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Apr 30, 2024 · Best overall. 1. Nintendo Switch OLED. View at Amazon. View at Best Buy. View at Dell. The best handheld console overall. The Switch OLED is the best version of Nintendo's hybrid handheld...
Compare the features, prices and games of the top handheld game consoles, from the Nintendo Switch to the Steam Deck. Learn about the pros and cons of each device, and how to choose the best one for your needs.
- Overview
- Best handheld games consoles in 2024
- 1. Nintendo Switch OLED
- 2. Nintendo Switch Lite
- 3. Valve Steam Deck
- 4. Super Pocket
- 5. AyaNeo Air Plus
- PlayStation Portal
- Is the Nintendo Switch better in docked or a handheld?
Best
By Dashiell Wood
Contributions from
Aleksha McLoughlin, Rhys Wood, Kara Phillips
last updated 1 February 2024
Our guide to the best handheld games consoles that you can buy right now
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Specifications
Chipset: Custom Nvidia Tegra X1 Storage: 64 GB Display: 7" OLED Weight: ~422g Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (Blue) View at Best Buy (White) View at Dell (OLED)
Reasons to buy
+ Stunning OLED display + Improved speakers and kickstand + Bigger screen than original
Reasons to avoid
- Same aging hardware inside - Can perform poorly in some games Buy it if ✅ You play lots of Nintendo games: Nintendo designs its games to, for the most part, both look excellent and run well in handheld mode. If you play lots of Nintendo games, this should be your number one pick. ✅ You want OLED quality on a budget: As handheld consoles with OLED displays go, the Nintendo Switch OLED is on the cheaper end making it great if your main concern is having an OLED screen on a budget. Don't buy it if ❌ You want better performance: The Nintendo Switch OLED doesn't feature any major performance improvements over the base model. Expect some third-party games, for example Mortal Kombat 1, to have performance issues. The Nintendo Switch OLED is the best model in the company's current console lineup. While it boasts the same internals as the stock Nintendo Switch, the screen has received a substantial upgrade. It is now a larger 7-inch OLED panel that helps the best Nintendo Switch games really pop. With its $349.99 / £299.99 asking price, the Nintendo Switch OLED positions itself as much cheaper than many of the alternatives on this list, especially the handheld PCs. This lower price does have a tangible impact on performance, however, meaning that many ported games like Mortal Kombat 1 can begin to struggle. This is most noticeable if you're someone who primarily plays on the TV in docked mode, however, making it far easier to recommend for portable play. With this variant, you're also getting a greatly improved kickstand and significantly better speakers as well, leading to a much better experience while playing in handheld mode. All of the original Nintendo Switch library is compatible with the Nintendo Switch OLED too, granting you immediate access to incredible exclusive games like Animal Crossing New Leaf and Splatoon 3. •Read more: Nintendo Switch OLED review
Specifications
Dimensions: 3.6 x 8.2 x .55 inch GPU: NVIDIA Custom Tegra processor Screen: Capacitive touch screen / 5.5 inch LCD / 1280x720 resolution Storage: 32GB (expandable) Portable battery life: approx 3 - 7 hours Today's Best Deals View at Walmart (Pink) View at Amazon (Turquoise) View at Best Buy (Coral)
Reasons to buy
+ Small and lighter than the OLED + Good value for money + Comfortable form factor
Reasons to avoid
- Reading text can be challenging Buy it if ✅ You're shopping for kids: The Nintendo Switch Lite is made of thick and durable plastic which is hard to damage. The fact the Joy-Cons are built-in also means they cannot be lost easily. ✅ You're on a tight budget: The Nintendo Switch Lite is considerably cheaper than both the Nintendo Switch OLED and the original Nintendo Switch. Best of all, it plays all the same games. Don't buy it if ❌ You might play docked: Although portable play is the focus here, it is worth noting that the Switch Lite cannot be played on a TV like other models. Only buy this if you're sure you want to play in handheld mode all of the time. With its affordable asking price of $199.99 / £200, the Nintendo Switch Lite is our top pick for those who are shopping on a budget. Its smaller form factor is perfect for portable play as it can be quickly shoved into a rucksack or even a large pocket when you're on the move. There are also a range of attractive bright colors to choose from including blue, pink, purple, grey, and yellow. The design is constructed out of a thick plastic and, in our testing, proved more durable than the original Nintendo Switch model which is ideal if you're prone to dropping or scratching your systems. Furthermore, the fact that the Joy-Con controllers are permanently attached to the system has the added benefit that they are impossible to lose while out and about. You're getting a slightly smaller screen here, but it runs at the same 720p resolution as the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch OLED, so there is no performance or visual downgrade here. If anything, the smaller size can help the image look a little sharper. The one limitation of the Nintendo Switch Lite, however, is its complete inability to dock and play games on a TV. Bear this in mind before you buy. •Read more: Nintendo Switch Lite review
Specifications
CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32) GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz (up to 1.6 TFlops FP32) RAM : 16 GB LPDDR5 Resolution : 7-inch 1280 x 800px Refresh rate: 60 Hz Internal storage: 64GB eMMC; 256GB NVMe; 512GB NVMe SSD Expandable storage: MicroSD card compatible Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (64GB) View at Newegg View at Macy's (Black)
Reasons to buy
+ Excellent build quality + Great performance in most games + Lots of software support
Reasons to avoid
- The software can be buggy - Not all Steam games work Buy it if ✅ You want your Steam library on the go: The Steam Deck is the best way to play your Steam library out of the house, at home on the couch, or in bed. We don't recommend playing it in the bath, though, for obvious reasons. ✅ You want something cheaper than a gaming laptop: Even the top-end Steam Deck is far cheaper than a similar-spec gaming laptop, making it a more accessible and affordable way to get into portable PC gaming. Don't buy it if ❌ You want something more compact: The sheer size of the Steam Deck can make it annoying to lug around. Consider other options if you want something small. A powerful, portable gaming PC that can fit in your pocket is certainly an attractive proposition. While it can't really fit in your pocket thanks to its absolutely gigantic size, the Steam Deck offers all of the power of a high-end Gaming Laptop in a much smaller package. With its surprisingly modest starting price of $399 / £349 for the most basic model (and up to $649 / £569 for the highest-end version) the Steam Deck packs in a hell of a lot of high-end hardware for your money. It's available directly through Valve's Steam client and, regardless of the version you opt for, you will be able to experience many Steam Deck Verified titles including the likes Cyberpunk 2077 and Apex Legends. The list of supported games is growing all the time so while your favorites might not be supported right now there's a high chance that they will be in future. Valve's first foray into the handheld hardware market isn't entirely perfect, as the battery life can struggle with more intensive titles but, given just how well many of the most demanding titles look and run on this device, this is a trade-off that we think is well worth making. As this device runs on a modified version of the Linux operating system, not every game from your Steam library will run flawlessly but there's a good chance that a sizeable chunk of titles you already own will be compatible straight out of the box. •Read more: Steam Deck review
Specifications
Screen: 2.8” IPS 320 x 240 Ports: 3.5mm Headphone Jack, USB-C Charging Port, Evercade Cartridge Slot Dimensions: 4.12 x 0.43 x 6.62 inches; 0.71 Ounces Today's Best Deals View at Amazon View at Amazon
Reasons to buy
+ Adorable portable design + Great controls and emulation + Works with Evercade cartridges
Reasons to avoid
- Screen may be too small for some - Rear buttons can be fiddly Buy it if ✅ You want to play Evercade games for less: With its extremely affordable price point, the Super Pocket is easily the cheapest way to play the wide library of Evercade games. ✅ You want a super portable retro system: When it comes to size, few handheld games consoles are more portable than the Super Pocket. Don't buy it if ❌ You prefer larger systems: If you're in the market for something larger, consider the other options on this list. The small size of the Super Pocket could make it a pain for those with bigger hands. The Super Pocket performs impressively well while playing older titles which makes it our top pick if you want a handheld console for playing retro games. There are currently two versions of the handheld console on the market; the green and black Taito Edition and the yellow and blue Capcom Edition. Both versions include a unique built-in library of titles, focusing specifically on popular games from their respective publishers including the likes of Space Invaders and Bubble Bobble or Street Fighter 2: Hyper Fighting, Final Fight, and Mega Man. We played all of the games in these two libraries during our testing and were very pleased with the smooth performance given the small form factor. The 320x240px IPS screen is certainly going to pale in comparison to the far more premium displays found on others systems on this list, like the Nintendo Switch OLED’s much high resolution 720p display, but it punches well above its weight thanks to the 2.8” (~7cm) size. On the whole, games look very crisp with vivid colors. There are even some decent display options (like CRT scanline filters and aspect ratios) that allow you to further to tweak their look to your liking in the software. Easily one of the most desirable features of the Super Pocket, however, is the Evercade cartridge slot. This grants Super Pocket owners access to a growing library of affordable Evercade cartridges that can pack everything from classic Namco arcade games to modern indie titles like Micro Mages and Foxyland. •Read more: Super Pocket review
Specifications
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 6800U RAM: 32GB LPDDR5 6400 SSD: 512GB Size: 237mm X 91.4mm x 23.1mm Weight: 525g Screen: 1920 x 1080 / IPS / 6-inch / 400nits / 368 PPI / Touch-enabled Input: Hall sensor joysticks / Hall sensor triggers / Fingerprint scanner Today's Best Deals Check Amazon
Reasons to buy
+ Ergonomic controls + Stunning IPS display + Compact and convenient size
Reasons to avoid
- Limited battery life - Aya Space software isn't great Buy it if ✅ You like tactile buttons: The buttons on the AyaNeo Air Plus are extremely satisfying to use thanks to their clicky, tactile switches. This is especially good for fighting games. ✅ You want high-end performance: The performance of the AyaNeo Air Plus absolutely blows the Steam Deck out of the water. This is our top pick if you want the performance of a high-end PC on the go. Don't buy it if ❌ You're shopping on a budget: There's no getting around the fact that this handheld is expensive. While there are some cheaper versions on the way, the high-end model that we tested is extremely pricey. If you’re looking to spend quite a bit getting the best possible performance, then the AyaNeo Air Plus is one of the best premium offerings on the market. It outperformed the Steam Deck in our tests and therefore offers the best experience for players that want to crank the settings up on some of the most recent PC games. Unlike the Linux based operating system of the Steam Deck, the AyaNeo Air Plus runs on Windows meaning that it is compatible with a fair few more games. It is also much more compact than the Steam Deck, making it far better suited for travel. We were also very impressed by the tactile buttons, which have a clicky feel that is absolutely perfect for diving into the best fighting games. It also includes a handy fingerprint reader, which helps you get back into your games quicker than its rivals. The one drawback here is the Aya Space game launcher software, which is just no match to the launcher found on the Steam Deck. It's a little clunky to use, but is more than adequate for getting you into games. The limited battery life is also worth considering. As with other portable PC handhelds, expect to only get a few hours of use out of a charge when playing games at their maximum graphical settings. •Read more: AyaNeo Air Plus review
Specifications
Chipset: N/A Storage: N/A Display: 8" LCD Weight: 529g Today's Best Deals Check Amazon
Reasons to buy
+ Excellent streaming capabilities + Ergonomic and accessible design + Superb build quality
Reasons to avoid
- LCD screen can show its limitations - Slow battery charging Buy it if ✅ You want another way to play your PS5 games: The PlayStation Portal lets you enjoy your PS5 without the need for a TV, offering a brilliant way to get more game time. This is perfect for when someone else is using the TV, or when you want to game in another room. ✅ You want an ergonomic handheld: Having been designed around an established, excellent controller, the PlayStation Portal is one of the most comfortable and ergonomic handhelds right now. It has all the features of a DualSense controller and is also incredible from an accessibility perspective as a result. Don't buy it if ❌ You want a device that can play games natively: The Portal is only for streaming from your PS5 and its games to you over the internet - if you don't own a PS5 or are looking for something to play games natively (or stream from the cloud) then the Portal is not for you. The PlayStation Portal is a brilliant companion device for the PlayStation 5. It enables PS5 owners to access their games remotely by streaming them over Wi-Fi (or a tethered mobile connection), beautifully translating big-screen games on its small and portable screen. What makes the Portal really shine is its slick design and varied feature set. This is effectively a PS5 DualSense controller with an 8-inch LCD screen squeezing into the middle while maintaining the ergonomics, design, and features of the controller. It sits in your hands very comfortably and is easy to use if you're used to the layout. It also gives you that awesome haptic feedback and access to adaptive triggers. The screen is punchy and vibrant, despite being an LCD panel, while the speakers are more than enough for most games. Despite this, the Portal does feel like it was meant to be used with a headset plugged in via the 3.5mm headphone jack. The downsides here are very minor and only extend to an irksome lack of Bluetooth support and the very slow battery charging speed. While it's not a handheld console by way of playing games natively (or streaming from the cloud), it superbly serves a very specific niche - which is to provide PS5 players with another way to play their PS5 remotely. This is an excellent handheld, and, if it suits your specific circumstances, a very capable PS5 accessory. •Read more: PlayStation Portal review
Your experience with the Nintendo Switch will largely come down to personal preference. If you're out and about a lot, then handheld mode may be the way forward with the console. Even so, having the flexibility to play docked when you're at home can be a great added bonus. Obviously, with a Nintendo Switch Lite, you won't have the flexibility to en...
- Steam Deck. Best handheld gaming PC for most. Steam Deck OLED - Display: 7.4-inch HDR OLED, 1,280 x 800 resolution, 1,000 nits peak HDR brightness, 600 nits SDR brightness, up to 90Hz | Processor: Custom 6nm AMD APU | RAM: 16GB LPDDR5 6400 MT/s | Storage: 512GB, 1TB SSD | Battery: 50Whr | Dimensions: 11.73 x 4.6 x 1.93 inches | Weight: 1.41 pounds | Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | OS: SteamOS.
- ASUS ROG Ally. Best Windows alternative. Display: 7-inch IPS, 1080p resolution, 500 nits brightness, 120Hz, VRR | Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme or AMD Ryzen Z1 | RAM: 16GB LPDDR5 6400 MT/s | Storage: 512GB SSD | Battery: 40Whr | Dimensions: 11.02 x 4.37 x 0.83-1.28 inches | Weight: 1.34 pounds | Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | OS: Windows 11.
- Retroid Pocket 4 Pro. Best gaming handheld under $200. Display: 4.7-inch IPS, 750 x 1,334 resolution, 500 nits brightness, 60Hz | Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 1100 | RAM: 8GB LPDDR4x | Storage: 128GB UFS 3.1 | Battery: 5,000mAh | Dimensions: 7.27 x 3.25 x 0.62 inches | Weight: 0.58 pounds | Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 | OS: Android 11.
- AYN Odin 2. Best mobile gaming handheld. Display: 6-inch IPS, 1080p resolution | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | RAM: 8GB, 12GB or 16GB LPDDR5x | Storage: 128GB, 256GB or 512GB UFS 4.0 | Battery: 8,000mAh | Dimensions: 8.86 x 3.86 x 0.67 inches | Weight: 0.93 pounds | Wireless: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 | OS: Android 13.
Jan 2, 2024 · Best Handheld Gaming Consoles. Things To Consider When Buying. How We Chose. FAQ. Our Top Picks. Best Overall: Nintendo Switch OLED Model » Jump to Review ↓. Best For Young or Casual Gamers:...
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Mar 15, 2024 · 1. Nintendo Switch OLED – best overall. 2. Nintendo Switch – best value. 3. Ayaneo 2 – best premium. 4. Steam Deck – best handheld PC. 5. iPad Pro – best tablet. 6. Playdate – best for indies. 7. Ayaneo Air – best compact. 8. Analogue Pocket – best retro. 9. Super Pocket – best arcade retro. 10. GPD Win Max 2 – most versatile.
