The most effective 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 very best steadiness of worth, efficiency and value within the gaming handheld market. And the brand new Steam Deck OLED is a radical improve over the unique. Beginning at $549 for 512GB of storage, this variant incorporates a 7.4-inch OLED show that’s brighter, quicker, barely larger 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 screen makes each recreation 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 properly, which can assist 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 can assist it acquire a pair further frames in sure video games.

All that mentioned, $549 is an enormous funding. The entry-level Steam Deck, which makes use of a extra primary IPS LCD show however now comes with a 256GB SSD as normal, continues to be an unmatched worth at $399. Newer AAA video games are definitely pushing their limits, however each Decks can run tons of video games that simply aren’t doable on a Nintendo Change, from Elden Ring to Last Fantasy VII Remake to the Resident Evil 4 remake. Whereas official recreation assist is proscribed to a subset of the Steam library, the checklist of formally verified and still-playable titles is very large, numerous and continually rising. (There are workarounds to entry different storefronts as properly.)

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

The Steam Deck’s largest subject is its dimension: At two inches thick and practically a foot lengthy, it stretches the definition of a “handheld” gadget, 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 gadget 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, clean 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

If you happen to’re keen to spend further for extra energy, you possibly can skip the Steam Deck and purchase a Home windows-based handheld as an alternative. The ASUS ROG Ally X is the very best of these proper now, and it’s a good different to Valve’s gadget in case you’re keen to commerce some ease of use for the next efficiency ceiling. Consider it like a extra transportable 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 massive, improved ergonomics and a further USB-C port. It prices $150 extra, so it’s expensive, however it’s a superior piece of {hardware} in practically each manner.

There are three most important causes to contemplate the ROG Ally X over the Steam Deck. The primary is energy: The unique ROG Ally was already a bit extra constant at taking part in graphically intense video games at greater body charges, thanks largely to a “Turbo mode” that enhances the gadget’s energy draw to 25W, or 30W when plugged in. (The Steam Deck formally tops out at 15W.) In our ROG Ally X assessment, 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, however it’s normally higher, and it has rather more overhead each for now and the longer term. If you happen to primarily wish to play demanding “AAA” video games, the Ally X is extra prone to run them properly.

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 vivid or color-rich as that of the Steam Deck OLED, however it’s each sharper (1080p) and quicker (120Hz), and VRR assist does wonders to maintain video games trying clean even when their body price fluctuates. It’s an enormous deal.

The third key benefit is the truth that Home windows allows you to play video games from any PC consumer, not only a choice of Steam video games. If you happen to’ve constructed up libraries on shops like Epic, GOG or the Xbox app, you possibly can entry them right here as you’ll on another 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 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 superbly usable recreation launcher and settings hub, however it’s nonetheless slapping a bandage onto an OS that isn’t designed for this kind issue (a sentiment Microsoft itself has acknowledged).

Navigating Home windows along with your fingers and a controller continues to be frustratingly inconsistent. Sleep mode doesn’t at all times keep asleep. Whether or not a recreation works easily from the leap generally is a crapshoot; typically the UI received’t scale correctly, different instances you might have to spend minutes fidgeting with graphics settings and key bindings. These points pop up with any gaming PC, in fact, however they’re extra annoying to take care of on a small display screen with no mouse helpful. Then there’s the bloat: You don’t want printer drivers, Copilot or adverts for Workplace 365 in your gaming handheld. No person will confuse a Steam Deck with a Change, however SteamOS is way simpler to simply choose up and use — even whether it is extra closed-off consequently.

The Ally X’s battery life can’t match the Steam Deck both, although the drop-off is way much less obvious than it was with the primary Ally. You’ll be able to count on someplace round 2-2.5 hours with heavier fare, however properly 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 further bit comfier than earlier than. It’ll nonetheless match finest in larger arms, however it’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 no less than 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 right down to your tolerance for software program jank. If you happen to’re keen to courageous some UX sloppiness with a view to play high-end video games from any consumer, anyplace you need, it needs to be definitely 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 superb worth for many who primarily desire a gaming handheld to emulate older consoles. It’s an Android-based gadget with far much less energy than the Steam Deck or ROG Ally X, so it may solely run PC, PS5 and Xbox video games by way of streaming. However in order for you one thing extra compact and are keen to go via the pains 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 achieve a bit of further efficiency. This supplies sufficient energy to play most video games from the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube, two widespread retro consoles which are typically powerful for cell handhelds to emulate. Not each recreation 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 may play a major chunk of PS2 and GameCube video games at full velocity and double their native decision. The very fact it may stably play extra intensive titles like Gran Turismo 4 in any respect, even at decrease settings, is unbelievable for the cash.

Virtually every thing we examined from programs beneath the PS2 and GameCube on the efficiency totem pole — PSP, Dreamcast, PS1, N64, and so forth. — 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 fantastic, as did native Android video games with gamepad assist like Diablo Immortal.

The Pocket 4 Professional is constructed like a shorter Nintendo Change Lite. It’s a flat slab that lacks ergonomic grips however continues to be snug to carry because of its low weight and small profile. (Retroid sells a comfortable grip add-on for an additional $15 in case you want it, although.) It doesn’t really feel low cost or creaky regardless of its plastic body, and its textured coating is pleasant to the contact. All of its buttons really feel proper: The face buttons are clean and have a cushty quantity of journey; the analog triggers are conveniently extensive and flared; the bumpers are clicky and straightforward to differentiate; and the d-pad is agency and exact. The joysticks are on the stubby facet and positioned a bit of too low on the gadget to be really snug 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 helpful 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 along with your fingers by chance.

The 4.7-inch IPS show isn’t probably the most correct we’ve examined even after updates, however it’s sufficiently vivid, sharp and vivid, and any shade temperature points are arduous to note except you’re taking a look at 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 gadget’s size-to-performance ratio: We bought 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 may 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 in case you like this design and don’t care as a lot about emulating video games from the PS2, GameCube and up, it could be a greater worth. It’s going to nonetheless have the ability to play many video games from these two programs, and every thing beneath that needs to be rock strong. However the Pocket 4 Professional casts a wider security internet performance-wise, so it needs to be value the additional $50 for many who wish 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 gadget can play every thing the Retroid Pocket 4 Professional can plus a bit of further, with smoother and extra dependable efficiency. That is primarily attributable to its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is identical 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 properly on this worth vary. It performed all PS2 and GameCube video games we examined at two to a few instances their native decision, whereas programs just like the PS1, N64 and Dreamcast had been usually playable at a 3-4x upscale. Most 3DS and Wii video games may have little to no slowdowns at 2-3x, both. It’s higher than most with the Sega Saturn, and it may play a wider vary of Change video games than the Pocket 4 Professional (although it is best to simply purchase a Change if that is a significant concern). Tougher programs will nonetheless require some settings tweaks, however you received’t should tinker on a game-by-game foundation as a lot as you’ll with lower-cost gadgets.

It’s not simply uncooked efficiency, although: The Odin 2 can be a refined piece of {hardware}. It’s not as compact because the Pocket 4 Professional, however it’s a lot much less chunky than a conveyable 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 strong and well-sized, although it may keep a bit too vivid in darker settings. Battery life is great: We bought greater than eight hours of juice emulating programs just like the PS2, however that jumped over 20 hours with lighter duties. The gadget helps 65W quick charging as properly. Cloud streaming and native Android video games work as they need to, and since the entire thing runs on a frivolously 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 continues to be a step up in efficiency and general consolation for many who can afford it. If you wish to play the classics or stream trendy video games and not using 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 Recreation Boy. Its vertical design is constructed like a modernized, premium model of Nintendo’s basic handheld, and it may even work with equipment just like the Recreation Boy Digital camera. In comparison with the unique, although, the Pocket provides two further 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 beautiful 3.5-inch show that’s each backlit and extremely sharp (615 ppi) however will be set to seem like an previous Recreation Boy panel with completely different filter modes. The gadget can even output to a TV with an elective dock.

Not like 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 Colour and Recreation Boy Advance video games via its cartridge slot, whereas video games from the Sega Recreation Gear, TurboGrafx-16, Neo Geo Pocket and Atari Lynx are playable via elective adapters.

Like previous Analogue gadgets, the Pocket makes use of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) motherboards to imitate its goal programs on a {hardware} stage. In follow, 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 basically play it as supposed. That mentioned, because of a large post-launch replace and an energetic consumer group, the Pocket can even run ROMs off a microSD card and thus play programs 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 have a group of Recreation Boy, Recreation Gear or GBA video games, the Pocket is probably the most elegant approach to play them, and it’s solely grow to be extra versatile over time. Its largest flaw is that it may be arduous to purchase — count on to attend just a few weeks for brand spanking new orders to ship, if not longer.