Handheld games are more popular than ever these days, brightening up long dull commutes and extended visits with relatives by offering you portable versions of some of your favorite video games to while away the hours.

Portable game consoles have evolved into fully fledged game consoles in their own right too, offering many of the same features and functionality that their non-portable peers do. And with an ever-expanding library of games now appearing in handheld form, there's never been a better time for gaming on the go!

Here are the best handheld game consoles available right now.

Our Favorite Handheld Game Consoles in 2023

The Nintendo Switch: reloaded. Thanks to a bigger 7-inch screen enhanced with OLED technology, you can experience portable gaming on your Switch with greater clarity than ever before.

For anyone who may be curious, the ‘O’ in ‘OLED’ stands for organic. And this refers to the panel that is utilized inside the OLED screen. Anything visible through the screen has been overhauled and enhanced courtesy of this panel. Think sharper, brighter visuals across the board.

And the good news is that this will automatically enhance the experience of all of your existing Switch games too.

Sound output is also improved compared to the original Switch, as is internal storage — which gets a boost to 64GB here. Still not great, admittedly; but an improvement nonetheless that may help reduce the need for costly extra SD cards.

In docked mode, you can expect...well, pretty much the same performance as you would get from the regular Switch. Where the OLED version shines is in its handheld mode, and you should only expect to see the benefit of these improvements while your console is undocked.

A bigger and brighter screen, with more vibrant colors and improved sound. The OLED model is just the ticket if you love gaming on your Switch and want to take the experience to the next level.

Valve's Steam Deck console has taken the gaming world by storm and has quickly become the most desired and sought after handheld gaming PC on the market since its release in February 2022. Available with a variety of built-in storage, this 64GB version is unsurprisingly the cheapest version of the Steam Deck. And while this may seem rather meager, particularly for running AAA titles, it can easily be expanded by installing an NVMe SSD or a microSD card.

The Steam Deck uses a quad-core, eight-thread Zen 2 CPU and has 16GB of RAM. Its IPS LCD touchscreen measures seven inches across and is bright and vibrant, though maybe not so much so as the Nintendo Switch OLED. It has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels which may be slightly less than you might expect, but still plenty with which to showcase your favorite PC titles.

This is the real beauty of the Steam Deck. It provides the freedom to enjoy your favorite games (even AAA titles) away from the confines of your desk and with reliable performance to boot. It has two trackpads that act as mousepads, and they're responsive and tactile. Rear triggers and shoulder buttons round out the nice ergonomic feel of the Steam Deck, which is comfortable to hold despite its size. Battery life depends on the processing power required for whatever you're playing, but the likelihood is you'll need to recharge your console every few hours. Similarly, it can run a little hot if your game of choice is asking a lot from it.

However, there are plenty of great accessories out there to help you get the most from your Steam Deck. Whether it's cooling fans, power banks, or general accessories you're looking for, there are plenty of peripherals to enhance the performance of your Steam Deck. It's an exciting and much sought-after handheld gaming PC and one of the very best ways to enjoy PC gaming on the go.

The ASUS ROG Ally is a Windows-based handheld gaming PC that offers a variety of platforms from which to stream your favorite games. Compatible with Steam, Xbox Game Pass, cloud gaming, and Android gaming, you definitely won't find yourself short on titles to play here.

It has a seven-inch full HD IPS touchscreen with 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Powered by an eight-core, 16-thread AMD Ryzen Z1 CPU, it also features 16GB of RAM and onboard storage of up to 512GB. Memory space can of course be expanded with an SSD (or microSD), if you need some additional storage space (and you likely will!).

One of the main perks of owning the ASUS ROG Ally is the breadth of platforms through which you can play. Neat features like the ROG Armoury Crate SE allow you to curate your favorite games in one place, making life much easier, and saving the fuss of tedious cross-platform navigation. It's fast and responsive, and a great way to enjoy PC games when you're on the move.

On the downside, it's priced quite high (especially compared to the Steam Deck), but you may consider the benefits of cross-platform gaming freedom outweigh the additional cost involved here.

Ingeniously devised as a means for portable gaming as well as home gaming, the original Nintendo Switch offered console fans something that had never been offered before. Three modes of play: docked, handheld, and tabletop mode as well.

Thanks to its detachable controllers and supporting kickstand, tabletop gaming is possible with a friend on the Switch. Granted, using what is essentially one-half of a gaming pad does tend to limit the type of games that you can play co-operatively; meaning that this mode of play tends to suit the more simplistic types of games.

However, as with the spit and polished Switch OLED, the original Switch is perhaps the most appealing as a straight-up handheld console. Having been on the market for several years now, the Switch has hit its stride. In terms of performance and presentation, it remains one of the best handheld game consoles currently available.

Games publishers have also grown wise to the growing appeal to gamers of being able to take some of their favorite titles on the go with them. Re-releases of classic games from the last decade or so have given classic titles a whole new lease of life on the Switch.

Massive (non-Nintendo) titles such as Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy, The Bioshock Collection, Dark Souls, and Assassin’s Creed titles have risen anew thanks to this brand-new portability. And as you would expect from Nintendo, all their exclusive games franchises have had brilliant, fiendishly addictive new titles released during the lifespan of the Switch.

It looks great, it handles like a dream, and it runs for up to nine hours in handheld mode. Online play is supported in handheld mode, so long as you’re in a decent Wi-Fi zone. The only real negative is the price tag.

For a few dollars more you could stretch to the Switch OLED. And considering the relatively small price difference between them, you may be better off parting with a bit more cash so that you can enjoy the bigger brighter screen and enhanced visuals of the OLED version.

That said, this Nintendo handheld console is still worth making a fuss about. The Switch is not going away anytime soon, and it is still definitely one of the very best handheld consoles out there.

So, you have the original Nintendo Switch and now the new improved Nintendo Switch OLED. Both are fantastic handheld game consoles that can also be docked and enjoyed on your big-screen TV at home. But what if you’re on the lookout for a handheld console, love the look of the Switch, but aren’t a fan of the price and aren’t fussed about playing it off-the-go, as it were?

Well, for you, there is the Switch Lite. A cheaper version of the Switch that has ditched the docking station, removed the removable controllers and crafted itself as a portable-only handheld console. And it is brilliant!

It comes in a range of colors so that you can pick whichever shade best suits your aura, and all Switch games are playable on it—provided they do not require the use of the Joy-Con controller. And with the cash you will save from buying a Switch Lite instead of a Switch or Switch OLED, you could easily afford a couple of extra games to play.

Fully integrated controls are built-in and all physical and digital games that are compatible with handheld play are supported. As a one-piece handheld console, there’s also a reduced risk of losing pieces of it while out and about. No more lost Joy-Con halves disappearing into a black hole somewhere.

The Nintendo Switch Lite offers gamers the same great gameplay experience as the original Nintendo Switch. Lighter and more portable, this could be the perfect handheld console for you, so long as you’re not bothered about losing out on the docked mode.

The price is pretty decent too!

Handheld gaming PCs are big business these days but they do come with a hefty price tag. So, it’s fair to say that you need to be pretty serious about handheld gaming if any of the available options are going to seduce you into parting with your cash.

This is a 512GB handheld gaming PC from Zestioe (this can be expanded with an SSD card). It’s powered by a six-core AMD Ryzen 5 5560U processor and has 16GB of RAM. It has a 5.5-inch OLED touch screen, has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and is flicker-free.

Being a Windows-based operating system, you can use the Aya Neo Air Pro to play any games on Steam, and you can expect a super smooth performance to boot. The design is elegant and ergonomic. High-quality ALPS joysticks are built-in and everything has been positioned on the console face to provide maximum comfort. It can also be connected to a monitor, too.

On the downside—besides the wallet-crushing price—you might need to take a charger cable with you if you’re heading out with the Aya Neo Pro; as this amount of processing power is likely to tear through the console’s battery life!

However, this is a fantastic Steam handheld console, and well worth the consideration of any PC gamer who is looking to enjoy their games remotely.

With a 2TB hard drive and an 8.4-inch screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, the OneX Player could give other handheld gaming PCs a run for their money. It has an eight-core AMD Ryzen 7 5700U processor and 16GB of RAM and comes equipped with Windows 10.

Older Steam games can be run on the OneX Player at 1080p resolution, although you may find that some of the latest titles will dip to around 800p. You’ll need to experiment a bit to see what you can get from your games. Some will run smoothly at 60FPS, but depending on what you want to play, you may have to accept 30FPS for some titles.

Improvements can be made to the performance by ensuring that you update Windows of course, and downloading the intel tool to update your drivers and software will also help you to get the most out of this handheld gaming PC.

Battery life will be drained like a thirsty herd of elephants drinking water from a lake, however, so fair warning. Expect around two hours or so of gameplay on a full charge, depending on what you’re playing. However, a little bit of due diligence in keeping the battery topped up should help minimize any power-down disappointments.

Touch screen functions enhance the gaming experience and the presentation itself is very impressive, with a larger screen to help deepen your immersion. Sound quality is decent, but of course, any PC gamer knows that decent can easily be upgraded to excellent with the right pair of headphones.

A shade more expensive than the Aya Neo Air Pro, but looking at the specs you may feel that the extra expense is worth it. The OneX Player has the largest screen size of other handheld gaming PCs in its class and impressive processing power as well.

Sporting a 1TB hard drive with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and an i7-1195G7 core processor, this is a noticeably less powerful unit than other similar handheld consoles.

Another thing to mention is that the screen size is smaller too. Considerably smaller in fact. With a screen size of only 5.5 inches, this can’t fail to have an effect on your gaming experience. It may even prove prohibitive for some titles. It’s hard to imagine getting engrossed in an RTS game on such a small screen, for instance.

However, size is not everything. And there’s still a fair amount to consider with the GPD Win 3. The screen slide feature is pretty cool, and the added feature of a fully functioning backlit keyboard offers functionality that other handheld PCs don’t have.

Most Steam titles can be run on this handheld console as long as you’re prepared to accept 30fps as a standard. The sound quality is solid and the console works well with Bluetooth. Fingerprint unlock and large turbofan features are neat little touches too.

However, as a handheld gaming PC, the GPD Win 3’s main selling point over its competitors is its price. It’s cheaper, and this may be its main appeal to any would-be portable PC gamers. You’ll just need to decide if the trade-off between price and screen size works for you or not.

Which Handheld Game Console Is Right for You?

There's no right or wrong answer here, as all the featured handheld consoles have many positives, as well as one or two negatives to consider. None of them really qualify as a "cheap" option either. But we're gamers, right? We're used to splashing out some cash on our hobby! What matters most is whether you're getting what you want out of your portable gaming.

If you're not a PC gamer and aren't bothered about a handheld console with a dockable option, then the Nintendo Switch Lite is the most cost-effective option here. With it, you'll be able to enjoy your favorite Switch titles on the bus, on the train, in the park, and so on. It's designed to be as portable as you are and offers a great way to sneak in some gaming action when you're out and about.

For Steam gamers, you'll want something that gives you access to your full library, such as the Steam Deck or the ASUS ROG Ally. Enjoy AAA titles wherever you are, in stunning quality. Just remember to charge up that battery first!

However, for a great overall experience, the Nintendo Switch OLED is hard to beat. Its stunning OLED screen means your favorite Nintendo titles have never looked so sharp. In handheld mode, you can enjoy those new and sharper visuals, and reap the benefits of having a highly portable, lightweight console to take with you everywhere.

Plus, you have the bonus of its docked mode once you get home. Not to mention, with access to Nintendo's e-store, you'll have a vast library of content to explore, including tons of super cool retro titles from the GameCube era. It costs a fraction of the price of any handheld gaming PC and provides endless hours of fun.

FAQ

Q: What Are Handheld Games Consoles?

Handheld game consoles are portable video game consoles with built-in screens and game controls and the ability to play multiple and separate video games.

They do not include PDAs, smartphones, or tablet computers. While those devices are often capable of playing games, they are not generally classified as video game consoles.

Q: What Is Currently the Bestselling Handheld Games Console?

Nintendo is easily the king of handheld gaming consoles right now and its Switch is by far one of its most popular consoles to date.

It offers users two ways to play, with one being plug-in and play when at home, or simply taking the Switch along with you anywhere you go.

Q: What’s the Difference Between the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch OLED?

There are a few key differences between the Nintendo Switch (OLED model) and the original Switch.

In terms of size and weight, there is little between them, even though the Switch OLED has a larger display. It's the bezel that has shrunk on the OLED version, allowing for a bigger screen but retaining the same overall console height.