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If you’re wondering which handheld consoles are worth your money, stick around! After we run through each product, I’ll give you my personal take—Would I buy it, or would I skip it? No fluff, just my honest opinion. Let’s get into it!
Watch the video version: These Are The BEST Handheld Gaming Consoles of 2025 (And The Worst Ones)
Lenovo Legion Go:
The massive 8.8-inch screen with 2560×1600 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate is absolutely stunning, making it one of the largest and sharpest displays I’ve seen on a handheld. The detachable controllers are fantastic for relaxed gaming sessions, and the built-in kickstand makes it super comfortable to use anywhere. While the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor handles indie games well, don’t expect to play modern titles at full resolution – you’ll need to drop down to 1080p for decent performance. Battery life is surprisingly good though, lasting over 2 hours in demanding games like GTA V, which beats competitors like the ROG Ally.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – The incredible screen and versatile controls are tempting, but the size and weight make it less portable than other options.
MSI Claw:
Gaming on this thing has been a frustrating experience, with constant stuttering and frame drops even when the system claims to be hitting 60 FPS. Despite costing $749, it performs significantly worse than both the Steam Deck OLED and ROG Ally across every benchmark I’ve tested. The battery barely lasts 1.5 hours in demanding games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which is disappointing for a premium device. While it does have nice speakers and comfortable grips, these minor advantages don’t make up for its major performance issues.
Would I buy it?
No – With worse performance than cheaper competitors and serious technical issues, there’s simply no reason to choose this over other handhelds.
Nintendo Switch:
The hybrid design is absolutely brilliant, letting me seamlessly switch between handheld and TV mode without any interruption. The versatile Joy-Cons enable multiple play styles and make multiplayer gaming super accessible right out of the box. The 6.2-inch 720p screen looks sharp and vibrant in handheld mode, while docked mode supports full 1080p output. Battery life is solid, lasting up to 6 hours depending on the game you’re playing.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The Switch remains the gold standard for handheld gaming, with an unmatched game library and versatile design that just works.
Nintendo Switch Lite:
This compact version feels much more comfortable in my hands than the regular Switch, especially during long gaming sessions. The 5.5-inch screen still maintains the same 720p resolution as its bigger brother, actually resulting in slightly sharper image quality. However, the lack of TV output and detachable Joy-Cons limits its versatility compared to the standard model. Battery life is slightly better than the original Switch, lasting between 3-7 hours depending on what you’re playing.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – If you’re exclusively interested in portable gaming and want to save some money, it’s a great choice, but you’ll miss out on the flexibility of the regular Switch.
ASUS ROG Ally X:
The most impressive thing about this handheld is its massive 80-watt-hour battery, which delivers the longest battery life I’ve seen in Windows gaming handhelds. The variable refresh rate display combined with AMD’s robust Ryzen processors creates incredibly smooth gameplay, making it the smoothest experience I’ve encountered in any handheld. Gaming performance is exceptional, with the device handling demanding titles like Alan Wake II at 35-45fps thanks to its 24GB of shared memory. The ergonomically designed grips and robust joysticks make it incredibly comfortable to hold for long gaming sessions, despite the added weight.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The ROG Ally X represents the pinnacle of Windows gaming handhelds with superior performance and battery life that justifies its premium price point.
Steam Deck:
The versatility of this device is unmatched, letting me play everything from lightweight indies to demanding AAA titles with impressive performance. The full-sized analog sticks and buttons feel fantastic under my thumbs, making the bulkier size worth it for comfortable gaming sessions. The sleep mode works flawlessly, even with non-Steam games and emulators, making it perfect for quick gaming sessions. The cooling system keeps the device comfortable during extended play, though the fan can get a bit noisy under load.
Would I buy it?
Yes – With its killer price point and incredible versatility, the Steam Deck offers unbeatable value for portable PC gaming.
PlayStation Vita:
The brilliant touch screen is incredibly responsive, matching iPad-level quality, and the operating system is smartly designed and ultraresponsive. The graphics capability was groundbreaking for its time, delivering the closest thing to PS3-quality gaming in a portable format. Battery life is decent at 4.5 hours of gameplay, with impressive standby time lasting over a week. The launch lineup was impressive with 25 titles, offering something for everyone.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While the Vita showcased impressive hardware and features for its time, its age makes it harder to recommend against modern alternatives.
Ayaneo Flip DS:
The dual-screen setup feels gimmicky and the battery life is disappointingly short at only 1.5 hours for newer games. The premium price tag is hard to justify given the battery limitations and performance that’s only marginally better than competitors. The clamshell design forces compromises with flat buttons and recessed joysticks that feel awkward to use. While the second screen can be used as a Windows monitor, navigating it is often a pain and the included software has quirks.
Would I buy it?
No – Despite the innovative dual-screen concept, the short battery life and awkward controls make it hard to recommend, especially at its premium price point.
Retroid Pocket 4 Pro:
The sheer power of this device is mind-blowing for its $199 price point, handling everything from Android games to GameCube and PS2 emulation with impressive performance. I was amazed by its compact design, weighing just 251g, and the 4.7-inch display delivers crisp visuals with a 750×1334 resolution. The battery life is decent at around 2 hours 50 minutes under heavy load, though it’s not the best I’ve seen in this category. The Hall effect joysticks are a fantastic addition that should prevent drift issues, but I found the button layout takes some getting used to.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While it offers incredible value for money and matches performance with more expensive handhelds, the battery life could be better for longer gaming sessions.
ANBERNIC RG405M:
The aluminum construction feels premium in hand, but at this price point, I expected better performance than what the Unisoc Tiger T618 chip delivers. The 4:3 aspect ratio screen is perfect for retro gaming, though I really miss having an OLED display like some competitors offer. The battery life is disappointing at just 2-3 hours, and the device gets noticeably warm during extended gaming sessions. The Hall-based analog sticks are smooth and drift-free, but the in-line shoulder buttons feel awkward compared to stacked designs.
Would I buy it?
No – Despite the premium build quality, the performance and battery life don’t justify the price when compared to alternatives like the Retroid Pocket 4 Pro.
Anbernic Win600:
The device struggles with PS2 emulation, which is a major letdown considering its price point of $300-400. The RAM requires careful overclocking to get decent performance, and even then, it’s not guaranteed to work properly. While it can run Windows 10/11, SteamOS, and Batocera, the overall experience feels unpolished and complicated. The WiFi connectivity issues require constant restarts, which gets frustrating during regular use.
Would I buy it?
No – The high price point and various technical issues make this a hard pass when there are more capable and reliable options available.
AYANEO Air Pro:
The gorgeous 5.5-inch OLED display is stunning, but the battery life is absolutely terrible at just 90 minutes of gaming on the base model. While it can handle PC games at 720p 30fps, you’ll need to constantly worry about battery life and charging. The device is impressively thin at 18mm and packs serious power, but the $650-1000 price tag is hard to swallow. The build quality is premium and comfortable, but the constant battery anxiety ruins the gaming experience.
Would I buy it?
No – Despite its impressive hardware and beautiful display, the abysmal battery life makes it impractical for portable gaming.
QUJUSO OnexPlayer:
The AMD Ryzen 7-6800U processor with ZEN3+ architecture promises great performance, but in reality, the device suffers from serious quality control issues and abysmal customer service. While the 8.4-inch display with 2560×1600 resolution looks impressive on paper, users frequently report controller malfunctions and dim screens. The device is uncomfortably heavy at 3.74 pounds, making it difficult to use during extended gaming sessions. The high price point combined with unreliable build quality and poor after-sales support makes this a risky investment.
Would I buy it?
No – The combination of quality concerns and poor customer service makes this impossible to recommend, especially when better alternatives exist at similar price points.
AOKZOE A1:
The device packs impressive raw power with its AMD processor, delivering solid benchmark scores like 22,652 in 3DMark’s Night Raid test. Despite its powerful performance, the handheld suffers from serious ergonomic issues, with a cheap-feeling plastic shell that creaks during use and causes wrist strain during extended sessions. The device gets extremely hot very quickly, even when playing less demanding games, which leads to noticeable performance drops. The controller has terrible dead zones that make precise gaming difficult, and many users report button responsiveness issues.
Would I buy it?
No – While the performance is impressive, the combination of poor ergonomics, overheating issues, and controller problems make this a frustrating device to use daily.
VALVE Steam Deck OLED:
The vibrant 7.4-inch HDR OLED display is a massive upgrade from the LCD model, offering more vivid colors and better contrast while maintaining the same resolution. The improved battery efficiency provides 3-12 hours of gameplay time, significantly outperforming competitors in the PC handheld space. The device runs cool and quiet while maintaining excellent performance, and includes plenty of input options with well-designed controls and improved haptics. The Steam OS interface makes PC gaming more accessible than Windows-based competitors, though some games might require additional setup.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of excellent display quality, superior battery life, and refined user experience makes this the most polished handheld gaming PC currently available.
Thanks for watching, I hope this video helped you pick the handheld consoles for you. If you have any questions, drop a comment below. Links to all of these products mentioned in this video will be in the description.
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