We may earn a commission when you buy through links in our articles. Learn more.

Best handheld gaming PC in 2024

The best handheld gaming PCs are truly portable, giving you the perfect combo of powerful processing and on-the-go design.

Best handheld gaming PC - the Steam Deck, ASUS Rog Ally and other consoles on a bright pink gradient background

Chasing the best handheld gaming PC isn’t easy, because while some devices are more powerful than others, it’s also about what you want out. With big updates on the horizon for these portable powerhouses, we’re going to breakdown the current market, answers and questions you might have, and let you know which handheld is right for you.

Unlike the best gaming PCs, handheld PCs can be carried anywhere. Valve ignited the handheld PC space with the release of the Steam Deck in 2022, and rivals like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go have since launched to give you an array of powerful options.

While testing the handhelds in this guide, we’ve looked at specs, build quality, and general usability. Software is a consideration, too. The Steam Deck runs on a Linux-based operating system called SteamOS and you add games from Valve’s official store, but most of the best handheld gaming PCs here use Windows. Valve OS is more streamlined but restrictive, while Windows gives you more options but can be fiddly to use on a small touchscreen. Overall, it’s down to personal preference.

Huge innovations are coming for handheld gaming PCs soon, as the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip is set for release early next year, meaning devices will soon have access to an APU capable of better memory optimization and battery efficiency.

Why you can trust our advice ✔ At PCGamesN, our experts spend hours testing hardware and reviewing games and VPNs. We share honest, unbiased opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.

Steam Deck OLED

Best handheld gaming PC overall

Today’s best deals
Steam Deck OLED specifications:
APU AMD Zen 2
Cores 4
Threads 8
Graphics AMD RDNA 2 (8 CUs)
RAM 16GB LPDDR5 (6,400MT/s)
Display 7.4-inch OLED (1280 x 800 / 90Hz / HDR)
Storage 512GB NVMe SSD, 1TB NVMe SSD
Weight 640g
OS SteamOS
Reasons to buy
  • OLED screen is stunning
  • Better battery life
  • Runs quietly and stays cool
Reasons to avoid
  • APU performance is unchanged
  • Not available with less than 512GB storage
  • SteamOS still has annoying quirks

Valve has realized the full potential of its handheld with the Steam Deck OLED. The screen is bigger, brighter, and better than the original Deck in our number two spot, but the refresh is far more than meets the eye.

You get improvements to battery life for longer gaming sessions, a weight reduction for greater comfort, plus Wi-Fi for quicker downloads. The Steam Deck OLED is the best on-ramp for handheld PC gaming there is, with a few downsides. The APU inside the OLED is almost identical to the original Deck, save for efficiency, and that places the handheld significantly behind the curve in terms of power. Simply put, some triple AAA releases will be out of reach to you.

If you’re looking for a well-priced handheld with a stunning display and access to your Steam library on the go, the Steam Deck OLED is the top choice.

Read our Steam Deck OLED review.

Steam Deck

Best value handheld gaming PC

Today’s best deals
Steam Deck specifications:
APU AMD Van Gogh
Cores 4
Threads 8
Graphics 8 RDNA 2 CUs
RAM 16GB LPDDR5 5500 MT/s quad channel
Display 7-inch IPS 800p/40-60Hz (fixed)
Storage 64GB eMMC, 256GB or 512GB PCIe 3.0 SSD
Weight 669g
OS SteamOS
Reasons to buy
  • Unmatched price-to-performance
  • Huge aftermarket ecosystem
  • SteamOS
Reasons to avoid
  • Lackluster screen
  • Game compatibility
  • Verification program isn’t always correct

The Steam Deck wasn’t the first handheld gaming PC, but it’s certainly been the most successful. It gives you seamless integration with Steam and a console-like experience means it can be as plug-and-play as you like – with the benefit of having a completely user-tweakable OS under the hood.

The lower-end 64GB model is now discontinued, but for now, you can still pick it up from retailers like Amazon, expand the storage, and pair it with the best Steam Deck accessories to bring it up to a usable capacity.

Titles such as StarfieldStar Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Remnant 2 cause the Steam Deck to misstep. Whilst we’re a little away from all major AAA releases being unplayable, the clock is ticking and you may feel you get more value if you opt for something a little newer.

The custom APU dubbed Van Gogh is still powerful enough for most games and if you mainly want to play through retro games, 2D games, sidescrollers, or emulated titles then you will be more than happy with the performance. This is still a great-value handheld gaming PC.

Read our Steam Deck review.

Asus ROG Ally X

Best Windows handheld gaming PC

Today’s best deals
Asus ROG Ally X specifications:
APU AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Cores 8
Threads 16
Graphics 12 RDNA 3 CUs
RAM 24GB LPDDR5 7500 MT/s dual channel
Display 7-inch IPS 1080p/120Hz VRR
Storage 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD 2280 M.2 / microSD
Weight 678g
OS Windows 11
Reasons to buy
  • 120Hz VRR display
  • Same fast Ryzen Z1 chip as the Ally
  • Big performance upgrades thanks to memory changes
Reasons to avoid
  • Windows still isn’t handheld suitable

While we didn’t get the OLED display that was widely rumored, the Asus ROG Ally X made big changes to virtually every other aspect of its design and came out the other side as easily the best Windows gaming handheld, even if Windows is its biggest drawback when compared to the Steam Deck.

With 8GB extra memory, and faster memory at that, the ROG Ally X can outperform just about any like-for-like handheld gaming PC available right now. Armoury Crate is much improved, and while not perfect, its interface is easier to understand and navigate, which is huge for those who don’t want to engage with Windows 11.

The $799 price tag is hard to swallow, but fair. One expected advantage of Ally X’s release is that the base Ally Z1 Extreme has also seen its price reduced quite drastically. However, if you’re chasing the best performance in games without being limited to Steam, the Ally X has the Steam Deck and all other Ally handhelds beaten hands down.

Read our Asus ROG Ally X review.

Lenovo Legion Go

Best handheld with a big screen

Today’s best deals
Lenovo Legion Go specifications:
APU AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme
Cores 8
Threads 16
Graphics AMD RDNA 3 (12 CUs)
RAM 16GB LPDDR5X (7,500MHz)
Display 8.8-inch IPS (2560 x 1600 /144Hz)
Storage Up to 1TB NVMe SSD
Weight 854 / 640g (with controllers detached)
OS Windows 11
Reasons to buy
  • Massive 8.8-inch screen
  • Detachable controllers
  • Great handheld performance
Reasons to avoid
  • 1600p is generally too high for GPU
  • Heavy
  • Fiddly software experience

With its 8.8-inch display, the Lenovo Legion Go is the handheld for you if you want a big-screen experience. While its size naturally helps with immersion, it’s also responsive, sharp, and vivid. With a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a refresh rate of 144Hz, the IPS panel is about as good as it gets for an LCD handheld.

There’s some powerful hardware too. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme chipset makes the Legion Go one of the most powerful handhelds around, but it’s also one of the most versatile thanks to the detachable controllers and kickstand, which give you a unique experience, especially in ‘FPS Mode’.

The Legion Go does have a few flaws. It’s much heavier than its competitors, weighing in at 854g, which can make using it for long periods a bit tiring. You’ll also need to tinker with settings and resolution fairly frequently, as 1600p can be too demanding for the Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU in many cases, and the software can be fiddly.

Read our Lenovo Legion Go review.

Aya Neo Air

Best portable handheld gaming PC

Today’s best deals
Aya Neo Air specifications:
APU AMD Ryzen 5 5560
Cores 6
Threads 12
Graphics 7 Vega 7 CUs
RAM 16GB LPDDR4 4266 MT/s dual channel
Display 5.5-inch OLED 1920×1080
Storage 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD / microSD
Weight 398g
OS Windows 11
Reasons to buy
  • Extremely light and portable
  • Gorgeous OLED
  • Hall Effect joystick and triggers
Reasons to avoid
  • Underpowered
  • No suspend feature

The Aya Neo is a slick and svelte package that isn’t as astonishingly expensive as the other non-Valve/Asus entries on our list today. It has an excellent OLED display allowing for great contrast levels with true blacks and bright highlights making for a very vibrant and punchy image.

OLEDs have good image persistence too so there will be no visible ghosting and input delays will be kept to a minimum given the very fast response time. Its pint-like statute means it will easily be stowed away in your bag and playing it on the go is far more practical than say with the comparatively monstrous Steam Deck.

The Steam Deck’s ace up its sleeve, however, is its suspend feature which allows you to pick up from where you left off, something that is sorely missed here given how convenient the Aye Neo Air is.

Another letdown is what’s powering the device under the hood. The Ryzen 5 5560U. This unfortunately doesn’t hold a candle to the RNDA 2 and RDNA 3-derived APUs powering the rest of our roundup.

This limits the Air to less processing intense games, but that still covers a lot of ground. 2D-pixel games particularly shine on the OLED panel, for example. That may be more than enough for you – especially when combined with its smallness.

GPD Win 4

Most premium gaming handheld PC

Today’s best deals
GPD Win 4 specifications:
APU AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
Cores 8
Threads 16
Graphics 12 RNDA 2 CUs
RAM 32GB LPDDR5 6400 MT/s dual channel
Display 6.1-inch IPS 1920×1080
Storage 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD / microSD
Weight 598g
OS Windows 11
Reasons to buy
  • Slick PSP-like design
  • Sliding scree
Reasons to avoid
  • Cramped controls
  • Expensive

Sony’s PSP is arguably one of the best-designed pieces of tech ever conceived and it’s clear GPD is of this persuasion as it seems they took everything great about that and improved the controls and added a keyboard hidden underneath a sliding screen.

Whilst being a similar price to other handhelds, this novel construction and quality design make it our pick for the most premium handheld gaming PC. Whilst the screen doesn’t slide up that much, it makes a noticeable difference and your neck will thank you if you play it for any length of time.

The keyboard is not the most ideal typing experience but it’s surprisingly useable. It also blows the Steam Deck and ROG Ally’s touch keyboard out of the water. Powering the GPD Win Max 2 is the Ryzen 6800U, a very performant APU that will see more recent titles ticking along despite it not being the latest and greatest.

By taking inspiration from the PSP though, the controls can only be improved by so much and they are still more cramped and uncomfortable than most of the other entries in this list. It is of course rather expensive, but if you are a PSP purist, that may be a small price to pay.

Razer Edge

Best handheld PC for cloud gaming

Today’s best deals
Razer Edge specifications:
APU Snapdragon GX3 Gen 1
Graphics Nvidia GT 640M LE
RAM 6GB LPDDR5
Display 6.4 inch FHD AMOLEND, 144Hz
Storage 128GB – Expandable up to 2TB
Weight 401 g (with controller attached)
OS Android 12
Reasons to buy
  • Brilliant OLED screen
  • Cloud gaming capabilities
  • Nexus software is revolutionary
Reasons to avoid
  • Battery life could be better
  • Kairi grip takes some getting used to

While not a PC gaming handheld in the traditional sense, the Razer Edge gives you access to your PC library via cloud streaming. You can link your Game Pass, GeForce Now, and Steam accounts to stream games from anywhere and the Edge does it all with a stunning display and plenty of power to back it up.

Mobile games are also a breeze thanks to the Andriod OS, giving you the option to run games natively with its 128GB storage. When we reviewed the Razer Edge, we found the cloud streaming setup to have one notable flaw with its resolution output, but beyond that, it was a fantastic device with plenty of room to grow in the future.

Nexus is the trick that the Edge has up its sleeve, as it allows you to completely remap the button inputs to the included Razer Kishi V2 controller. You can then make these overlays disappear, leaving your gaming experience uninterrupted. This software is only for mobile titles though, as PC cloudy streaming supports the Razer Kishi V2 as though it was a standard Xbox controller.

Read our Razer Edge review.

How to choose the best handheld gaming PC

When looking for a handheld gaming PC, consider portability, price, screen size, and type. All the handheld options here can be carried away, but sizes vary somewhat; the Aya Neo Air is under 400g, while the Steam Deck is around 640g. Do you want something to curl up on the sofa with? Or that you can easily bring with you when you’re out and about? Something like the Steam Deck or the Asus ROG Ally will be too big, but a smaller model like the Aya Neo Air will be much better suited.

FAQs

Are handheld gaming PCs good?

Handheld gaming PCs are great if you want a portable gaming experience but understand there will be a power compromise. They might be slightly less enjoyable for games specifically designed with a gaming keyboard and mouse, but that’s just a small slither of the PC gaming pie.

In most cases, handheld gaming PCs can be docked and connected to monitors or TVs for a bigger screen experience. You can also use them for general tasks like watching YouTube and browsing the web.

Is Steam Deck the best handheld PC?

We’ve put the Steam Deck OLED as the best handheld gaming PC in our guide. It’s got a dazzling 7.4-inch OLED display, and an enormous games library with SteamOS, and it remains more affordable than rivals.

That doesn’t mean the Steam Deck handheld PC is the best for you, though. In real terms, the performance of the Steam Deck and its aging AMD APU is now one of the least powerful handhelds on the market. Where the Steam Deck makes up for this is a super efficient and easy-to-use operating system in the Linux-based SteamOS

So, while games will categorically run better on devices like the Ayaneo Kun, Asus ROG Ally X, and Lenovo Legion Go, none of these devices are as easy to just pick up and start playing games on.

What is the most powerful handheld gaming PC?

Right now, the most powerful gaming handheld is the Ayaneo Kun. This is down to a mix of it’s high memory capacity, use of an AMD 8840U APU, and incredible 54W max TDP. No gaming handheld can boast this much power across the board, but you’ll be paying a pretty penny for it with an MSRP of $999.

If a handheld gaming PC isn’t the best fit for you, the best mini gaming PC will offer you another compact desktop format. Find out how to build a gaming PC and you’ll have the ideal setup in no time.