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The PSP era may be long past but gaming handhelds like it are seemingly making an epic comeback. Last year saw the release of the Steam Deck – a device built for PC gaming in a smartphone-like form factor – and a full year since it began shipping, the handheld sits fourth in Steam’s top sellers’ list.
On April 1, Asus too unveiled a portable gaming device of its own to take on the Steam Deck. It’s a fast-populating market, and we, therefore, decided to bunch up the best gaming handhelds into a single listicle so that you don’t have to go looking around.
Asus has announced its first gaming handheld, the ROG Ally, which promises to deliver a powerful PC gaming experience on a 7-inch 1080p 120Hz display. The device runs Windows 11 and uses a custom AMD Ryzen chip that can be paired with an external GPU for more performance. The ROG Ally was initially teased on April 1st, but Asus confirmed that it was not an April Fool’s joke and that it will be available soon.
The ROG Ally will compete with Valve’s Steam Deck, which has a similar design but a lower-resolution 60Hz screen and runs a Linux-based OS. Asus claims that the ROG Ally can run any game that its hardware can handle, unlike the Steam Deck which is limited to some games in the Steam library.
The Nintendo Switch is perhaps the most popular device in its category, with sales surpassing the Game Boy and PS4 last month. It also stands out from this list because it runs on its own software codenamed Horizon instead of using a spin of Windows. The Switch name pertains to the fact that the console can be used in three ways: handheld, tabletop and TV. In tabletop and TV modes, the controls detach from the screen.
The Switch lineup offers different models with various accessories to suit different preferences and budgets. The latest model is the Nintendo Switch OLED, which has a vibrant display, a wide adjustable stand, a dock with a wired LAN port, 64GB of internal storage, and enhanced audio. The Nintendo Switch OLED model costs Rs 31,509 in India, according to Amazon.
Available unofficially on Amazon for a starting price of Rs 52,800 (since the device is yet to launch officially in the country), Valve’s Steam Deck can be thought of as a portable gaming laptop allowing you to play your existing Steam library on the go. It has a 7-inch touchscreen, full-size controls, and a custom AMD processor that can run AAA games smoothly…including Cyberpunk 2077.
The Steam Deck also supports a docked mode that connects to a monitor for a bigger screen. It runs on SteamOS, a Linux-based system that can run Windows games through Valve’s Proton compatibility layer.
If you are wondering what the iPad mini 6 is doing on this list, then know that the device isn’t just a tablet you can stream Netflix on but is also a gaming powerhouse. With the A15 Bionic chip, it can run games smoothly – and add to that the fact that it supports features like PS5 DualSense adaptive triggers and game capture.
The iPad mini 6 also works with Apple Arcade, a subscription service that offers hundreds of quality games for a monthly fee. The tablet’s 8.3-inch display is reasonably larger than your average smartphone’s but it’s still easy to hold, with both touch controls and a game controller. Starting at Rs 49,990, the iPad mini can provide the gaming experience of a flagship smartphone without blowing a hole in your wallet.
Unlike the Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch which come with 720p displays, the Ayaneo 2 features a 7-inch FHD+ display. It also runs on Windows 11, making it a proper handheld gaming PC. Under the hood sits the AMD Ryzen 7 6800U processor, which delivers fast performance and low power consumption. The Ayaneo 2 also features hall sensor joysticks, dual gyroscope, HD linear motor, and haptic feedback. It comes in different configurations, colours, and editions, with prices ranging from $849 to $1499 – and is currently available on Indiegogo.
At its core, the Logitech G Cloud is a 7-inch Android tablet except it also features dual analogue sticks, a D-pad, bumpers and triggers – the whole gaming handheld lot. However, the tablet has been built specifically for cloud gaming, Xbox Cloud Gaming to be precise. This means that while it does support hundreds of console and PC titles from every genre, it’ll probably struggle to handle the most popular Android games. Under the hood is the Snapdragon 720G – a midrange processor designed for efficiency over power.
Currently selling for Rs 32,751 on Ubuy, the Logitech G Cloud isn’t exactly the most value-for-money gaming device considering the specs it offers. But if you’re into cloud gaming and have access to fast internet at home and 5G outside, it might just be your pick.
The OneXplayer is a lineup of Windows-powered handheld gaming PCs, which in India, offer up to 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor and iRIS Xe graphics. The 8.4-inch model has a touchscreen display with a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels, and comes with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage The device can play mainstream and AAA PC games smoothly, and has two linear analogue trigger buttons and touch-click bumper buttons for fast and sensitive feedback.
The Razer Edge is a handheld gaming device that runs Android and supports cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now. It has a 6.8-inch 144Hz OLED display, a Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 processor, and a detachable controller. It also comes with a 5G variant for faster connectivity. Sadly, the device is exclusive to the US market where it costs $400 and there are no plans for a launch in India right now.
