7 Greatest Handheld Gaming Consoles (2024): Change, Steam Deck, and Extra

It appears like a distant reminiscence by now, however proper earlier than the Nintendo Change launched in 2017, it appeared like moveable gaming was on its final life. Cellular video games had devoured up big parts of the market, and most fashionable video games required a variety of energy to run on gadgets just like the Nintendo 3DS. Quick-forward to right this moment, and there are extra methods to take your video games exterior the lounge than ever.

It is a little bit of an odd class as a result of, to be fairly frank, most of the gadgets at present in the marketplace aren’t excellent. Valve’s Steam Deck kicked off a wave of producers trying to compete with the Nintendo Change, however lots of their choices are rushed, buggy, or simply not an effective way to play video games. Just a few have risen to the problem, and I am snug saying that there are lastly some good choices to select from. I’ve spent tons of of hours testing as many gaming handhelds as I may get my grubby palms on—these are the perfect.

Be sure you try our different gaming shopping for guides, together with the Greatest Retro Gaming Consoles, Greatest Cellular Recreation Controllers, Greatest Steam Deck Equipment, Greatest Change Equipment, and Greatest Gaming Laptops.

Up to date August 2024: Added new data on how to decide on the best gaming handheld for you, and data about Asus Rog Ally software program updates. We have additionally added new photographs.

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What to Look For in a Gaming Handheld

The Change might have set a brand new customary for moveable gaming, however within the time since, the class has gotten more and more advanced. New platforms, new management schemes, and a spread of battery life that runs the gamut from a number of hours to “do not stray too removed from a charger.” With that in thoughts, listed below are just a few components to remember when deciding which one is best for you:

• Platform: The Change runs video games that had been designed (or a minimum of tailored) for the Change. Straightforward sufficient. Different handhelds could be a bit extra sophisticated. On the Steam Deck, for instance, Valve makes use of customized software program and the Proton compatibility layer to make video games run and play nicely on a handheld. Some handhelds simply run Home windows immediately (which has its drawbacks). Be certain that to see what video games you wish to play can be found on which platform and the way nicely they run before you purchase.
• Image: For those who’re gonna stare at your gaming handheld all day, it could as nicely have an awesome show. Many gadgets, just like the Change and the Steam Deck, have OLED variants with extremely crisp, vibrant shows. Nonetheless, higher does not at all times imply, er, higher. Screens with larger resolutions and sooner refresh charges may drain extra battery.
• Energy: Talking of battery life, that is one space the place gaming handhelds can differ wildly. Some gadgets, just like the Change and the Steam Deck, are optimized as a lot as they are often for battery consumption. Nonetheless, working graphics-heavy video games like Tears of the Kingdom will at all times use extra battery than easier video games like Stardew Valley. On handhelds that run much less optimized working methods like Home windows, battery can drain even sooner. For those who plan to make use of a variety of heavy battery-draining options or video games, then you definitely would possibly wish to decide up a transportable charger.
• Efficiency: The Change notoriously runs on an underpowered processor in comparison with its rivals. But, its video games benefit from it by being optimized for the {hardware} they run on. With regards to video games that had been designed for Home windows (whether or not they run on the Steam Deck, or Home windows handhelds immediately), they’ll require much more energy to get the identical sort of efficiency. Sooner, extra highly effective processors can imply you will get a extra fluid gaming expertise. However, as soon as once more, take into account that sooner processors dissipate extra battery, so make sure to stability efficiency with energy drain.