Top best handheld game consoles 2025

With so many different types of gaming consoles, it can be confusing to know which one to buy. Covering everything from powerful PC gaming consoles to compact ultra-portables, let's take a look at the best options to buy this year!

Nintendo Switch Family

Whether it's simply because of Nintendo's rich gaming history and massive library of addictive titles - the Mario series alone has over 200 games - or the fact that it can be played on a tabletop, handheld, or on a TV, there's no denying that the Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles ever made.

There are currently three different versions of the Nintendo Switch - with the highly anticipated Switch 2 in development. The Switch Lite is still a great option if portability is your main concern - it has a 5.5-inch screen and weighs less than 300 grams.

The Hyrule Edition, which will be released on September 26, 2024, is the latest version of the console and is available for pre-order now on Amazon. Designed to commemorate the release of "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom," the console features a gold finish with a large Hylian emblem on the back.

The Switch Lite's compact size means it can only be used as a handheld device. If you want to use the Switch on a TV, you'll need the regular or OLED model. The Switch OLED was released in 2021, and it has a larger 7-inch screen and double the storage of the regular Switch at 64GB. While it may be a bit dated by today's standards, it's still a device that's likely to continue to attract a loyal following.

Streaming devices and handheld PCs

Since the Steam Deck was released in 2022, mobile PC gaming has been gaining a lot of traction. The Steam Deck is essentially a powerful gaming PC with a high-resolution display and a console-style controller. Valve launched the Steam Deck OLED in November 2023, making it a solid option in 2024. It features a 1280 x 800 HDR touchscreen, up to 90Hz refresh rate, and 512GB or 1TB storage options.

You can also check out some of the competition. 2024 has brought some modern gaming consoles with even more impressive specs than the Steam Deck. Notable examples include the Asus ROG Ally X, which has a full HD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the blazing-fast Ayaneo 2S powered by AMD Ryzen, and the OneXPlayer 2 Pro, which can be converted into a laptop or tablet.

Another technology that will gain traction in 2024 is cloud gaming, which relies on remote servers that host games and stream them over the internet to any user’s device. The beauty of this is that you can play games from PlayStation, Xbox, and PC from a single device. However, you will need a separate subscription for each platform.

The Logitech G Cloud is a modern gaming console that aims to optimize cloud gaming. It features a 7-inch FHD touchscreen and a Snapdragon 720G chip running on Android, allowing you to play games from your Xbox, PC, or Steam account.

Likewise, the PS Portal is a great option for PlayStation owners who want to play their console games without having to use a TV. While it can only connect to the PS5 over a local Wi-Fi connection , it has a 1080p display and extremely comfortable, side-mounted controls.

Android gaming handheld

If you’re looking for a more casual console experience, you might like the ease of Android handheld gaming. The Razer Edge is designed for mobile gaming, similar to how you play on your smartphone, only with improved screen resolution and graphics and console-like controls. The Razer Edge can also connect to cloud gaming services.

Another impressive Android gaming console is the AYN Odin 2, which features a 6-inch 1920 x 1080 touchscreen and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Adreno 740 chipset, allowing it to run any Android game. It also has enough storage for all those games, with options up to 512GB.

Those who don't already own an Oculus Quest might be tempted by the Pimax Portal, which is not only a capable Android gaming console with a 4K QLED display, but can also be paired with Portal's proprietary headset, giving you a comfortable yet portable VR gaming system.

Classic handheld console

Those looking to play classic games will most likely be looking for something a little less high-tech and a little smaller.

Game Boy fans will appreciate the Analogue Pocket's design. It's styled after the iconic handheld and even comes in a variety of matching colors. Plus, it can accept Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges or Atari Lynx, Game Gear, and Neo Geo Pocket Color games with an adapter.

Another compact device is the Retroid Pocket Pro 4. It has a 4.7-inch display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a powerful processor running on Android 13. In addition to running any Android game, you can install emulators and play titles from consoles like the PS2 and Gamecube. Despite its small size, the device comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

Boasting similar features to its bigger brother, the Ayaneo 2S, the Ayaneo Air 1S is an ultra-slim handheld with a 5.5-inch AMOLED display. It also features the same AMD Ryzen 7 chipset as the larger model, making it a lightweight yet powerful gaming console.

2024 is a promising year for handheld devices, with a plethora of interactive options on the market. Choosing the right device will depend on the types of games you want to play and the platforms that can easily access those games.