Portable gaming has always been a luxury gamers have craved, and in recent years, the rise of handheld gaming PCs has made it possible. These devices blend the power of a traditional gaming PC with the portability of a console, thus offering an unparalleled gaming experience for those on the go. From premium experiences to budget handheld consoles, there are portable gaming experiences for everyone to enjoy.
The Best Portable Gaming Consoles for 2024
Gamers on the go gotta know: which portable gaming console is the best? Here's our rundown of the top handheld gaming systems in 2024.
For gamers wishing to have the highest degree of performance and flexibility in a handheld gaming device, the choice would be a handheld gaming PC. These machines are capable of running the latest AAA titles on the move. In addition, they are built with a full desktop OS which doubles as a powerful Mini PC.
But with so many options on the market, from established giants like Valve to exciting new products from ASUS and Lenovo, choosing the best handheld gaming PC can feel overwhelming. This is why this guide is essential. Whether it's high performance, cost efficiency, nostalgic emulation, software compatibility, or screen size, there’s a model out there for every kind of gamer.
Game ZXC's Picks for The Best Handheld Gaming PCs in 2024
Steam Deck OLED
The Steam Deck OLED is the crown jewel of handheld gaming PCs in 2024, offering a blend of high performance, stunning visuals, and ergonomic design. It improves upon the original Deck with a new OLED panel that goes up to 90Hz of refresh rate, while still packing in the much-beloved SteamOS.
- Brand
- Valve
- Weight
- 680 grams
- Display
- 7.4-inch OLED
- Vibrant OLED display
- Good performance
- Ergonomic design
- Optimized SteamOS
- Playing non-Steam games requires tweaking
- Slightly bulkier compared to some competitors
The Steam Deck is powered by a custom AMD processor and AMD RDNA 2 graphics, allowing the handheld gaming PC to deliver smooth gameplay. The highlight is the all-new OLED display, which brings games to life with bright, vivid colors and deep blacks.
In addition to that, the panel also supports a higher refresh rate of up to 90Hz, making games look smoother and more visually appealing. The panel also supports HDR content, which means users can easily use the Steam Deck for streaming content.
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One of the major reasons why the gaming community loves the Steam Deck is that it runs on SteamOS. Unlike Windows, the SteamOS operating system is built specifically for handheld gaming. As such, it offers a seamless user experience for browsing one’s Steam library and launching games. It also ensures maximum compatibility for a ton of games, with in-house verified games too.
And since it’s essentially a fork of Linux, the Steam Deck can also be used as a desktop PC. That said, it cannot run non-Steam games natively. For Epic and GOG games, the Heroic Games Launcher can be used. Nonetheless, the trade-off is still better value when compared with the bugs on Windows, which makes the Steam Deck OLED the best overall handheld gaming PC to buy right now.
ASUS ROG Ally Z1
Looking for a powerful PC gaming experience without breaking the bank? The ASUS ROG Ally Z1 is the clear champion. The non-extreme version still packs enough power to outperform the vanilla Steam Deck and is down to an affordable price. It still retains all the bells and whistles of the ROG Ally, which includes a 120Hz display and Windows OS.
- Brand
- Asus
- Weight
- 1.34 lbs
- Display
- 7-inch LED IPS
- Affordable price with high-value features
- Full HD 120Hz display
- Lightweight and portable design
- Windows 11 for a wider game selection
- Less powerful compared to high-end options
- MicroSD card slot prone to failure
- Windows can be a hit or miss on handhelds
For gamers looking for a budget-friendly yet capable handheld gaming PC, the ASUS ROG Ally Z1 is an excellent choice. It perfectly balances affordability and performance with its AMD Ryzen Z1 processor coupled with 512GB SSD storage. There’s also a Full HD 120Hz display that ensures smooth and clear visuals, particularly beneficial for fast-paced games.
The Ryzen Z1 processor onboard also offers enough performance, enabling the user to use the ROG Ally as a proper desktop. It has the familiar Windows 11 operating system which allows the user to access a vast library of PC games, not just those on Steam. And for added graphical prowess, gamers can also hook the handheld console with a ROG XG Mobile.
It’s worth noting that the ROG Ally does have some inherent issues with its microSD card, in which case an RMA seems to be the only solution at the time of writing. That said, the Ally does come with 512GB of SSD storage out of the box and also allows for gaming via an external SSD.
Valve Steam Deck
The Steam Deck 64GB might be the base model, but it offers exceptional value for casual gamers or those dipping their toes into the handheld PC world for the first time. It also has the best community support, ensuring a comfortable and seamless gaming experience for amateurs and modders.
- Brand
- Valve
- Weight
- 3.54 pounds
- Display
- 7-inch
- Great value for the price
- Optimized SteamOS
- Good performance
- Comfortable design
- Slightly bulkier compared to other options
- Limited and slower storage out of the box
- Playing non-Steam games requires tweaking
Like its OLED sibling, the Steam Deck can access Steam's extensive game library, but at a more accessible price point and with a storage capacity that meets the needs of most users. It is eMMC storage and not the faster SSD storage, but for new users, that shouldn’t be an issue. And if desired, it’s quite easy to upgrade the Steam Deck’s storage.
Another factor that makes the Steam Deck an excellent value device is its community support. From a small hiccup to a major flaw, users can easily find support for just about anything. Valve is also quite proactive, and offers timely software updates for both bug fixes and new features.
Speaking of features, while SteamOS is very well optimized for handheld gaming, the Deck also supports the installation of custom mods like CryoUtilities and Decky Loader. Additionally, Steam Deck also doubles up as one of the best emulators on the market, thanks to a simple and stable EmuDeck installation. From desktop gaming to retro emulation, the Steam Deck 64GB can do it all, without breaking the bank.
Lenovo Legion Go
For gamers who crave the familiarity and flexibility of Windows 11, the Lenovo Legion Go is the perfect companion. It boasts some of the best specs seen in a handheld device, including an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme alongside a stunning 8.8-inch 2560 x 1600 display. While the battery life isn’t that great, it does offer the most stable Windows experience.
- Brand
- Lenovo
- Weight
- 640 grams
- Display
- 8.8" 144Hz IPS
- Large 1600p screen
- Windows 11 for a wider game selection
- Powerful hardware
- Detachable controllers
- Battery drains quickly at full performance mode
- Windows can be a hit or miss on handhelds
- Slightly expensive
The Lenovo Legion Go is like a Windows version of the Nintendo Switch, except that it’s also a lot bigger and more powerful. It features detachable controllers on either side, which are paired with a large 8.8-inch IPS LCD with a smooth refresh rate of 144Hz.
While the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor under the hood won’t really allow for smooth gaming at its peak resolution of 2560 x 1600, users can comfortably enjoy over 100 fps even on modern titles when dropping the resolution to 1080p. That said, the 1600p display does provide crisp and clear visuals, offering an unmatched experience for entertainment.
However, all this does come at the cost of battery life. As highlighted in our review of the Lenovo Legion Go, the handheld’s battery lasted for roughly 2 hours before needing a charge when used on its highest-performance preset. Add to that, the device can get noticeably loud as well. Finally, as familiar as Windows can be, it’s still not a comfortable experience on handhelds.
OneXPlayer X1
For users looking to maximize the screen size and demand the highest level of performance, the OneXPlayer X1 is the clear choice. Featuring a top-of-the-line Intel Ultra 7-155H processor and a massive 10.95-inch display with detachable controllers, the X1 offers unmatched performance with a complementing premium price tag.
- Brand
- OneXPlayer
- Weight
- 789 grams
- Display
- 10.95-inch
- Top-tier hardware for unmatched performance
- Large, high-resolution display
- Multiple ports for connectivity
- Windows 11 for a wider game selection
- Too large and heavy to carry around
- Detachable controllers need an extra accessory
- Very expensive
The 10.95-inch display is almost too close to being a large tablet, but somehow OnexPlayer X1 manages to convert it to a handheld gaming PC. It features controllers on either side, which allow for a unique gaming experience. While the controllers are detachable, the consumer will have to fork extra on its controller connector, which makes them feel like a typical Xbox-style controller.
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As for the performance, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor coupled with the Intel Arc graphics and up to a whopping 64GB RAM offers an unmatched experience. As noted in XDA’s review of the X1, the handheld can easily run demanding titles at around 40-50fps with the 35W mode. And that’s at the full 2560 x 1600 resolution.
The large display is also paired with dual stereo speakers, and features a built-in kickstand, enabling users to use it as a tablet for entertainment. As for software, while the device comes with Windows 11, OneXPlayer has its own software overlays to make gaming a more seamless experience.
AYANEO Air 1S
On the flip side, for gamers who prioritize portability above all else, the AYANEO Air 1S is the ultimate choice. This ultra-slim and lightweight handheld PC packs a surprising punch thanks to the AMD Ryzen 7 processor. That said, finding a unit can be a bit of a hassle at times.
- Brand
- AYANEO
- Weight
- 405g
- Display
- 5.5-inch
- Ultra-portable design
- Vibrant OLED screen
- Balanced performance
- Good Battery Life
- Windows 11 for a wider game selection
- Smaller screen size may not suit all games
- Very expensive
- Using Windows is tough on a small display
With a compact yet visually stunning 5.5-inch AMOLED screen, the AYANEO Air 1S features one of the best displays on a handheld gaming PC. Its ultra-light and slim design makes it incredibly easy to carry around, fitting comfortably in a pocket or small bag. Of course, navigating Windows 11 on such a small display is a tedious task, but that’s more a fault of Microsoft than AYANEO.
The Air 1S also comes with arguably the best controllers on the market, thanks to its Hall Sensing joystick and fully customizable buttons. And since the device is so lightweight, it offers an unmatched level of comfort while gaming.
Speaking of gaming, the Air 1S is powered by the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U coupled with an AMD RDNA 3 GPU. In other words, similar specs to most mid-range laptops, and enough power to easily enjoy even AAA titles at low settings. It also offers good energy efficiency, allowing the user to enjoy a variety of games while maintaining decent battery life.
FAQ
Q: Can a handheld PC play all PC games?
Handheld gaming PCs can play many PC games, but their ability to run all games depends on various factors. While powerful, some high-demand games may not perform optimally on handheld devices due to limitations in power. Additionally, some games rely on anti-cheat software or features not optimized for custom operating systems like SteamOS.
Q: What factors should you consider when buying a handheld gaming PC?
When buying a handheld gaming PC, it's important to consider the device's processing power, graphics capabilities, battery life, display quality, and ergonomics. Additionally, it's always better to check for game compatibility and whether the device supports your preferred gaming libraries. Lastly, do factor in price as well, since some handheld gaming PCs can cost over $1000 too.
Q: Can you use a handheld gaming PC for more than gaming?
Absolutely! Unlike other handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch or the Retroid Pocket 2S, handheld gaming PCs run full versions of operating systems like Windows or Linux-based SteamOS. As such, these devices can easily perform tasks similar to a standard laptop, including web browsing, streaming, and running various applications.
Q: Are handheld gaming PCs worth it?
Handheld gaming PCs are a great choice for gamers who crave portability and wish to enjoy their vast PC games library on the go. While they do come at a comparatively premium price compared to traditional laptops, they do offer powerful performance and versatility, making them a worthwhile investment.