Handheld gaming programs are having a second. Whereas individuals have been gaming on the go for the reason that halcyon days of the Recreation Boy, latest years have introduced an avalanche of units that allow you to play all types of video games anyplace you need. However new machines appear to reach each week, and determining which of them are literally price shopping for might be overwhelming. You already know that the Nintendo Change is nice, however relying in your tastes, the fitting handheld may very well be a $70 emulator or an $800 moveable PC. That can assist you slim issues down, we’ve spent months researching the very best handheld gaming consoles and testing a number of high contenders. Listed here are those we like essentially the most proper now.
Editor’s observe (4/16/2025): We’ve made a couple of minor tweaks for readability and ensured our high picks are nonetheless correct. We’ve additionally began the method of testing the brand new Retroid Pocket Flip 2, which is actually a variant of the Retroid Pocket 5 with a Nintendo DS-style “flip” design, and the TrimUI Brick, a extra inexpensive emulation handheld that’s meant to resemble a Recreation Boy. We purpose to offer verdicts on these within the coming weeks.
Looming over the whole lot, although, is the Trump administration’s newly imposed tariffs and forthcoming repeal of the “de minimis” exemption for shipments from China. Whereas these insurance policies are prone to improve the costs of client electronics within the US extra broadly (or lead some corporations to easily halt sales within the US altogether), they’d have a very large influence on gaming handhelds just like the Retroid Pocket 5 and AYN Odin 2 which might be constructed and offered straight by corporations primarily based in China.
Since our final replace, the Trump administration has temporarily exempted sure smartphones, PCs and different electronics from its most extreme tariffs however mentioned these imports might be topic to a separate “sectoral” levy sooner or later. Online game consoles, in the meantime, will not be included in any current exceptions. Hongkong Post has begun suspending mail services to the US as properly (although at the least one personal courier, DHL, has mentioned it can proceed processing shipments). As we write this, the costs of our high picks haven’t modified. If and when any alterations do happen, we’ll replace this information accordingly.
Desk of contents
Greatest handheld gaming units for 2025
Different gaming handhelds we have examined
Be aware: This can be a number of noteworthy gaming handhelds we’ve examined, not a complete record of the whole lot we have ever tried.
MSI Claw 8 AI+
The unique MSI Claw was a flop, however the newer Claw 8 AI+ is far more appealing in case you’re prepared to pay for a bigger and barely extra highly effective different to the ASUS ROG Ally X. With its Intel Core Extremely 7-258V chip and 32GB of RAM, it sometimes pumped out 10 to fifteen % increased body charges than different high-end fashions just like the Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go in our testing. Battery life is comparatively sturdy, whereas its 8-inch 120Hz IPS show is lots vivid and helps VRR. There are clean Corridor impact thumbsticks and triggers, two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a built-in fingerprint sensor past that.
The Claw’s principal situation is its value: At $900, it’s arduous to justify over the ROG Ally X, which is already too costly for most individuals. ASUS’ handheld is smaller, lighter and customarily extra moveable on high of that— although the Claw is thinner — and its Armoury Crate software program, whereas removed from excellent, continues to be a bit extra polished than MSI’s Middle M hub. There’s additionally a smaller 7-inch version of this handheld for $829, however we haven’t examined that one but.
Lenovo Legion Go
The Lenovo Legion Go is one other capable alternative to the ASUS ROG Ally X with a good bigger show. It runs on the identical Ryzen Z1 Excessive chip and presents an analogous set of efficiency modes, nevertheless it has a mondo-sized 8.8-inch panel with a sharper 2,560 x 1,600 decision and a better 144Hz refresh price. It additionally borrows some concepts from the Change, together with removable controllers and a built-in kickstand for taking part in video games in a tabletop mode. These controllers have touchpads to make navigating Home windows a bit of simpler, one thing the ROG Ally X lacks.
But it surely’s nonetheless a Home windows handheld, and Lenovo’s software program tweaks aren’t as intuitive as what ASUS has achieved with Armoury Crate, so the UX can really feel half-baked by comparability. The jumbo design is bulkier and heavier than the ROG Ally X, so some will discover it too fatiguing to carry. Its followers are louder as properly, plus the show lacks VRR. Lenovo teased a Legion Go 2 at CES earlier this 12 months, although it hasn’t shared a launch date or pricing particulars as of our newest replace.
Lenovo Legion Go S (Home windows model)
The Lenovo Legion Go S has a comparatively snug design and a commendable 8-inch 120Hz show, however its efficiency lags too far behind the ROG Ally X, Claw 8 AI+ and authentic Legion Go for a tool priced at $730. Home windows continues to be as clunky as ever, too. We’re extra excited to check the SteamOS version that’s scheduled to arrive in Could, as that needs to be one of many first non-Valve units to make the most of the Steam Deck’s software program.
Ayaneo Flip DS
The Ayaneo Flip DS is a cool idea: a robust Home windows machine with a clamshell design and twin shows, type 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 vivid. The second display screen makes it a pure match for emulating Wii U or 3DS video games, however you may additionally, say, search for a information or play a YouTube video with out having to shut no matter you’re enjoying.
Sadly, that is extra of a neat thought than a totally thought-out product. The folding design signifies that the joysticks need to be brief and recessed, whereas the face buttons and d-pad are uncomfortably flat. The entire thing is overly thick and heavy, plus it runs very popular. Battery life tops out round two hours, and truly managing two shows on a Home windows handheld is about as clunky as you’d count on. With prices starting above $800, the Flip DS is difficult to suggest except you’re (oddly) determined for a handheld Wii U emulator. We’re all the time glad 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 Ryzen 7 8840U chip, as much as 64GB of RAM, as much as 4TB of storage, a large 75Wh battery and a 54W max TDP, it’s each a succesful gaming system and a possible substitute for a desktop PC. But it surely prices properly over $1,000, it’s enormous and it suffers from the same old Home windows-related points. It additionally lacks VRR. It’s nonetheless a tremendous system if cash is really no object, nevertheless it’s extra handheld than most want. The ROG Ally X is a significantly better worth. That is technically an older mannequin for Ayaneo, too, as the corporate appears to launch a new handheld each different hour nowadays.
Ayaneo 2S
The Ayaneo 2S is one other high-power Home windows handheld with a sharper show and better configuration choices than the ROG Ally X. It additionally makes use of the identical chip because the Kun above. But it surely’s restricted to a 60Hz refresh price and prices a couple of hundred {dollars} additional. Ayaneo introduced a decked-out successor referred to as the Ayaneo 3 towards the top of 2024; we’ll attempt to take a look at that one out when it turns into extensively obtainable.
Retroid Pocket Mini
The Retroid Pocket Mini is actually 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 facet ratio. This makes it a extra pure match for older retro consoles, as you received’t get the black containers you’d see on a 16:9 show just like the one on the Pocket 5. In the event you primarily need to emulate programs just like the SNES, Sega Genesis or Recreation Boy Coloration and don’t thoughts paying additional for a wealthy OLED show, it’s an excellent little system. However the tiny display screen is limiting in case you ever need to play newer video games, and we want there wasn’t a lot empty house across the show.
This system has additionally generated some controversy inside the retro gaming neighborhood for having persistent issues with inaccurate shaders (and for the slapdash way Retroid has dealt with the matter). That should not be a dealbreaker for most individuals, however those that desire to make use of results like these ought to look elsewhere.
Retroid Pocket 4 Professional and Retroid Pocket 4
The 4.7-inch Retroid Pocket 4 Pro 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 spend lower than $200 on an emulation system. It misses out on the bigger OLED show and extra ergonomically-friendly design of its follow-up, nevertheless. The bottom Pocket 4 can also be price a glance if you wish to keep below $150, however its weaker chip makes it much less adept at emulating video games from the PS2, GameCube and up.
Miyoo Mini Plus
The Miyoo Mini Plus is a extremely inexpensive handheld with a well-built, Recreation Boy-style type issue that matches properly with older video games. Its 3.5-inch show actually pops for one thing within the $60 to $80 vary, its battery lasts so long as it must and it will possibly emulate consoles as much as the unique PlayStation with out a lot situation. Its Linux-based software program is extensively customizable, although it requires some tinkering to get it working optimally. Like many cheapo handhelds, it additionally lacks quick charging. Nonetheless, of the various Recreation Boy-like emulation units floating across the funds finish of the market, it’s the one we’d suggest first. Because it’s from a smaller Chinese language agency and isn’t obtainable at main retailers, nevertheless, it may be troublesome to really purchase.
Anbernic RG35XX Plus
The Anbernic RG35XX Plus is one other wallet-friendly vertical handheld. For about the identical value because the Miyoo Mini Plus, it presents a sooner chipset, extra RAM and an even bigger battery alongside a equally spectacular design. Its inventory OS is overly sloppy and cheap-looking, nevertheless, and whereas the stronger processor is sweet, the small display screen and lack of analog sticks means you received’t need 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 type issue of the outdated Game Boy Advance SP. That’s an excellent 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 recommend. However the software program points famous above nonetheless apply (each right here and with the various other devices in the identical RGXX household). We’ve additionally seen several user reports of high quality management points with the RG35XXSP’s battery, which is mechanically disqualifying.
Anbernic RG405M
The Anbernic RG405M is one other 4:3 handheld with a 4-inch show and a delightful steel body. It’s an OK different to the Retroid Pocket Mini if you’d like a bit of extra display screen house 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 properly.
PlayStation Portal
The PlayStation Portal is an odd accessory that’s designed to 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 completely depending on the standard of your house Wi-Fi, we will’t assure how properly it’ll truly carry out. It doesn’t work with Bluetooth earbuds both.
The 8-inch show is ok and the DualSense-style controls are nice, so PlayStation diehards who desire a second display screen for native PS5 streaming may even see the attraction. Sony not too long ago added the flexibility to stream a number of video games via the cloud, which is a step in the fitting course, however you want an costly PlayStation Plus Premium subscription to take benefit. Usually, there’s little right here which you could’t do with a smartphone and mobile game controller, so most individuals are higher off saving their $200.
Logitech G Cloud
The Logitech G Cloud would’ve been an excellent Android choose when it launched if it price about $150 much less. Its 7-inch 1080p show is vivid, vibrant and customarily extra pleasing to take a look at than the panel on the AYN Odin 2, its battery lasts an excellent 10 to 12 hours per cost and its design is comfortable to carry for hours at a time. Alas, the G Cloud nonetheless tends to price between $260 and $300, which is simply an excessive amount of when the Retroid Pocket 5 presents extra energy at a lower cost.
What to know in regards to the gaming handheld market
You possibly can break down the gaming handheld market into three broad tiers. On the high, you’ve gotten x86-based moveable 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, not too long ago launched PC video games on the go (and want one thing stronger than a Change), that is the kind of system you’d get. They will additionally emulate the widest vary of retro consoles. They’re sometimes the biggest and most cumbersome units to carry, nevertheless, and their battery life might be brief. Naturally, they’re additionally the most costly, costing anyplace from $400 to greater than $1,000.
Additional down on the value spectrum are “cellular handhelds” just like the Logitech G Cloud or Retroid Pocket. These units usually run Android or Linux and may vary from below $50 to $400-ish. They aren’t geared up to play fashionable console or PC titles, however they’re often extra compact than a conveyable PC, and you’ll 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 traditional video games via software program like RetroArch. Getting emulators to work can be complicated, and accessing the BIOS and ROM recordsdata required to play video games this manner is legally murky. One lawsuit from Nintendo not too long ago led to the shutdown of the most prominent Switch and 3DS emulators, for 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 solution to play the classics — supplied you don’t need to just use your phone.
We’ll name the final tier “handhelds that do their very own factor.” This can be a catch-all for issues just like the Switch or Playdate: moveable units that run closely personalized software program and purpose to supply a novel gaming expertise. They aren’t essentially preferrred for emulation or enjoying the newest multiplatform titles; as a substitute, they usually have distinct recreation libraries. They won’t have the widest attraction because of this (Change excluded), however they’re usually simpler for much less tech-literate people to only choose up and use.
Current updates
March 2025: We’ve edited this information for readability and added testing notes for the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Lenovo Legion Go S (Home windows model). Our principal picks are unchanged. Wanting forward, we’re maintaining a tally of upcoming Home windows handhelds from Acer and Ayaneo, a pair of new emulation devices from Retroid, the primary third-party devices to ship with SteamOS and extra machines that run on AMD’s Ryzen Z2 chips, amongst others.
January 2025: We now have a brand new high choose amongst emulation-focused handhelds: the Retroid Pocket 5. Past that, we’ve added notes on a couple of different units we’ve examined, together with the Retroid Pocket Mini and Anbernic RG35XXSP; calmly edited different blurbs to replicate adjustments available in the market; and eliminated a pair write-ups for merchandise that’ve been discontinued. We’re additionally maintaining a tally of new handhelds that’ve not too long ago 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 very best Home windows gaming handheld, with the brand new and improved ROG Ally X. We’ve additionally checked to verify 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 process, however we’re at present taking a look at latest noteworthy releases just like the PSP-esque AYN Odin 2 Mini and the GBA-style Anbernic RG35XXSP as properly.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-handheld-gaming-system-140018863.html?src=rss
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