One of the best gaming handhelds for 2024

Steam Deck OLED – Show: 7.4-inch HDR OLED, 1,280 x 800 decision, 1,000 nits peak HDR brightness, 600 nits SDR brightness, as much as 90Hz | Processor: Customized 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 kilos | Wi-fi: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3 | OS: SteamOS

Steam Deck LCD – Show: 7-inch IPS, 1,280 x 800 decision, 400 nits brightness, 60Hz | Processor: Customized 7nm AMD APU | RAM: 16GB LPDDR5 5500 MT/s | Storage: 256GB SSD | Battery: 40Whr | Dimensions: 11.73 x 4.6 x 1.93 inches | Weight: 1.48 kilos | Wi-fi: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 | OS: SteamOS

Because of a refresh late final yr, Valve’s Steam Deck continues to supply the perfect stability of worth, efficiency and usefulness within the gaming handheld market. And the brand new Steam Deck OLED is an intensive improve over the unique. Beginning at $549 for 512GB of storage, this variant includes a 7.4-inch OLED show that’s brighter, sooner, barely greater and extra vivid than the 7-inch IPS panel on the now entry-level mannequin. The upper distinction and richer colours of an OLED display makes each sport look higher by default, however this show additionally helps HDR, with considerably brighter highlights at its peak. The utmost refresh price has jumped from 60Hz to 90Hz as nicely, which will help many video games look smoother.

Because of the much less power-hungry show, a extra environment friendly AMD APU and a bigger battery, the Steam Deck OLED additionally lasts longer than earlier than. No handheld can play resource-intensive “AAA” video games for too lengthy, however Valve says the brand new mannequin can run for 3 to 12 hours relying on the sport, whereas the LCD mannequin lasts between two and eight. A bigger fan retains issues cooler and quieter, and the chassis feels lighter. Efficiency is roughly the identical, although the OLED mannequin’s elevated reminiscence bandwidth will help it acquire a pair additional frames in sure video games.

All that mentioned, $549 is a giant funding. The entry-level Steam Deck, which makes use of a extra fundamental IPS LCD show however now comes with a 256GB SSD as commonplace, remains to be an unmatched worth at $399. Newer AAA video games are actually pushing their limits, however each Decks can run tons of video games that simply aren’t doable on a Nintendo Swap, from Elden Ring to Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake to the Resident Evil 4 remake. Whereas official sport assist is restricted to a subset of the Steam library, the listing of formally verified and still-playable titles is huge, numerous and continuously rising. (There are workarounds to entry different storefronts as nicely.)

A near-constant stream of updates has turned Valve’s SteamOS into a versatile but user-friendly platform. You’ll nonetheless must make tweaks every so often to get a sport to run optimally, however the course of is often easy. That energy, mixed with third-party instruments like EmuDeck, makes the Deck excellent for emulation as nicely. Some PS3 and authentic Xbox video games could be difficult, however nearly every part else works superbly. You may as well cloud stream Xbox video games with slightly setup.

The Steam Deck’s largest situation is its measurement: At two inches thick and almost a foot lengthy, it stretches the definition of a “handheld” system, even when the OLED mannequin is lighter by comparability. The LCD Deck can get heat and noisy pretty shortly, too, and the d-pad on every system is considerably mushy. However the contoured grips on the again assist offset the majority, and each variations really feel sturdy, with responsive face buttons and triggers, easy joysticks and helpful twin touchpads.

Show: 7-inch IPS, 1080p decision, 500 nits brightness, 120Hz, VRR | Processor: AMD Ryzen Z1 Excessive | RAM: 24GB LPDDR5 7500 MT/s | Storage: 1TB SSD | Battery: 80Whr | Dimensions: 11.02 x 4.37 x 0.97-1.45 inches | Weight: 1.49 kilos | Wi-fi: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 | OS: Home windows 11

Should you’re prepared to spend additional for extra energy, you possibly can skip the Steam Deck and purchase a Home windows-based handheld as a substitute. The ASUS ROG Ally X is the perfect of these proper now, and it’s an honest different to Valve’s system for those who’re prepared to commerce some ease of use for a better efficiency ceiling. Consider it like a extra moveable gaming laptop computer.

The ROG Ally X is an upgraded model of final yr’s ROG Ally, our earlier advice on this spot. This newer mannequin runs on the identical chip (AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Excessive) and has the identical show however comes with extra RAM, double the storage, a battery that’s twice as giant, improved ergonomics and an extra USB-C port. It prices $150 extra, so it’s expensive, but it surely’s a superior piece of {hardware} in almost each method.

There are three important causes to think about the ROG Ally X over the Steam Deck. The primary is energy: The unique ROG Ally was already a bit extra constant at enjoying graphically intense video games at greater body charges, thanks largely to a “Turbo mode” that reinforces the system’s energy draw to 25W, or 30W when plugged in. (The Steam Deck formally tops out at 15W.) In our ROG Ally X evaluation, we discovered the additional RAM and improved reminiscence bandwidth right here helped additional this benefit by 5 to 10 % relying on the title. It’s nonetheless not a night-and-day improve in sure video games when all settings are equal, but it surely’s often higher, and it has way more overhead each for now and the longer term. Should you primarily need to play demanding “AAA” video games, the Ally X is extra more likely to run them nicely.

On that be aware, the Ally X’s second main promoting level is its variable refresh price. The 7-inch LCD show right here is clearly not as shiny or color-rich as that of the Steam Deck OLED, but it surely’s each sharper (1080p) and sooner (120Hz), and VRR assist does wonders to maintain video games wanting easy even when their body price fluctuates. It’s a giant deal.

The third key benefit is the truth that Home windows allows you to play video games from any PC shopper, not only a collection of Steam video games. Should you’ve constructed up libraries on shops like Epic, GOG or the Xbox app, you possibly can entry them right here as you’d on every other Home windows PC, no workarounds required. For Xbox Recreation Go video games, Epic Video games Retailer exclusives or finicky always-online titles like Future 2 that require anti-cheat software program, it’s nice.

Alas, for all its flexibility, Home windows can also be the largest detriment to any Home windows handheld. ASUS has made actual strides over the previous yr by turning its Armoury Crate app into a wonderfully usable sport launcher and settings hub, but it surely’s nonetheless slapping a bandage onto an OS that isn’t designed for this way issue (a sentiment Microsoft itself has acknowledged).

Navigating Home windows together with your fingers and a controller remains to be frustratingly inconsistent. Sleep mode doesn’t at all times keep asleep. Whether or not a sport works easily from the soar could be a crapshoot; generally the UI gained’t scale correctly, different occasions you’ll have to spend minutes twiddling with graphics settings and key bindings. These points pop up with any gaming PC, in fact, however they’re extra annoying to cope with on a small display with no mouse useful. Then there’s the bloat: You don’t want printer drivers, Copilot or advertisements for Workplace 365 in your gaming handheld. No person will confuse a Steam Deck with a Swap, however SteamOS is way simpler to only choose up and use — even whether it is extra closed-off in consequence.

The Ally X’s battery life can’t match the Steam Deck both, although the drop-off is way much less obtrusive than it was with the primary Ally. You’ll be able to count on someplace round 2-2.5 hours with heavier fare, however nicely past that with much less demanding stuff. The larger battery does make the chassis barely heavier, however its extra pronounced grips, tighter joysticks, meatier triggers and barely taller face buttons make it simply that additional bit comfier than earlier than. It’ll nonetheless match finest in greater fingers, but it surely’s a few half-inch thinner than Valve’s machine. The overheating points that plagued the prior mannequin’s microSD card reader ought to be fastened, too, and the corporate has a minimum of pledged to enhance its RMA course of after a raft of complaints.

In the end, whether or not the ROG Ally X is best for you comes all the way down to your tolerance for software program jank. Should you’re prepared to courageous some UX sloppiness with a view to play high-end video games from any shopper, wherever you need, it ought to be well worth the worth premium.

Show: 4.7-inch IPS, 750 x 1,334 decision, 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 kilos | Wi-fi: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 | OS: Android 11

The $199 Retroid Pocket 4 Professional is a good worth for individuals who primarily desire a gaming handheld to emulate older consoles. It’s an Android-based system with far much less energy than the Steam Deck or ROG Ally X, so it will possibly solely run PC, PS5 and Xbox video games through streaming. However if you would like one thing extra compact and are prepared to undergo the trials of getting emulators to work, it’s probably the most succesful handheld we’ve examined for lower than $200.

The Pocket 4 Professional runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 chip and 8GB of RAM, and it has a built-in fan with three completely different modes you possibly can activate to realize slightly additional efficiency. This supplies sufficient energy to play most video games from the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube, two in style retro consoles which are usually powerful for cell handhelds to emulate. Not each sport labored — notably demanding titles like Star Wars Rogue Squadron II and ESPN NFL 2K5 had been too uneven — and getting many others to run optimally required tinkering with decision, rendering and energetic cooling settings. With some setup, although, it will possibly play a major chunk of PS2 and GameCube video games at full pace and double their native decision. The actual fact it will possibly stably play extra intensive titles like Gran Turismo 4 in any respect, even at decrease settings, is unbelievable for the cash.

Virtually every part we examined from techniques under the PS2 and GameCube on the efficiency totem pole — PSP, Dreamcast, PS1, N64, and many others. — ran flawlessly at a 2-4x upscale. The one exceptions had been just a few video games for the notoriously thorny Sega Saturn. Choose video games from later consoles just like the 3DS and Wii had been additionally playable, although the expertise was extra touch-and-go. For contemporary video games, Xbox cloud streaming labored simply nice, as did native Android video games with gamepad assist like Diablo Immortal.

The Pocket 4 Professional is constructed like a shorter Nintendo Swap Lite. It’s a flat slab that lacks ergonomic grips however remains to be comfy to carry due to its low weight and small profile. (Retroid sells a comfy grip add-on for one more $15 for those who want it, although.) It doesn’t really feel low-cost or creaky regardless of its plastic body, and its textured coating is agreeable to the contact. All of its buttons really feel proper: The face buttons are easy and have a cushty quantity of journey; the analog triggers are conveniently extensive and flared; the bumpers are clicky and simple to differentiate; and the d-pad is agency and exact. The joysticks are on the stubby aspect and positioned slightly too low on the system to be really comfy with trendy video games, however they’ve a cushty stage of rigidity. And since they use magnetic Corridor impact sensors, they need to keep away from drifting points over time. Beneath these are useful begin, choose, residence and again buttons. There’s additionally a micro-HDMI port for connecting to a TV or monitor. The down-firing audio system are completely first rate, although they’re straightforward to cowl together with your fingers by chance.

The 4.7-inch IPS show isn’t probably the most correct we’ve examined even after updates, but it surely’s sufficiently shiny, sharp and vivid, and any colour temperature points are exhausting to note except you’re white background. It’s cramped for streaming trendy video games, nonetheless, and its 16:9 facet ratio means you’ll get hefty black borders with some older consoles by default. Battery life is okay given the system’s size-to-performance ratio: We acquired three to 4 hours with PS2 and GameCube video games, and round eight or 9 hours mixing in older consoles. The energetic cooling system prevents the Pocket 4 Professional from ever feeling too sizzling, although it will possibly get noticeably loud at its highest efficiency setting.

Retroid additionally sells a non-Professional model of the Pocket 4 with a slower Dimensity 900 chip and 4GB of RAM for $149. We haven’t been in a position to check it, however for those who like this design and don’t care as a lot about emulating video games from the PS2, GameCube and up, it might be a greater worth. It will nonetheless have the ability to play many video games from these two techniques, and every part under that ought to be rock stable. However the Pocket 4 Professional casts a wider security web performance-wise, so it ought to be value the additional $50 for individuals who need to emulate higher-power consoles extra reliably.

Show: 6-inch IPS, 1080p decision | 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 kilos | Wi-fi: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3 | OS: Android 13

When you have extra cash to burn on an emulation-focused machine, the AYN Odin 2 is the best possible retro gaming handheld you should purchase proper now. This Android system can play every part the Retroid Pocket 4 Professional can plus slightly additional, with smoother and extra dependable efficiency. That is primarily attributable to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is similar chip utilized by lots of final yr’s flagship telephones.

The Odin 2 begins at $299 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which is dear when the entry-level Steam Deck allows you to play PC video games for simply $100 extra. Nonetheless, amongst extra compact cell handhelds, there is not a lot else that runs this nicely on this worth vary. It performed all PS2 and GameCube video games we examined at two to a few occasions their native decision, whereas techniques just like the PS1, N64 and Dreamcast had been usually playable at a 3-4x upscale. Most 3DS and Wii video games could have little to no slowdowns at 2-3x, both. It’s higher than most with the Sega Saturn, and it will possibly play a wider vary of Swap video games than the Pocket 4 Professional (although you need to simply purchase a Swap if that is a significant concern). Tougher techniques will nonetheless require some settings tweaks, however you gained’t must tinker on a game-by-game foundation as a lot as you’ll with lower-cost units.

It’s not simply uncooked efficiency, although: The Odin 2 can also be a refined piece of {hardware}. It’s not as compact because the Pocket 4 Professional, but it surely’s a lot much less chunky than a transportable PC and the curved grips on its again make it straightforward to carry, notably with newer video games. Its d-pad, face buttons, analog triggers and Corridor impact joysticks all really feel nice. Different touches like a fingerprint scanner, a devoted return button, a micro-HDMI out port and two customizable again buttons are all good perks, and the front-facing audio system are a transparent improve over the Pocket 4 Professional.

The 6-inch, 1080p touchscreen is stable and well-sized, although it will possibly keep a bit too shiny in darker settings. Battery life is excellent: We acquired greater than eight hours of juice emulating techniques just like the PS2, however that jumped over 20 hours with lighter duties. The system helps 65W quick charging as nicely. Cloud streaming and native Android video games work as they need to, and since the entire thing runs on a calmly modded model of Google’s OS, its inventory interface ought to really feel acquainted to most.

The bottom Odin 2 has been out and in of inventory, and the Pocket 4 Professional is a genuinely compelling different for $100 much less. However the Odin 2 remains to be a step up in efficiency and general consolation for individuals who can afford it. If you wish to play the classics or stream trendy video games with out a hitch, it’s the Android handheld to get.

Show: 3.5-inch LCD, 1,600 x 1,440 decision, VRR 30Hz-62Hz | Chipset: Altera Cyclone V FPGA, Altera Cyclone 10 FPGA | RAM: 3.4MB BRAM, 2x 16MB 16-bit mobile RAM, 64MB 16-bit SDRAM, 256KB 16-bit asynchronous SRAM | Battery: 4,300mAh | Dimensions: 5.86 x 3.46 x 0.86 inches | Weight: 0.61 kilos | OS: Analogue OS

The Analogue Pocket is the final word Recreation Boy. Its vertical design is constructed like a modernized, premium model of Nintendo’s basic handheld, and it will possibly even work with equipment just like the Recreation Boy Digicam. In comparison with the unique, although, the Pocket provides two additional face buttons, a pair of rear triggers, a microSD slot, a USB-C port and a chargeable battery rated for six to 10 hours of playtime. Most importantly, it has a stunning 3.5-inch show that’s each backlit and extremely sharp (615 ppi) however could be set to appear to be an previous Recreation Boy panel with completely different filter modes. The system may output to a TV with an elective dock.

In contrast to the retro handhelds talked about above, the Pocket is designed to play precise cartridges, not simply ROM information. It really works with Recreation Boy, Recreation Boy Coloration and Recreation Boy Advance video games by means of its cartridge slot, whereas video games from the Sega Recreation Gear, TurboGrafx-16, Neo Geo Pocket and Atari Lynx are playable by means of elective adapters.

Like previous Analogue units, the Pocket makes use of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) motherboards to imitate its goal techniques on a {hardware} stage. In observe, this implies the Pocket’s “emulation” of older titles is near-perfect, with a stage of responsiveness and visible faithfulness that software-based emulation can’t match. Pop in a Recreation Boy or GBA cartridge and you may primarily play it as supposed. That mentioned, due to a giant post-launch replace and an energetic consumer group, the Pocket may run ROMs off a microSD card and thus play techniques just like the SNES and Sega Genesis.

The Pocket isn’t low-cost at $220, and its shoulder buttons aren’t as crisp to press as the wonderful d-pad or face buttons. Nonetheless, when you’ve got a group of Recreation Boy, Recreation Gear or GBA video games, the Pocket is probably the most elegant option to play them, and it’s solely turn into extra versatile over time. Its largest flaw is that it may be exhausting to purchase — count on to attend just a few weeks for brand spanking new orders to ship, if not longer.