By cryptoadmin 
Handheld gaming methods are having a second. Whereas individuals have been gaming on the go because the days of the Recreation Boy, current years have introduced an unlimited array of units that allow you to play all types of video games anyplace you need. As a result of new machines appear to reach each week, nonetheless, determining which of them are literally worthwhile may be overwhelming. You already know that the Nintendo Change is nice, however relying in your tastes, the suitable handheld may very well be a $70 emulation gadget or an $800 transportable PC. That can assist you slender issues down, we’ve researched the perfect handheld gaming consoles, examined a number of high contenders and damaged down those we like essentially the most proper now.
Desk of contents
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Finest gaming handhelds for 2025
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Different gaming handhelds we examined
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What to know in regards to the gaming handheld market
Finest gaming handhelds for 2025
Different gaming handhelds we examined
Notice: It is a number of noteworthy gaming handhelds we’ve examined, not a complete listing of every thing we've ever tried.
Lenovo Legion Go
The Lenovo Legion Go is a succesful different to the ASUS ROG Ally X with a bigger show. It runs on the identical Ryzen Z1 Excessive chip and affords the same set of efficiency modes, nevertheless it has a mondo-sized 8.8-inch panel with a sharper 2,560 x 1,600 decision and the next 144Hz refresh price. It additionally borrows some concepts from the Change, together with removable controllers and a built-in kickstand for enjoying video games in a “tabletop” mode. These controllers have touchpads to make navigating Home windows a little bit simpler, one thing the ROG Ally X lacks.
Nevertheless it’s nonetheless a Home windows handheld, and Lenovo’s software program tweaks aren’t as intuitive as what ASUS has executed with Armoury Crate, so the UX can really feel half-baked. The jumbo design is bulkier and a half-pound heavier than the ROG Ally, so some will discover it too fatiguing to carry. Its followers are louder as effectively, and the show lacks VRR. Plus, current leaks counsel that Lenovo will launch a few follow-ups very quickly.
MSI Claw
The MSI Claw is likely one of the few Home windows handhelds to run on an Intel chip. It’s constructed effectively sufficient and has a good 7-inch 120Hz show, however its efficiency can’t grasp with AMD-based handhelds just like the ROG Ally X and Legion Go. Its central software program hub, MSI Middle M, wants work, too. You may learn our assessment for extra particulars, however observe that MSI has introduced two new variations since then. We purpose to check these for a future replace.
Ayaneo Flip DS
The Ayaneo Flip DS is a cool idea: a strong Home windows machine with a clamshell design and twin shows, kind of like a supercharged Nintendo DS. It feels sturdy, it performs roughly on par with the opposite Ryzen 7 7840U (or 8840U) handhelds on this information, and its 7-inch high show is sharp, quick and shiny. The second display makes it a pure match for emulating Wii U or 3DS video games, however you could possibly additionally, say, lookup a information or play a YouTube video with out having to shut no matter you’re taking part in.
Sadly, that is extra of a neat concept than a completely thought-out product. The folding design implies that the joysticks should be quick and recessed, whereas the face buttons and d-pad are uncomfortably flat. The entire thing is overly thick and heavy, plus it runs extremely popular. Battery life tops out round two hours, and really managing two shows on a Home windows handheld is about as clunky as you'd anticipate. With costs beginning above $800, the Flip DS is tough to advocate until you’re (oddly) determined for a handheld Wii U emulator. We're at all times completely happy to see extra bizarre {hardware}, although.
Ayaneo Kun
The Ayaneo Kun is among the many most decadent Home windows handhelds we’ve examined. With a pointy 8.4-inch show, a strong Ryzen 7 8840U chip, as much as 64GB of RAM, as much as 4TB of storage, an enormous 75Wh battery and a whopping 54W max TDP, it’s each a gaming beast and a possible alternative for a desktop PC. Nevertheless it begins at effectively over $1,000, with a top-end config priced at an eye-watering $1,800. It’s additionally enormous, and it suffers from the standard Home windows-related points. It’s an excellent gadget if cash is really no object, nevertheless it’s extra handheld than most want.
Ayaneo 2S
The Ayaneo 2S is one other high-power Home windows handheld with a sharper show, bigger battery and extra configuration choices than the ROG Ally X. It makes use of the identical chip because the Kun as effectively. Nevertheless it’s restricted to a 60Hz refresh price and prices just a few hundred {dollars} extra.
Retroid Pocket Mini
The Retroid Pocket Mini is basically a smaller model of the Retroid Pocket 5. It runs on the identical Snapdragon 865 chip and feels simply as sturdy, nevertheless it has a smaller 3.7-inch show with a 4:3 side ratio. This makes it a extra pure match for older retro consoles, as you gained’t get the black containers you’d see on a 16:9 show just like the one on the Pocket 5. If you happen to primarily wish to emulate methods just like the SNES, Sega Genesis or Recreation Boy Shade and don’t thoughts paying additional for a wealthy OLED show, it’s a terrific little gadget. However the tiny display is limiting in case you ever wish to play newer video games, and we want there wasn't a lot empty area round it.
Retroid Pocket 4 Professional and Retroid Pocket 4
The 4.7-inch Retroid Pocket 4 Professional is the predecessor to the Pocket 5. Its efficiency isn’t considerably far off the newer mannequin, so it stays a pleasant worth in case you’re decided to not spend greater than $200 on an emulation gadget. It misses out on the bigger OLED show and extra ergonomically-friendly design, nonetheless. The usual Pocket 4 may be price a glance if you wish to keep underneath $150, however its weaker chip make it much less adept at emulating video games from the PS2, GameCube and up.
Anbernic RG35XX Plus
The Anbernic RG35XX Plus is one other wallet-friendly vertical handheld. For about the identical worth because the Miyoo Mini Plus, it affords a quicker chipset, extra RAM and an even bigger battery alongside a equally spectacular design. Its inventory OS is sloppy and cheap-looking, nonetheless, and whereas the stronger processor is sweet, the small display and lack of analog sticks means you gained’t wish to emulate a lot past the PS1 anyway.
Anbernic RG35XXSP
The Anbernic RG35XXSP is a variant of the RG35XX Plus primarily based on the identical internals, solely it apes the clamshell kind issue of the outdated Recreation Boy Advance SP. That’s a terrific design to tear off in case you should choose one, and the {hardware} doesn’t really feel practically as low cost as its $60-ish price ticket would counsel. However the software program points famous above nonetheless apply (each right here and with the numerous different units in the identical RGXX household). We’ve additionally seen a number of person reviews of high quality management points with the RG35XXSP’s battery, which is robotically disqualifying.
Anbernic RG405M
The Anbernic RG405M is one other 4:3 handheld with a 4-inch show and a delightful metallic body. It’s an OK different to the Retroid Pocket Mini if you would like a little bit extra display area for $50 much less, nevertheless it’s slower, and it lacks the Mini’s OLED show. We discover the Retroid’s grooved again to be comfier to carry over time as effectively.
PlayStation Portal
The PlayStation Portal is an odd accent that’s designed to solely stream video games from a PlayStation 5. It lacks built-in apps, so it doesn’t help conventional emulation. As a result of it’s fully depending on the standard of your house Wi-Fi, we will’t assure how effectively it’ll truly carry out. It doesn’t work with Bluetooth earbuds, both.
Its 8-inch show is ok and the DualSense-style controls are nice, so PlayStation diehards who desire a second display for native PS5 streaming might even see the enchantment. Sony just lately added the power to stream a number of video games by way of the cloud, which is a step in the suitable route, however you want an costly PlayStation Plus Premium subscription to take benefit. On the whole, there’s little right here you could’t do with a smartphone and a cellular recreation controller, so most individuals are higher off saving their $200.
Logitech G Cloud
The Logitech G Cloud would’ve been a terrific Android choose when it launched if it value about $150 much less. Its 7-inch 1080p show is shiny, vibrant and usually extra pleasing to take a look at than the panel on the AYN Odin 2, its battery lasts 10 to 12 hours per cost and its design is cozy to carry for hours at a time. Alas, the G Cloud nonetheless sometimes sells between $260 and $300, which is simply an excessive amount of when the Retroid Pocket 5 affords extra energy at a cheaper price.
What to know in regards to the gaming handheld market
You may break down the gaming handheld market into three broad tiers. On the high, you have got x86-based transportable gaming PCs just like the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally X. These are essentially the most highly effective handhelds you should purchase, as they search to duplicate the expertise of a reasonably specced gaming desktop. The Steam Deck runs on the Linux working system, however most others use Home windows. If you wish to play fashionable, just lately launched PC video games on the go (and wish one thing stronger than a Change), that is the kind of gadget you’d get. They will additionally emulate the widest vary of retro consoles. They’re sometimes the most important and most cumbersome units to carry, nonetheless, and their battery life may be quick. Naturally, they’re additionally the most costly, costing anyplace from $400 to greater than $1,000.
Additional down on the worth spectrum are "cellular handhelds" just like the Logitech G Cloud or Retroid Pocket. These units usually run Android or Linux and may vary from underneath $50 to $400-ish. They aren’t outfitted to play fashionable console or PC titles, however they’re often extra compact than a transportable PC, and you may nonetheless use them for cellular video games and cloud streaming. Whereas most are marketed towards these ends, many avid gamers truly purchase them to emulate basic video games by way of software program like RetroArch. Getting emulators to work may be sophisticated, and accessing the BIOS and ROM recordsdata required to play video games this manner is legally murky. One lawsuit from Nintendo just lately led to the shutdown of essentially the most distinguished Change and 3DS emulators, as an example. (Engadget doesn’t condone piracy.) Backing up recordsdata of video games you already personal for private use solely is taken into account extra defensible, although, so for {that a} cellular handheld is usually a extra user- and wallet-friendly method to play the classics — supplied you don’t wish to simply use your cellphone.
We’ll name the final tier “handhelds that do their very own factor.” It is a catch-all for issues just like the Change or Playdate: transportable units that run closely custom-made software program and purpose to offer a singular gaming expertise. They aren’t essentially ultimate for emulation or taking part in the most recent multiplatform titles; as an alternative, they usually have distinct recreation libraries. They may not have the widest enchantment because of this (Change excluded), however they’re usually simpler for much less tech-literate people to only choose up and use.
Current updates
January 2025: Now we have a brand new high choose amongst emulation-focused handhelds: the Retroid Pocket 5. Past that, we’ve added notes on just a few different units we’ve examined, together with the Retroid Pocket Mini and Anbernic RG35XXSP; flippantly edited different blurbs to replicate modifications out there; and eliminated a pair write-ups for merchandise that’ve been discontinued. We're additionally maintaining a tally of new handhelds that’ve just lately been introduced or are strongly rumored to reach within the close to future, together with units from MSI and Lenovo.
August 2024: We’ve changed the ASUS ROG Ally, our prior choose for the perfect Home windows gaming handheld, with the brand new and improved ROG Ally X. We’ve additionally checked to ensure all availability and pricing particulars famous all through the information are correct.
June 2024: We’ve up to date this information to make sure all of our suggestions are updated, including a observe on ASUS’ upcoming ROG Ally X within the course of. We’ve additionally included particulars on two new handhelds we’ve examined since our earlier replace: the MSI Claw and Ayaneo Flip DS. Staying on high of this market is a tall activity, however we’re at present taking a look at current noteworthy releases just like the PSP-esque AYN Odin 2 Mini and the GBA-style Anbernic RG35XXSP as effectively.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-handheld-gaming-system-140018863.html?src=rss