is stored—on Steam, Xbox Game Pass, the Epic Game Store, or Nintendo’s eShop. We regularly test the top gaming handhelds for your consideration in order to make the process of choosing easier. Our picks are compiled here. In the event that you’re feeling nostalgic, we’ve also included our favourite emulators for accessing your previous backups.

QUICK LIST

• BEST OVERALL : Nintendo Switch OLED
• BEST FOR MOST : Steam Deck OLED
• BEST HANDHELD PC : Asus ROG Ally
• BEST PREMIUM : Ayaneo 2S
• BEST FOR EMULATION : Anbernic RG35XX Plus

(Image credit: gamesradar)

1. Nintendo Switch OLED

The best gaming handheld overall

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: Custom Nvidia Tegra

GPU: Custom Nvidia Tegra

RAM: 4GB LPDDR4

Storage: 32GB

Display: 7-inch OLED, 720p

Battery: 16WHrs

Operating system: Proprietary OS

Size: 102mm x 239mm x 28.7mm

Weight: 297g

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The Nintendo Switch OLED model improves on the fantastic formula that Nintendo’s powerful console undoubtedly launched, ushering in a new era of handheld gaming. By today’s standards, it’s not the highest spec console, and a lot has happened in the console industry since the original model’s 2017 release. However, it’s difficult to dispute its outstanding library and portability, which are two features that make it our best on-the-go system for 2024.

Features: Although the Nintendo Switch OLED model has taken the top rank, the original edition of the device still has many of the same advantages. It is still lightweight, compatible with real game cartridges, and has detachable Joycons and a docking station. Your eyes will be in for a treat, though, if you choose the OLED variant over the Switch Lite or original device. The slightly larger 7-inch screen makes all the difference. The new display features amazing contrast and colours that turn grand adventures like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom into sheer eye candy.

Design: The OLED Switch bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, yet it is distinguished by a few notable differences. To begin with, the OLED screen itself has a smaller bezel and is somewhat larger than other handhelds, which helps give it a visual advantage. Additionally, it features an upgraded kickstand around the back, which should please anyone who has ever come dangerously close to utilising the flimsy flap that came with the original.

Performance: The Switch’s internal components aren’t particularly remarkable, but they do the job in the end. The NVIDIA Tegra X1 SoC is powerful enough to deliver 1080p 30 frames per second images, and playing some demanding games in handheld mode lightens the load. However, most of the time you won’t have to worry about performance because Nintendo’s library optimises for the hardware to guarantee a seamless experience. You should probably get a portable PC instead if frame rates are a concern for you.

Games: The Nintendo Switch OLED, being one of the few handhelds on this list with first-party games, of course, has access to an incredible library of games. While portable PCs are more advantageous in terms of shopfront versatility, the Switch boasts heavyweight titles like Zelda, Mario, Pokémon, and other titles that will keep some gamers from ever considering the wild west of Steam. It might be argued that the Switch’s adventure library alone justifies purchasing the hardware, as evidenced by the platform’s continued popularity even after six years.

(Image credit: theverge)

2. Steam Deck OLED

The best gaming handheld for most players

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: Custom AMD APU

GPU: RDNA 2

RAM: 16GB LPDDR5

Storage: Up to 1TB

Display: 7-inch IPS, 800p

Battery: 40WHrs

Operating system: SteamOS

Size: 298mm x 117mm x 49mm

Weight: 640g

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

When the original model debuted in 2022, it raised the bar for portable gaming PCs, but the new Steam Deck OLED variant elevates the device even further. Valve’s next portable system, now a platform unto itself, combines the same amazing, quick OLED visuals with the technology and software we all know and love, plus a few more enhancements.

Features: Packed with tricks up their sleeves, the original edition and the Steam Deck OLED are essentially full-featured PCs packed into a portable chassis. This implies that you will be able to use two touchpads, haptic feedback, integrated controls, and a gyroscope to play games that are typically accessible for your rig. You’ll definitely like what the Deck has to offer if you’re more of a console person than a standard desktop setup person.

As the name suggests, the Steam Deck OLED has a brand-new OLED display, unlike the kind we tried out initially a few years back. By switching to a different type of panel from LCD, you may take advantage of superior contrast and colour reproduction that will rival many full-featured gaming monitors, in addition to its 90Hz refresh rate.

Design: Although the Steam Deck OLED is still among the chonkiest handhelds available, its 640g weight is substantially less than that of its predecessor. Nevertheless, its ergonomic design ensures a comfortable fit in your hands, and if you spent a lot of time playing Wii U before the Switch came out, you will be acquainted with Valve’s high-up symmetrical stick arrangement. Its button layout mostly follows the modern PC controller playbook, so you won’t need to get used to any strange setups.

Performance: Although the Steam Deck isn’t the most powerful portable computer available, it still provides respectable performance for the money. Value’s unique AMD APU can run a good portion of your library at 60 frames per second on its 800p screen. If you use a Steam Deck dock, you can even play on a larger screen. When running recent releases, you’ll mostly need to settle for low settings in order to increase frame rates to a bearable level, although the visual distinction from the Nintendo Switch will still be noticeable.

It’s important to remember that the Steam Deck OLED has an AMD APU that differs from the original. It’s still RDNA 2, and the modifications are more accurately characterised as improvements that boost power and efficiency. However, when compared side by side with the LCD model, we did uncover some slight advantages during testing, which may be of interest to those of you who want to utilise every frame during portable gaming.

titles: While over 10,000 titles on Steam are tagged as either Steam Deck Verified or Playable, not all games on Steam are compatible with SteamOS. This implies that there shouldn’t be any game-breaking problems while you’re playing, but the system is meant to be more of a portable assistance tool than a performance assurance. Despite compatibility issues, if you get a Steam Deck, you’ll have access to a huge selection of games right away, which is amazing since the LCD version costs $399.

(Image credit: ign)

3. Asus ROG Ally

The best handheld gaming PC

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme

GPU: RDNA 3

RAM: 16GB LPDDR5

Storage: 512GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD

Display: 7-inch IPS 120Hz 1080p

Battery: 40WHrs

Operating system: Windows 11

Size: 28.0 x 11.1 x 2.12cm

Weight: 608g

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

The Asus ROG Ally is a remarkable portable gaming PC that outperforms the Steam Deck, despite its many flaws. Because it’s a Windows device, it also touts complete PC compatibility, but in the end, that’s both a benefit and a drawback for the whole experience.

Features: The Asus ROG Ally is a 7-inch handheld device with built-in controls, much as the Steam Deck. But the Ally kicks things up a notch with a faster AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and a 120Hz 1080p display. It can produce smoother graphics and unexpectedly high frame rates thanks to this combination, especially in demanding games.

Design: The ROG Ally has a sleeker appearance than most portable PCs on the market, and it also has a somewhat pleasant grip. With its 608g weight, it is actually marginally lighter than the Steam Deck, yet it still feels sturdy and has additional unique design elements like RGB thumb sticks. In contrast to the Deck, it has a white, form-fitting shell that is distinctive, and its general shape and curves make it easy to access its buttons, triggers, and asymmetrical sticks.

Performance: The ROG Ally’s hidden Z1 Extreme APU has quickly emerged as the new processor to beat. In most games, such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield, you may increase frame rate well beyond the limits of the Steam Deck. It falls short of more expensive competitors like the Ayaneo 2S, though, and you could find it difficult to fully utilise the 120Hz screen. Having said that, this is the best option if you’re searching for a more reasonably priced handheld PC that can sustain 1080p frame rates.

Games: The Asus ROG Ally is a Windows portable PC that can run any program that a traditional computer can. Put another way, you don’t need to rely on workarounds or compatibility layers to install and use different shopfronts like Steam, the Epic Game Store, PC Game Pass, and GOG (unlike the Steam Deck). This is not to suggest that you won’t experience controller compatibility problems or performance challenges, and it’s important to remember that Windows handheld optimisation can provide its own set of challenges when attempting to switch between programs and games.

(Image credit: gamesradar)

4. Ayaneo 2S

The best premium gaming handheld

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7840U

GPU: AMD Radeon 780M

RAM: Up to 64GB LPDDR5

Storage: Up to 4TB

Display: 7-inch IPS, 1200p

Battery: 50.25Wh

Operating system: Windows 11

Size: 264.5mm x 105.5mm x 21.5mm

Weight: 667g

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

Although the Ayaneo 2S will break the bank, it delivers amazing frame rates in even the most demanding games. That being said, before making an investment in this portable powerhouse, bear in mind that it has the same shortcomings as other Windows handhelds.
Features: The Ayaneo 2S has a lot to offer if you want gadgets with lots of features. Although it may initially appear to be similar to other portable gaming PCs, it is equipped with a 1200p display, a Ryzen 7 7840U APU, up to 64GB of RAM, and a 4TB SSD (variant models available). Upon closer examination, the handheld’s exterior—which features three USB-C connections instead of one—also has something to prove. Because of this specific benefit, you can use the portable as a desktop PC without a dock, which makes sense considering its capabilities.

Design-wise, the Ayaneo 2S and the Asus ROG Ally may be considered to be on the same page. While there are some similarities, such as an asymmetrical thumb stick arrangement with RGB lights underneath, there are also some subtle distinctions that give it a more upscale feel, such as its bezel-free screen and curved shape. Although it weighs a lot at 667g, we found that using it for lengthy periods of time was comfortable.

Performance: The Ayaneo 2S breaks over the boundaries of portable performance thanks to the Ryzen 7 7840U, a fairly potent CPU. With 800p low settings, it’s the only handheld we’ve tested that can run Cyberpunk 2077 at 60 frames per second, which is quite an accomplishment considering how demanding CD Projekt Red’s RPG is. However, have in mind that, similar to the Asus ROG Ally, Windows-related escapades may cause performance issues if and when they arise. You will need to look at this.

Games: At the risk of repeating myself, Windows handhelds can run any application that a traditional PC can. As a result, the Ayaneo 2S boasts a vast library that spans PC Game Pass, Steam, the Epic Game Store, and more. To truly get up and running, you might occasionally need to fiddle with controller settings and other Windows choices, but that’s all standard if you enjoy playing PC games.

(Image credit: gamesradar)

5. Anbernic RG35XX Plus

The best handheld for emulation

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A53

GPU: N/A

RAM: 1GB LPDDR4

Storage: 64GB

Display: 3.5 inch IPS, 480p

Battery: 3,000mAh

Operating system: Custom firmware

Size: 150mm x 100mm x 50mm

Weight: 200g

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

It’s not going to compete with the likes of the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro or the Steam Deck anytime soon, but if you want good power in a Game Boy-style package, the RG35XX Plus is a worthy contender with an excellent budget price. The RG35XX Plus is a clone of the Miyoo Mini Plus, but what Anbernic has achieved here is remarkable. It looks the same, but is slightly longer and uses stronger tech on the inside.

Features: If you want a brilliant example of how to make upgrades, the RG35XX Plus is where it’s at. Gone is the Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 partnered with the PowerVR chipset and 256MB of RAM present in the original model, and in its stead comes the meatier platter of the H700 quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 connected to 1GB of RAM. This improvement blows the original RG35XX out of the water when it comes to emulation. Instead of subpar emulation you’ll find in every cheap device, up to and some PSP is now playable, all for just 64 dollars. Not bad, eh?

Let’s be honest here, the Anbernic bespoke Linux operating system is boringly plain, it does the job. Games and emulators are front and center, and that’s OK given the expense of the device. Updating the system is an exercise in misery most will avoid if possible, although the possibility to output the device to a TV or monitor via small HDMI is a lovely little addition.

Design: Not much has changed from the original model, which itself was a clone of the Miyoo Mini Plus. I will say this, though: Anbernic has a “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy. With the exception of the additional menu and the X and Y face buttons, it resembles a Game Boy. Like all vertical handhelds, the triggers are still painful, but it’s hardly the end of the world. Comfort is also greatly enhanced by the Miyoo Mini Plus’s little size increase.

Performance: The PSP functions, although not all of the catalogue is playable. It is unlikely that you will be using this gadget to play God of War very soon. Nevertheless, they function great if you’re ready for some 2D PSP action or classic game compilations. Another pleasant surprise is Dreamcast, which runs a good chunk of its back catalogue at a consistent framerate. You can absolutely play Marvel vs. Capcom 2 or Crazy Taxi on the fly if that’s what you’re craving.

Games: Despite certain constraints, you can use the little handheld to imitate most of the classics with the RG35XX Plus. You can use something smaller than vintage video game cartridges to study the history of video games, from the 8-bit glory days of the NES and Game Boy to certain 3D experiences like Dreamcast and PSP. Just remember that since this is emulation, you will need to provide your own library of ROMs that you have got lawfully.

Best gaming handheld – FAQ

Which handheld has the best games?

The majority of portable gaming devices enable multiple shopfronts. For instance, you’ll need to choose a Nintendo Switch if you want to play the newest Mario and Zelda games; yet, portable PCs like the Steam Deck let you access your Steam backlog on-the-go. It’s debatable if Nintendo games are superior to PC games, so you should choose the handheld that offers titles that suit your preferences.

What is the best portable device for gaming?

The greatest portable gaming PCs in terms of power are the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and the soon-to-be-released Lenovo Legion GO. However, not everyone wants to play Steam games or increase frame rates, which is why more people are drawn to less expensive portable systems like the Nintendo Switch.

Is the Steam Deck worth it in 2024?

Since many games are compatible with Valve’s portable PC, the Steam Deck is an excellent choice for gamers who already own a large library of Steam titles. However, there are other options with superior specs and full PC compatibility, such as the Asus ROG Ally and the soon-to-be released Lenovo Legion GO, so it’s important to consider your options and price.

What is the best alternative to the Switch?

Among all the current handhelds on the market, the Steam Deck is most likely the best option. You will have complete control over Valve’s expansive shopfront, even though you won’t have access to the customary selection of Ninty romps. This implies that you will be able to use a docking station at home or while on the go to run the newest games and a tonne of independent content.