Best handheld gaming PC 2025

Despite having specs that look significantly weaker than the competition, the Steam Deck OLED remains the best handheld on the market. That’s for several reasons but the main one is that it doesn’t use Windows but instead uses Valve’s custom Steam OS. It’s just so much slicker and easier to use than Windows, making this handheld PC actually feel like a true portable games console.

In practice, this means you can do things like put the device in standby mid-game, enabling you to resume your game the moment you turn the handheld on. In comparison, a Windows handheld needs you to fully exit the game and restart it again each time you power-off the device.

Valve has also made it easy to adjust settings and navigate the handheld with its controls. In contrast, many Windows handhelds still make you wish you just had a mouse and keyboard to hand.

Those are just some of the reasons that the Steam Deck reigns supreme but in terms of why you should get the Steam Deck OLED over the original Steam Deck, that’s nearly all about its screen. Valve swapped the original LCD display of the Steam Deck for an OLED unit that is super bright, vivid, and has amazing contrast. Despite having a modest resolution of just 1,280 x 800 pixels, it looks fantastic.

The new handheld also includes improvements to battery life for longer gaming sessions, a weight reduction for greater comfort, plus faster Wi-Fi for quicker downloads. It all adds up to making the Steam Deck OLED still the best gaming handheld you can buy, though there are some caveats to note.

Where the Steam Deck OLED simply can’t compete with the modern competition is for screen resolution and raw performance. While the Steam Deck OLED has a 7-inch 800p screen, some competitors have 8-inch or larger screens with 1080p and even 1440p resolutions. These displays are far better for watching video and generally getting more done – you can use these handhelds for web browsing and email in a way that the Steam Deck’s low resolution display just can’t replicate.

Meanwhile, in terms of raw power, the Steam Deck OLED uses an old custom APU that’s less than half as powerful as the APUs in competing modern Windows handhelds. This means those handhelds can run games at higher resolutions and frame rates. However, the Steam Deck OLED is still remarkably capable, which our extensive list of the best Steam Deck games demonstrates.

The final main downsides to note are that the Steam Deck can only run Steam games, so games such as Fortnite that run via the Epic Games stores can’t run on this device. Likewise, quite a few competitive multi-player games don’t work on the device because they use custom anti-cheat software that doesn’t run on SteamOS. That still leaves thousands of games on Steam available to play, though.

The final crucial aspect that makes the Steam Deck OLED so compelling is its price. While many Windows handhelds are pushing close to $1,000, the Steam Deck OLED is just $549. Some of that lower price is reflected in its lower specs but, ultimately, it still adds up to this being the handheld to get right now.

Read our Steam Deck OLED review.

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 that 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 you can still pick it up from retailers like Amazon, expand its storage, and pair it with the best Steam Deck accessories to bring it up to a usable capacity.

However, titles such as Starfield, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Remnant 2 all cause the Steam Deck to misstep. We’re still some time away from all major AAA releases being unplayable on the Steam Deck – and there are thousands of other games still to play, but the clock is ticking and you may feel you get more value if you opt for a newer handheld.

The custom APU dubbed Van Gogh is still powerful enough for most games and if you mainly want to play 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.

If you’re looking for the ultimate Windows gaming handheld right now, the AOKZOE A1X is it. Thanks to the inclusion of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, this handheld is among the most powerful out there while its Windows interface outclasses all before it.

On the surface, the A1X isn’t a particularly remarkable Windows gaming handheld. However, along with the option to buy it with AMD’s latest 300-series APU for peak handheld performance, it does several subtle things well.

For a start, its screen being eight inches rather than seven inches gives you just a little more screen space to play games, watch video, and make the most of the versatility of the Windows OS and all the apps you can run on it. It’s also a great quality screen, even if it can’t quite compare to the OLED panels on some handhelds.

Next is the inclusion of a kickstand that allows you to sit back and use the handheld either to watch video or to play games with a controller. It may seem odd to use a handheld in this way (the clue’s in the name) but it can be surprisingly useful.

Battery life is another big plus with the A1X. This handheld can last as long as ten hours while gaming in its lowest power mode. Its performance is limited but the likes of Hades are still playable.

All this and AOKZOE’s app for managing all the features of this handheld beats any we’ve used before. The overall experience still isn’t quite as slick as on Steam Decks but it makes switching power modes and generally using the device better than ever.

The only real downside, other than slightly small actual controls is the high price of this handheld. With the lower spec – but still the same performance as most other handhelds – it currently costs $899 but this is with a 15% discount, as it’s normally over $1,000. Meanwhile, with the more powerful processor it’s normally $1,459 but is currently $1,239.

If those discounted prices prove to be the long term price of this handheld, it starts to look a lot more competitive, but at its higher prices, you’re definitely paying a premium for its performance.

Read our full AOKZOE A1X review to find out more.

The Asus ROG Ally X is a big and welcome update to the original ROG Ally that transforms one of the earliest and most successful Windows handhelds into the clear top choice in its class.

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. Asus’ Armoury Crate software overlay 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.

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 puts the Lenovo Legion Go well ahead of the Steam Deck for raw power and on par with most other high-end Windows handhelds, 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’ where the controllers convert to mice, just like the new Nintendo Switch 2.

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 the screen’s native 1600p resolution is far too demanding for the Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU, and the software can be fiddly.

Read our Lenovo Legion Go review.

At the time of the Asus ROG Ally X release, the extra $100 for the newer model was a no brainer and the OG ROG Ally’s days seemed numbered. However, the gaming handheld market has gone a bit crazy in recent months and now availability it low and prices are high.

As a result of this, the Ally X is now very scarce and far more expensive than its MSRP in most stores while the original ROG Ally is readily available and can be had for a great price. What’s more, this is still a great handheld overall.

The core features here of an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, a great quality 7-inch, 1080p, LCD screen, and generally smart design make for a handheld that’s decently easy to use and offers solid performance. The Ally X did improve its ergonomics and slightly bumped its performance but the Ally is still very capable.

One key factor to look out for is the design of the cooler on the original Ally tends to overheat the microSD slot, which can corrupt your microSD card. As such, you do have to be a bit careful with how you use the device, particularly in hotter regions, but there are ways round this.

Ultimately, in a world where just about every other Windows handheld is pushing towards $1,000 the Asus ROG Ally is a great option for $649.

Read our original Asus ROG Ally review for a full picture of what this handheld can do.

The stand out feature of the Ayaneo 3 is its 7-inch, 1080p, OLED screen. If the Steam Deck OLED proved anything, it’s that a top-quality OLED panel really is a big upgrade for a gaming handheld over an LCD, as it provides much higher contrast, and the Ayaneo’s offers similar quality while having a much higher resolution.

Thankfully, there’s more to this handheld than just its screen, though. Ayaneo has worked hard to create a deep level of power customization that allows you to really dial in the balance of speed for a smooth frame rate in your games and low power consumption to maximize battery life.  This handheld’s speakers are surprisingly loud and clear too, while its overall ergonomics are great as well.

The pièce de résistance, though, is the Ayaneo 3’s modular controllers. You can swap out the little thumbstick/buttons sections and change between an Xbox-style layout or symmetrical controls or change a thumbstick for all buttons. It sounds like a gimmick but it’s actually really useful.

The only trouble is, all these high specs and extra features add cost, resulting in a total price for this handheld that is just staggering when set against the sub-$500 price of some Steam Deck models. The top-spec models cost over $2,000, which would be a hard to swallow sum even if this handheld was perfect, but sadly it does have one extra factor that holds it back: Windows.

Like other Windows handhelds, the overall ease of use of this handheld is not a patch on the Steam Decks, and Ayaneo’s software isn’t quite as slickly integrated as that on the Aokzoe A1X. It’s still a great handheld, though, if you can live with its Windows interface foibles and afford its high price.

Read our Ayaneo 3 review.

The Ayaneo Air stands out as among the smallest handheld gaming PCs around. With just a 5.5-inch OLED screen, it’s a noticeable step down from the Steam Deck OLED and Asus ROG Ally X, let alone the much large Lenovo Legion Go.

This compactness makes it a great option for those seeking a handheld suitable for traveling light or using one of these devices on a regular commute where you’re cramped for space and may have to stand. That’s especially true as it’s much lighter than others too, weighing in at just 398g compared to 640g for the Steam Deck OLED.

All that compactness comes with some obvious compromises, though. The AMD Ryzen 5 5560 chip in this handheld is considerably less powerful than most other handhelds. It can still play most games at low settings and 720p resolutions or lower but Steam Deck-level power was already right at the limit of what’s useable for most games so the Ayaneo Air feels even more limited.

Battery life is limited too and the smaller screen means this feels less like a device you might want to use for other tasks such as watching video or browsing the web. Still, with a low asking price, it’s potentially a great option for many buyers, if you can get hold of one, as stock seems to have mostly dried up since its launch in 2023.

We think Sony’s PSP is one of the best-designed pieces of tech ever conceived and it’s clear GPD has had similar thoughts, as its GPD Win 4 gaming handheld is effectively a Windows-powered equivalent. With a slide-up screen that reveals a full keyboard, it brings a whole new level of practicality to the gaming handheld space.

This novel construction really sets the GPD Win 4 apart from the rest, as despite touchscreen keyboards having taken over in the mobile phone and tablet space, physical keyboards just bring so much utility to devices of this size. Whether it’s shortcuts for key Windows functions or just speedy typing on a device that’s otherwise unwieldy for such use, it’s ideal. That’s not to say it’s a keyboard on par with a laptop but it’s better than none at all.

Powering the GPD Win 4 is the AMD Ryzen 7 8840U, which is similar to the Ryzen Z1 Extreme chips of other handhelds with its Radeon 780M GPU. So, this isn’t a meaningfully faster unit than most of its competitors.

The sheer amount of utility brought about by the design of the GPD Win 4 is what sets it apart, though, even if it only has a 6-inch 1080p screen. The real kicker for this handheld, though, is its price. At around $1,500 / £1,000 it’s a very pricey handheld.

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.

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 isn’t a conventional handheld gaming PC. However, its tablet form factor means you can technically hold it in a similar manner to a gaming handheld. Point and click adventures, city building sims, or any other games that only require single-digit touchscreen input can all be played in this way. Plus, the Flow Z13 can also be used like a conventional laptop, thanks to its keyboard/trackpad cover.

To get the most from it while gaming, you do need a mouse or controller. Plus, its battery life while gaming only stretches to a couple of hours, at least when gaming at decent detail settings on its large 13-inch screen. For non-gaming, though, its battery lasts over ten hours, so if you’re happy to mostly watch video and browse the web on long journeys and only occasionally game, it’s an interesting option.

Crucial to the appeal of this tablet is its AMD Ryzen AI Max 390 CPU that houses a very powerful integrated GPU. It’s far, far more powerful than other gaming handhelds, enabling 1080p+ gaming at smooth frame rates and high detail settings. Effectively it’s just a gaming laptop with an odd shape but if you like the idea of sometimes just using a tablet for handheld gaming, it delivers the goods, for a high price.

Read our Asus ROG Flow Z13 review.