As gamers increasingly seek the freedom to play wherever they go, the demand for handheld gaming consoles is rising. From the iconic Game Boy to the modern-day Steam Deck, these portable devices allow players to enjoy their favorite games on the move. The evolution of portable consoles reflects players' continuous desire to play games at their convenience, particularlythose who prefer the mobility of handheld devices.
Analogue Pocket
Ayaneo Slide
As their schedules become busier, the versatility of portable and handheld gaming consoles becomes even more appealing to gamers. Whether they desire the freedom to play anytime and anywhere or prefer the commodity of a portable device, there is a wide range of options to choose from, each tailored to different sets of needs.
GameRant’s Picks for the Best Portable Gaming Consoles for 2024
Steam Deck OLED
The Steam Deck OLED is the perfect handheld gaming console for gamers who wish to take their games on the go. It brings the entire Steam library in a handheld form factor that is ergonomic, grippy, and easy to use. The OLED model is an upgrade to the standard LCD model of the Steam Deck, and it boasts a slightly larger display that is brighter, sharper and refreshes at 90 Hz.
The Steam Deck OLED is arguably one of the best portable gaming consoles ever made, being the successor to the original Steam Deck that ushered in an era of handheld gaming consoles, giving gamers a range of options to choose from. It brings a 7.4-inch OLED screen that is much sharper and brighter than the original Steam Deck. The great visual experience is only boosted by the front-facing stereo speakers with embedded DSP, all in a package that weighs under 700 grams.
Even though Valve said there would not be a Steam Deck 2 anytime soon, the amount of upgrades made to the Steam Deck OLED place it not too far from a second-generation portable gaming console from Valve. The newer model boasts an updated 6nm APU that is more efficient than the 7nm one found in the original console. The refresh rate has gone up to 90Hz from 60Hz and the peak brightness for the OLED display is now 1000 nits. On top of all that, the battery has also been upgraded to 50Wh which can deliver up to 12 hours of gameplay.
Besides the aforementioned improvements, Valve has also tweaked other parts of the original Steam Deck. Proving that it can do almost anything, this console can also be paired with a Docking Station, so users can play on the TV with a wireless controller. The Steam Deck OLED starts from$549and further justifying the price is the ability to use itas a portable PC. Users can play a wide variety of Steam games but can also install emulators like RetroArch to play older games.
Nintendo Switch OLED Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition
The Nintendo Switch OLED Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Edition comes with a custom design that centers around the upcoming Zelda title, making it a collectible device at a small premium over the standard Nintendo Switch OLED’s MSRP. With runic inscriptions on the dock and joy-cons, it is a compelling upgrade for those looking for an OLED switch this summer
Serving as an inspiration point for many handheld gaming consoles, the Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles of all time. The Switch OLED is the upgraded version with better game and screen performance. The version we have listed here is a bit more expensive than thestock Switch OLEDwhich is priced at $350.
Regardless of the version, there is a massive library of games to play on the go with this handheld console. The Nintendo Switch is arguably the most social of the handheld consoles as two people or even more can play at the same time without any extra accessories. The Joycons, though susceptible to stick drift, are the most innovative controllers on a handheld console. Plus, when not on the go, the dock system makes it easy to play on the TV without having to plug any extra cables in.
The Nintendo Switch OLED is not as powerful as the other portable gaming consoles on this list, but it doesn’t need to be. There is sufficient performance for the most demanding titles, such asZelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Asus ROG Ally
The Asus ROG Ally is the ultimate handheld system for PC gamers. Relying on the new AMD Ryzen Z1 series of processors, the ROG Ally can handle any game thrown at it. The 7-inch 1080p Full HD display with FreeSync Premium on the system provides gamers with a crystal clear and smooth gaming experience. The advantage of the ROG Ally is that it can run most Windows-compatible games and is compatible with Xbox Game Pass titles. It also comes with 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate. The ROG Ally also features an ergonomic design that makes gaming for long periods enjoyable.
Launched in June 2023, the ASUS ROG ALLY packs amazing performance, visuals, PC capabilities, and tons more in a handheld gaming console. Buyers can choose from two variants that offer nearly the same features except in the processor department. While one gets the AMD Ryzen Z1 Processor, the other is powered by the stronger AMD Ryzen Extreme Processor. It comes with a 7-inch FHD (1080p) display that’s got a 120Hz refresh rate.
Compared to the original Steam Deck, the ROG ALLY (the Z1 Extreme variant) wins in areas like display and hardware. However, the performance gap has been reduced with the arrival of the Steam Deck OLED. The ALLY brings perks like AI-driven noise cancelation tech and Dolby Atmos support. It is backed by a 40WHr battery that can last between 1 and 3 hours. Furthermore, the ALLY supports a much higher TDP of 30W compared to 15W on the Steam Deck OLED.
At the $600 price point, the ROG ALLY offers impressive performance in a compact form factor, along with RGB lights, making it the best-value portable gaming console.
Lenovo Legion Go
Lenovo Legion GO takes a page out of the Nintendo Switch’s playbook with its ability to separate the left and right controllers from the 8.8" 2500x1600 screen. The PC gaming handheld boasts one of the most powerful specs seen in a handheld device, but that comes at the price of battery life. Ultimately, any Windows-based handheld has its advantages and risks. However, Lenovo has done well to give its device enough reasons to intrigue handheld-leaning gamers.
Learning from the competition and jumping into the handheld gaming space a bit late, Lenovo made a big splash with its Legion Go in late November 2023. It brings a large 8.8-inch QHD (2560x1600) display capable of 144Hz refresh rate which, on paper, is much better than the competitors from Valve, Nintendo, and Asus. It is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip just like the Asus ROG ALLY but what sets it apart is the detachable controllers that flank the display.
Not only do they work wirelessly with the screen, but the right controller does something unique. It comes with an FPS mode which allows it to be mounted on the included controller base and be used as a vertical mouse. The precision offered by this setup is much better than with a joystick, it is only a matter of getting used to the form factor.
Another element the Lenovo Legion Go does better than the competition is the kickstand. It uses a Microsoft Surface-like kickstand that is sturdy and allows for a range of viewing angles. But, all this comes at a premium, especially compared to the Steam Deck OLED and the Nintendo Switch OLED.
A multi-video-game-system portable handheld. A digital audio workstation with a built-in synthesizer and sequencer. A tribute to portable gaming. Out of the box, Pocket is compatible with the 2,780+ Game Boy, Game Boy Color & Game Boy Advance game cartridge library. Pocket works with cartridge adapters for other handheld systems, too. Like Game Gear. Neo Geo Pocket Color. Atari Lynx & more.
This portable console is the modern descendant of the Nintendo Game Boy, featuring 10 times its resolution. With a thick, durable design and a 3.5" LCD made of tough Gorilla Glass, the Pocket is built to last. The unique characteristic of the Pocket is that it requires no emulation. Its main feature is that it allows players to use original vintage cartridges, providing a nostalgic gaming experience.As advertised on the website, the Analogue Pocket is “a tribute to portable gaming.”
Compatible with Game Boy, Game Boy Color, andGame Boy Advance cartridges, the console can also use cartridge adapters for games from other handheld systems like Sega Game Gear, Atari Lynx, and Neo Geo. The Pocket is priced at$220, making it a perfect choice for retro gaming enthusiasts and collectors alike.
The Ayaneo Slide is a powerful portable gaming console powered by a Ryzen 7 U-series chip. It features a sliding display on top of a QWERTY backlit keyboard. The joysticks and triggers have hall-effect sensors, and the Slide offers dual stereo speakers for immersive audio. It is a portable PC available with up to 65 GB RAM and 4 TB of storage.
When it comes to raw performance, no one does it better than Ayaneo. The company has been making and perfecting portable gaming consoles since long before Valve and Asus, and has always pushed the boundaries of powerful hardware in a handheld form factor. The Ayaneo Slide is just that, boasting a Ryzen 7 7840U processor, LPDDR5X RAM, and high-speed PCIe 4.0 M.2 storage.
It does this with a sliding 6-inch 1080p IPS display that reveals a QWERTY keyboard which is not that common in the portable gaming console space. Even during heavy gaming sessions, it keeps everything cool with a three-copper tube cooling system. It doesn’t have the biggest battery at 46.2Wh but the more efficient processor makes up for it. The Ayaneo Slide uses hall-effect joysticks and triggers, and the joysticks have RGB lights around them.
Those looking for the absolute best in performance will appreciate the Ayaneo Slide, but it does come at a much higher cost compared to the competition.
FAQ
Q: What’s the best handheld game console?
The best handheld gaming console, overall, according to GameRant, is the Steam Deck OLED. It offers significant improvements over the original Steam Deck and comes at great value. Everything else in its competition is more expensive.
Q: Are handheld gaming consoles worth it?
Handheld or portable gaming consoles are an excellent way of gaming on the go, whether it is on a bus or car ride, waiting for someone outside, or just moving around in the house. They are available at a fairly budget-friendly price point, depending on what gamers want out of them. For the entertainment and relaxation that portable gaming consoles offer, they are definitely worth it.
