7 Best Handheld Gaming Consoles (2024): Switch, Steam Deck, and More

It feels like a distant representation by now, but close earlier the Nintendo Switch launched successful 2017, it seemed similar portable gaming was connected its past life. Mobile games had gobbled up immense portions of the market, and astir modern games required a batch of powerfulness to tally connected devices similar the Nintendo 3DS. Fast-forward to today, and determination are much ways to instrumentality your games extracurricular the surviving country than ever.

This is simply a spot of an unusual class because, to beryllium rather frank, galore of the devices presently connected the marketplace aren't precise good. Valve's Steam Deck kicked disconnected a question of manufacturers looking to vie with the Nintendo Switch, but galore of their offerings are rushed, buggy, oregon conscionable not a large mode to play games. A fewer person risen to the challenge, and I'm comfy saying that determination are finally immoderate bully options to take from. I've spent hundreds of hours investigating arsenic galore gaming handhelds arsenic I could get my grubby hands on—these are the best.

Be definite to cheque retired our different gaming buying guides, including the Best Retro Gaming Consoles, Best Mobile Game Controllers, Best Steam Deck Accessories, Best Switch Accessories, and Best Gaming Laptops.

Updated August 2024: Added caller info connected however to take the close gaming handheld for you, and info astir Asus Rog Ally bundle updates. We've besides added caller photos.

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What to Look For successful a Gaming Handheld

The Switch whitethorn person acceptable a caller modular for portable gaming, but successful the clip since, the class has gotten progressively complex. New platforms, caller power schemes, and a scope of artillery beingness that runs the gamut from respective hours to “don't stray excessively acold from a charger.” With that successful mind, present are a fewer factors to support successful caput erstwhile deciding which 1 is close for you:

• Platform: The Switch runs games that were designed (or astatine slightest adapted) for the Switch. Easy enough. Other handhelds tin beryllium a spot much complicated. On the Steam Deck, for example, Valve uses customized bundle and the Proton compatibility furniture to marque games tally and play good connected a handheld. Some handhelds conscionable tally Windows straight (which has its drawbacks). Make definite to spot what games you privation to play are disposable connected which level and however good they tally earlier you buy.
• Picture: If you're gonna look astatine your gaming handheld each day, it whitethorn arsenic good person a large display. Many devices, similar the Switch and the Steam Deck, person OLED variants with incredibly crisp, vibrant displays. However, amended doesn't ever mean, er, better. Screens with higher resolutions and faster refresh rates tin besides drain much battery.
• Power: Speaking of artillery life, that's 1 country wherever gaming handhelds tin alteration wildly. Some devices, similar the Switch and the Steam Deck, are optimized arsenic overmuch arsenic they tin beryllium for artillery consumption. Still, moving graphics-heavy games similar Tears of the Kingdom volition ever usage much artillery than simpler games similar Stardew Valley. On handhelds that tally little optimized operating systems similar Windows, artillery tin drain adjacent faster. If you program to usage a batch of dense battery-draining features oregon games, past you mightiness privation to pick up a portable charger.
• Performance: The Switch notoriously runs connected an underpowered processor compared to its competitors. Yet, its games marque the astir of it by being optimized for the hardware they tally on. When it comes to games that were designed for Windows (whether they tally connected the Steam Deck, oregon Windows handhelds directly), they tin necessitate a batch much powerfulness to get the aforesaid benignant of performance. Faster, much almighty processors tin mean you'll get a much fluid gaming experience. But, erstwhile again, support successful caput that faster processors usage up much battery, truthful beryllium definite to equilibrium show with powerfulness drain.