It looks like a distant reminiscence by now, however proper earlier than the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, it appeared like transportable gaming was on its final life. Cellular video games had devoured up large 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 as we speak, and there are extra methods to take your video games outdoors the lounge than ever.
This can be a little bit of an odd class as a result of, to be fairly frank, most of the gadgets at the moment available on the market aren’t excellent. Valve’s Steam Deck kicked off a wave of producers trying to compete with the Nintendo Swap, however lots of their choices are rushed, buggy, or simply not an effective way to play video games. A number of have risen to the problem, and I am comfy saying that there are lastly some good choices to select from. I’ve spent a whole bunch of hours testing as many gaming handhelds as I may get my grubby palms on—these are one of the best.
You’ll want to try our different gaming shopping for guides, together with the Best Retro Gaming Consoles, Best Mobile Game Controllers, Best Steam Deck Accessories, Best Switch Accessories, and Best Gaming Laptops.
Up to date April 2024: Added new data on how to decide on the appropriate gaming handheld for you, and data about Asus Rog Ally software program updates. We have additionally added new photographs.
Particular provide for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off). This contains limitless entry to WIRED.com, full Gear protection, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions assist fund the work we do each day.
What to Look For in a Gaming Handheld
The Swap could have set a brand new customary for transportable gaming, however within the time since, the class has gotten more and more complicated. New platforms, new management schemes, and a variety 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 here are a couple of components to bear in mind when deciding which one is best for you:
- Platform: The Swap runs video games that have been designed (or not less than tailored) for the Swap. Simple sufficient. Different handhelds is usually a bit extra difficult. 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 sure to see what video games you need to play can be found on which platform and the way nicely they run before you purchase.
- Image: If you happen to’re gonna stare at your gaming handheld all day, it could as nicely have an incredible show. Many gadgets, just like the Swap and the Steam Deck, have OLED variants with extremely crisp, vibrant shows. Nonetheless, higher does not at all times imply, er, higher. Screens with increased resolutions and quicker refresh charges may also drain extra battery.
- Energy: Talking of battery life, that is one space the place gaming handhelds can range wildly. Some gadgets, just like the Swap 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 quicker. If you happen to plan to make use of a variety of heavy battery-draining options or video games, then you definately would possibly need to pick up a portable charger.
- Efficiency: The Swap 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. In the case of video games that have 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 form of efficiency. Sooner, extra highly effective processors can imply you will get a extra fluid gaming expertise. However, as soon as once more, understand that quicker processors dissipate extra battery, so make sure you stability efficiency with energy drain.
