The best handheld gaming consoles in 2024

Best handheld games consoles: Quick Menu

Gaming on the go was once the domain of smartphones and Nintendo consoles. While that's still somewhat true, the rise of handheld PCs means there's more variety than ever when choosing the best handheld gaming consoles.

Devices like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go let you play a huge library of games once consigned to Windows 11 PCs, while gaming-centric smartphones can let you run impressive mobile games. And of course, Nintendo still offers some great devices for gaming on the go.

2024 should be another banner year for handhelds. After all, the MSI Claw is now available and Acer is reportedly working on a PC gaming handheld. Though not confirmed, we might even hear official word about the Steam Deck 2.

With that in mind read on to see our picks for the best handheld gaming consoles and which ones might be most suited for you.

Disclaimer

Editor's note: The Asus ROG Ally X and MSI Claw 8 were recently revealed and shown during Computex 2024. Both systems might end up on this page, so be sure to check back soon.

The quick list

Here are the best handheld gaming consoles you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews.

1. Nintendo Switch OLED

The best handheld console overall

The Switch OLED is the best version of Nintendo's hybrid handheld console. Its beautiful display and quality-of-life upgrades make it a must-have.

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2. Steam Deck OLED

The best handheld gaming console for PC users

The original Steam Deck was excellent but the OLED model is even better thanks to the OLED display, faster Wi-Fi, improved battery life and additional storage. This is the absolute best way to play PC games on the go.

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3. iPad Air

The best handheld console for iOS gaming

With a powerful M1 chip and access to Apple Arcade, the iPad Air is a great gaming device hidden in an attractive tablet shell, with the option to add a keyboard.

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4. Lenovo Legion Go

The best handheld for Windows gaming

The Lenovo Legion Go is arguably the best Windows 11 handheld thanks to its large 8.8-inch 144Hz display, detachable controllers and intuitive launcher. It doesn't offer the same seamless experience as the Steam Deck but its virtues make it a winner for Windows gaming.

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5. Nintendo Switch Lite

The best value handheld

If you want access to the best Nintendo Switch games and don’t mind being limited to handheld mode, the Switch Lite is a no-brainer. But some of the magic of the standard $299 Switch gets sacrificed in favor of the Lite’s smaller size. 

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6. Asus ROG Ally

The best Steam Deck alternative

With more powerful specs, a lightweight design, and a great d120Hz display, the ROG Ally is a solid alternative to the Steam Deck. Just be prepared to deal with Windows 11. 

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7. Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro

The best gaming phone

The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro is the best version of the company's gaming smartphone line thanks to its excellent performance and long-lasting battery. More than ever, this phone offers a more complete premium Android experience.

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The best handheld gaming consoles you can buy today

The best handheld console overall

A brighter, more beautiful display

Specifications

Size: 9.4 x 4.0 x 0.6 inches

Weight: 14.9 ounces

Battery Life: 9 hours

Game Store: Nintendo eShop

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

Where once the original Nintendo Switch topped this list, it's been pretty much completely replaced by the Nintendo Switch OLED. As the name would suggest, this Switch offers an OLED display that's not only larger than that of the standard Switch but also brighter and more colorful really making some of the best Nintendo Switch games really pop. 

Other improvements like a sturdy kickstand, better speakers and an Ethernet port, make the Switch OLED the handheld games console to get today. The only caveat is that if you have an original Nintendo Switch you might not see the biggest of upgrades moving from it to the Switch OLED.

Read our full Nintendo Switch OLED review.

The best handheld gaming console for PC users

The best handheld gaming console for PC users

Specifications

Size: 11.73 x 4.6 x 1.93 inches

Weight: 1.4 pounds

Battery Life: 3 to 12 hours (rated)

Game Store: Steam

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Steam Deck OLED is the real deal. While it’s not a revolutionary upgrade over the original Steam Deck, new features like an OLED HDR-capable display, Wi-Fi 6, and improved cooling make a huge difference. Like its predecessor, this handheld is an engineering marvel.

If you already own a Steam Deck and only play it occasionally, you probably don’t need to upgrade. However, purchasing it is a no-brainer if you’re new to Steam Deck or if the original is your primary gaming platform. The original model was great, but this latest iteration demonstrates that Valve can improve on perfection. The Steam Deck OLED has set a new standard for competitors to follow.

Read our full Steam Deck OLED review.

The best handheld console for iOS gaming

The best handheld gaming device for Apple fans

Specifications

Size: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.2 inches

Weight: 16.0 ounces

Battery Life: 10 hours

Game Store: Apple App Store

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Apple iPad Air is one of the best tablets on the market, so it stands to reason that it’s also one of the best handheld gaming consoles. The Apple App Store has some of the best smartphone games on the market, and it usually gets the best titles months before Android does. In addition to perennial favorites like Fortnite, Hearthstone and Minecraft, you can also play indie darlings like Monument Valley, Florence and Threes.

What really sets the iPad apart from Android tablets, though, is Apple Arcade. This subscription service gives you access to more than 100 games for $5 per month. Some of the games are exclusive to the Apple Arcade service; others, you can get on a Switch or PC, but not an Android device. Sayonara Wild Hearts was an early contender for the best Apple Arcade game, but What the Golf, Dear Reader and Lifelike are also ingenious experiences that you generally won’t find elsewhere.

Read our full Apple iPad Air review.

The best handheld console for Windows gaming

The best handheld console for Windows gaming

Specifications

Size: 8.27 x 5.15 x 0.79 inches

Weight: 1.88 pounds

Battery Life: 1 hour 51 minutes (tested)

Game Store: Multiple PC game launchers

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Lenovo Legion Go is the latest gaming handheld looking to topple the mighty Steam Deck. With its large 8.8-inch 144Hz display, powerful AMD Ryzen 1 Extreme processor and detachable controllers, this Windows 11-powered portable gaming system has a lot going for it.

Lenovo makes some of the best gaming laptops and best gaming PCs out there, so it’s not surprising that the company’s gaming handheld looks and feels like a premium product. Despite its virtues, the Legion Go's greatest strength is also its biggest weakness — namely, Windows 11. While the ubiquitous operating system allows for a great degree of customization via apps and programs, it also prevents Lenovo’s machine from being an easy-to-use gaming handheld.

While the Lenovo Legion Go isn’t perfect, its extra features arguably make it better than the Asus ROG Ally.

Read our full Lenovo Legion Go review.

The best value handheld

A more portable Switch, with some compromises

Specifications

Size: 8.2 x 3.6 x 0.6 inches

Weight: 9.8 ounces

Battery Life: 7 hours

Game Store: Nintendo eShop

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Nintendo Switch Lite is about two-thirds the size of the regular Switch, and delivers two-thirds of what we love about the full-size model. Like its bigger cousin, the Switch Lite has access to Nintendo’s incredible library of first- and third-party games, as well as a comfortable control scheme and a big, colorful screen. Whether you want to play your fill of Zelda, Mario and Animal Crossing, or Doom, Bayonetta and Assassin’s Creed, the Switch Lite can deliver the same excellent games in a profile that’s easy to stash in a backpack or purse.

There are some drawbacks, though. Due to its smaller size, the Switch Lite has a smaller battery, meaning less playtime overall. The Switch Lite also doesn’t have detachable Joy-Cons, meaning that impromptu multiplayer sessions are much harder to facilitate. You also can’t transfer save data easily between a Switch Lite and a regular Switch, so consider carefully which one you want.

Read our full Nintendo Switch Lite review.

The best Steam Deck alternative

The best Windows 11 handheld

Specifications

Size: 11.0 x 4.4 x 0.5 inches

Weight: 1.3 pounds

Battery Life: 1 hour 43 minutes (tested)

Game Store: Multiple PC game launchers

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Asus ROG Ally might not be the Steam Deck killer we expected but it's currently the best Windows handheld on the market.

This 7-inch handheld boasts a 120Hz display and a powerful new Zen 4-based AMD APU. Toss in official support from Xbox and the ability to play any Windows-compatible game out of the box, and the ROG Ally should theoretically decimate Valve’s portable gaming device. However, better specs on paper don’t always make for a better gaming experience.

The 1080p display delivers sharp visuals and a smooth refresh rate. Games can also run at 60 frames per second and above thanks to the new Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor. On top of that, the handheld’s ergonomic design makes it a pleasure to hold — not to mention comfortable to use for long stretches of time. There’s a lot to like about the ROG Ally.

Despite its virtues, the Asus ROG Ally isn’t toppling the Steam Deck. Yes, it has a sharper display and a faster processor, but the gains from these are arguably negligible — especially when you have to run games at 720p to get nominally better performance. Worst of all is the lack of a dedicated user interface like SteamOS. The Asus Armoury Crate app does a decent enough job of gathering games in one spot, but it’s nowhere near as intuitive or functional as Valve’s operating system.

Read our full Asus ROG Ally review.

The best gaming smartphone

The best gaming phone

Specifications

Size: 6.45 x 3.02 x 0.35 inches

Weight: 7.94 ounces

Battery Life: 18:48 (auto refresh mode), 18:56 (60Hz)

Game Store: Google Play Store, Google Stadia

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Asus ROG Phone 8 is not only a fantastic gaming device but it's also a solid smartphone for everyday use. Its rivals no longer include just the Nintendo Switch but also the Backbone One, PlayStation Portal, Steam Deck and even Asus' own ROG Ally.

Its upgraded cameras and more user-friendly design revisions join the ROG Phone’s typically great performance, power efficiency and ample selection of game-enhancing features. It's the most balanced ROG Phone yet, and Asus' best effort to sway the average phone buyer to its side.

People who want an Android phone with exceptional battery life and will make use of the Armory Crate's bountiful contents as much as or more than their phone's cameras could find the ROG Phone 8 Pro bridges the gap between gaming and premium phone experiences in a way that no other handset can.

Read our full Asus ROG Phone 8 review.

How to choose the best handheld gaming console for you

The best handheld gaming console for your needs depends on where you want to use it. If you need something that you can stash in your pocket and play absolutely anywhere, the ROG Phone 5 is the smallest, most versatile device on the list. If you want to split your game time equally between home and traveling, the Nintendo Switch is probably the best option, since you can hook it up to a TV.

Price is also a consideration. The iPad Air and ROG phone are much more expensive than the dedicated gaming handhelds on this list, but they’re also more versatile devices. It’s probably not a great idea to buy them exclusively for gaming, but if you happen to already own one, you may want to see what kind of games you can get before you complement it with a dedicated Nintendo device. Likewise, the Switch Lite is cheaper than the full-fledged Switch, but it also has fewer features.

How we test handheld gaming consoles

Since the best handheld gaming consoles comprise both dedicated gaming hardware and versatile mobile devices, we don’t have a standardized procedure to test them. Instead, we draw from our experiences with these devices after we give them full reviews. A Nintendo Switch and an Apple iPad Air, for example, fill very different roles in the tech world, so devising apples-to-apples tests for them is nearly impossible.

Instead, we evaluate each system’s game library, as well as how well it plays games relative to its hardware. An ROG Phone 5 is more powerful than a Switch Lite, but the Switch Lite can play much deeper, more involved games, thanks to its built-in controllers and Nintendo pedigree.

To earn a spot on this list, a system simply has to play excellent games, and be small enough to transport easily. For anything beyond that, we rely on our qualitative judgment.

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