I’m obsessed with the best gaming handhelds. My granddad bought me my first one back in ye olden times of 1991 with the Sega Game Gear, and within seconds of speeding through Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s opening stage, I knew handhelds were going to be a lifelong passion. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since the 8-bit generation, and modern portable games machines range from amazing hybrid consoles, handheld PCs, tablets to smartphones.
Because the devices below vary so much in their inherent nature and form factor, we don’t really have standardized tests when we review a gaming handheld. Instead, we look at the quality of its software library. Games will always be the most important factor when we evaluate the best handheld devices. And let’s be honest, it’s hardly fair to compare a Nintendo Switch Lite to an Apple iPad Air M3.
The best overall handheld gaming console I’d recommend to most people is the Nintendo Switch OLED. I’m in no doubt it’s the greatest portable machine The Big N has ever made, and I’ve been glued to mine ever since it launched alongside the brilliant Metroid Dread. Yet as a PC gamer of over 20 years, I can’t deny I’m also equally obsessed with the glorious Steam Deck OLED, which quite frankly, thanks to its remarkable screen and brilliant operating system, beats the breaks off every other handheld PC out there.
Read on for my picks for the best handheld gaming consoles to find out which one might be most suited for you.
The quick list
Here are the best handheld gaming consoles you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews.
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.
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.
Read more below
With powerful specs, a lightweight design, and a great 1080p 120Hz display, the Asus ROG Ally is a solid alternative to the Steam Deck. Just be prepared to deal with Windows 11.
The Lenovo Legion Go is a great Windows 11 handheld thanks to its large 8.8-inch 144Hz display, detachable controllers and intuitive launcher. It's not as seamless as the Steam Deck but its virtues make it a winner for Windows gaming.
The Asus ROG Ally X has the same processor and display as the original but features more storage, a more ergonomic design and longer battery life. The latter could be enough to warrant an upgrade, as is the nominal boost in performance. It's pricer than the original, however.
The iPad Air 2024 delivers a larger 13-inch display, impressive M2 performance and long battery life for considerably less money than an iPad Pro. You also get Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard support and strong audio. But I wouldn’t replace my laptop with this tablet.
Load the next 6 products...
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.
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, which helps with gaming.
The best handheld gaming consoles you can buy today
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
The best handheld console overall
Where once the original Nintendo Switch topped this list, it's been deservedly overthrown 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 instantly pop.
The OLED model makes so many quality of life improvements that really should have been in place when The Big N’s handheld hybrid first launched in 2017. Chief among them? The OLED version finally has a sturdy kickstand that no longer looks like a stern glance could topple the little console over — I can’t fully describe how much I loathed the ludicrously flimsy stand on the launch version. The addition of slimmer bezels, more convincing speakers and an Ethernet port for the system dock are also welcome additions I’m glad Nintendo implemented.
The real headline upgrade is obviously that glorious 7-inch OLED screen, of course. As someone who has been obsessed with “organic light-emitting diodes” for a decade, it’s been beyond gratifying witnessing some of my favorite Switch titles get instantly transformed and be made way more visually appealing thanks to the perfect black levels OLED brings to the table. Games that primarily take place in dark environments, like the riveting Metroid Dread over the hugely underrated Switch port of Alien: Isolation, look incredible on the Switch OLED’s sensational display.
Thanks to the sheer number and quality of first-party games on the Nintendo eShop, combined with a best in class screen only Steam Deck OLED can compete with in the portable gaming space, there’s no doubt in my mind the Switch OLED is the best handheld the legendary Japanese company has ever made. And that’s really saying something when you consider an incredible lineage that stretches all the way back to 1989’s Game Boy.
Considering rumors persist that the Nintendo Switch 2 (though the company hasn't confirmed that will be the device's name yet) will have an LCD panel rather than an OLED screen, the current Switch OLED may remain the company's best handheld for years to come. Well, at least for display snobs like me.
Read our full Nintendo Switch OLED review.
The best handheld gaming console for PC users
The Steam Deck OLED is the real deal. Actually, it’s more than that: it’s the best handheld gaming PC ever made. And it’s not all that close. 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, I still recommend upgrading in the strongest terms… providing you can afford it, of course. Let me be clear about the Deck OLED’s HDR screen: it’s the definition of a “game-changer”. It’s a night and day improvement over the subpar LCD panel that often made the best Steam games look washed out on the OG system. Play classics like the Resident Evil 2 remake or Batman: Arkham Knight on the upgraded Deck’s mesmerizing screen and those games now look so much easier on the eyes thanks to the infinite black levels Valve’s revised handheld is now capable of delivering.
If you’ve got a bulging Steam library on either a gaming PC or laptop, Steam Deck OLED gives you a terrific new way to experience your library. SteamOS is a dream to navigate, with Valve creating a console-like interface that works with zero hassle, while the developer also doing a marvelous job of telling you what games run well on its handheld PC thanks to its “Deck Verified” ratings.
If you’re into PC gaming, the Steam Deck OLED is a no-brainer purchase. The quality of that incredible HDR display, which can hit peak screen brightness of 600 nits, paired with the strength of SteamOS means no Windows handheld can currently match Valve’s marvelous machine.
Read our full Steam Deck OLED review.
The best Steam Deck alternative
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. Yet that’s simply not the case when you have my beloved Steam Deck OLED out there.
Better specs on paper don’t always make for a better gaming experience, though I appreciate the ROG Ally’s 1080p display that delivers sharp visuals at 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 from my experience — not to mention how comfortable it proves to use for long stretches of time. There’s a lot I like about the ROG Ally.
Despite its virtues, the Asus ROG Ally can’t topple the Steam Deck OLED. 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 handheld console for Windows gaming
The Lenovo Legion Go is the latest gaming handheld looking to topple the mighty Steam Deck OLED. Spoiler: it clearly doesn’t. Yet that doesn’t mean I don't like and appreciate many aspects of Lenovo’s portable machine. With its large 8.8-inch 144Hz display, powerful AMD Ryzen 1 Extreme processor and detachable controllers, this Windows 11-powered gaming system has a lot going for it.
In my book, Lenovo makes some of the best gaming laptops and best gaming PCs out there, so I’m not surprised that the company’s gaming handheld looks and feels like a premium product. Despite its virtues, though, I feel 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. In my opinion, it’s not in the same league as SteamOS.
While the Lenovo Legion Go isn’t perfect, its extra features arguably make it better than the Asus ROG Ally. The fact it’s also compatible with multiple launchers — like the Xbox Game Pass — is something a lot of gamers will appreciate. And while the “FPS mode” of the right controller, which sees it act as a pseudo mouse when placed into its controller place, is a neat yet ultimately overly gimmicky feature, the detachable pads themselves are a success on the whole.
Considering the relative power of its CPU, though, that 2K resolution screen (2560 x 1600) feels like overkill. In my experience, playing games at considerably lower pixel counts than the Legion Go’s native resolution in order to achieve faster frame rates can prove to be an eyesore. Still, Lenovo has made a handheld that does its best to innovate, and it deserves a lot of credit for that.
Read our full Lenovo Legion Go review.
The best premium handheld console for Windows
Must. Resist. Obvious. DMX pun. Oh the heck with it. “Ally X gon’ give it to ya.” Phew! Now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, if you’ve got the cash to spare, you should go for the premium Asus ROG Ally X over its less powerful predecessor.
There are a lot of improvements on show with this upgraded model compared to the ROG Ally. The X’s more ergonomic design, longer battery life and faster performance are all quality tweaks that I’m glad Asus put the work in on. The longer staying power can be attributed to the bigger 80Wh battery, and I’m all about extra juice and less trips to my wall sockets when it comes to the best handheld. As for the performance games, those are largely down to the presence of a full-sized SSD and doubling the RAM of the original Ally. The improvements definitely make for a more enjoyable gaming experience.
Despite its advances, this machine still packs the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chip and 1080p ISP display of the original, which feel like big missed opportunities. If Asus ever launches an OLED ROG Ally X, I’ll happily tell the company to “shut up and take my money!”
Though performance is better, it's not a night and day difference. The display still delivers sharp images that move smoothly thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate. Again, the addition of an OLED option would really have been the cherry atop what’s mostly a delicious sundae.
If you're new to Windows handhelds and want a truly premium experience, the Asus ROG Ally X is the machine to get.
Read our full Asus ROG Ally X review.
The best handheld console for iOS gaming
The 13-inch iPad Air with M3 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. Even if classing a tablet as a “handheld gaming console” is a wee bit of a stretch.
Yet there’s no getting away from the fact the Apple App Store has some of the best smartphone games on the market. While I love my iPad, I rarely game on it much, but I certainly appreciate the fact Crew Cupertino’s store usually gets the best mobile 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. As clichéd as it sounds, there really is a game for every type of player on the Apple App Store, which is a big part of the reason I find the iPad Air M3 pretty easy to recommend as a portable game machine.
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 that I highly recommend you check out if you’re an iPad owner.
Read our full Apple iPad Air review.
The best value handheld
The Nintendo Switch Lite is about two-thirds the size of the regular Switch, and delivers two-thirds of what I 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. Thanks to its $200 price tag, it’s a great handheld option if you want to get your children into games. As much as I love my Switch OLED, I doubt the average kid cares about what type of screen technology they’re playing on during their formative years.
There are some drawbacks, though, which is to be expected for what Nintendo is charging for the entry-level of its handheld hybrid family. Due to its smaller size, the Switch Lite has a smaller battery, meaning less playtime overall — you’re going to be charging this cute little handheld a lot.
The Switch Lite also doesn’t have detachable Joy-Cons, meaning that impromptu multiplayer sessions are much harder to facilitate. If you’re a parent looking for the right model of Switch for your kid, and that particular omission bothers you, the original 2017 handheld is probably the better option for you and your family.
You also can’t transfer save data easily between a Switch Lite and a regular Switch, so consider carefully which one you want. If non-detachable Joy-Cons aren’t a big deal for you, and you want to save some bucks, the Switch Lite is still a quality handheld with a massive library of great games that will keep you occupied for months, if not years, to come.
Read our full Nintendo Switch Lite review.
The best gaming smartphone
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 (although if I’ve got any sense, you’ll stay away from a streaming device I’ve had nothing but disastrous experiences with), 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. The fact its battery life is so strong almost makes it a great choice for fans of handheld games, while I also appreciate it’s one of the fastest charging phones we’ve seen here at Tom’s Guide.
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.
And such is the inherent palm-friendly nature of smartphones, there are few better devices on this list to play on that grueling daily commute than the ROG Phone 8 Pro. It may not offer the experiences of my beloved Steam Deck OLED, yet there’s no denying this is one hell of a gaming phone that currently doesn’t have too many serious rivals.
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.
