Top 6 handheld game consoles that many people like

Handheld gaming consoles are currently thriving and diverse. However, choosing a device that fits your needs and budget can be challenging. Let's explore the top 6 most popular handheld gaming consoles today!

What to Know About the Handheld Gaming Device Market

There are three major tiers in the handheld gaming device market. The highest tier includes portable gaming PCs like the Steam Deck or Asus ROG Ally, which are the most powerful handheld devices capable of replicating the desktop gaming experience. However, they often have a fairly large and bulky design, and their battery life can be short. Naturally, they are also the most expensive, ranging from $400 to over $1,000.

Next are mid-range gaming devices like the Logitech G Cloud or Retroid Pocket, priced from under $50 to $400, typically running Android or Linux. These are more compact than portable PCs and are often used for mobile gaming and cloud streaming. Many buyers get them to emulate classic games through software like RetroArch, although accessing the necessary BIOS and ROM files for these games can be legally complex.

The final tier is mainstream handheld gaming consoles, commonly exemplified by devices like the Switch or Playdate. They offer unique experiences and often have distinct game libraries. They are easier to use and suitable for less tech-savvy individuals.

Top 6 Most Popular Handheld Gaming Consoles Today

Note: Before deciding to buy a handheld gaming console, carefully compare the technical specifications of each model to find the product that best meets your needs. It's advisable to seek opinions from those who have used these devices for a more objective perspective. If possible, try out the consoles to get a better feel for their design, performance, and features.

1. Valve Steam Deck

Valve's Steam Deck offers the best balance of price and functionality on the market today, with the base model priced at $399 and featuring 64GB eMMC storage, easily expandable via microSD card. Other versions range from $529 to $649 with faster SSDs and premium glass screens. However, some new Windows handhelds might compete in value with the Steam Deck.

Both the Asus ROG Ally and Ayaneo 2S run on powerful new AMD chips that can play more demanding games at higher frame rates. The ROG Ally is particularly appealing: its 7-inch screen has a higher resolution (1080p) and a faster refresh rate (120Hz) than the Deck, is slightly thinner and lighter, and will start at a relatively reasonable $600.

2. Retroid Pocket 3+

The Pocket 3+ can emulate gaming systems up to the Dreamcast/PSP range fairly comfortably, so you will face some challenges only if you mainly want to play older games from SNES, PS1, and earlier. With a recent firmware update, the device's performance has improved with more demanding systems like PlayStation 2 and GameCube. It’s not perfect (especially with PS2), but many games are playable, which is impressive at $149.

The device features a Unisoc T618 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and a design similar to a smaller Nintendo Switch Lite, meaning it's thin and lightweight at 235g, with a 4.7-inch touchscreen that’s sharp enough at 750 x 1,334 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio suitable for emulation and cloud streaming.

3. AYN Odin

The AYN Odin is equipped with a Snapdragon 845 processor and Adreno 635 GPU. It has a larger 6-inch 1080p screen and maintains an average battery life of about 5 to 7 hours. The Odin can do more than the Pocket 3+, and some games playable on both devices will generally perform better here. This device can even handle some 3DS games.

AYN offers three different Odin models: the base version, typically priced at $240, is probably the “Goldilocks” option for most people. A more powerful Odin Pro comes with double the RAM (8GB) and storage (128GB) but costs $290; at that price, you're nearing the superior Steam Deck. There’s also a $200 Odin Lite, technically more capable than the Pocket 3+ but less so than its siblings. Notably, AYN also has a line of new “Loki” handhelds. However, Odin stands out among handheld gaming devices.

4. Logitech G Cloud

The Logitech G Cloud is an extremely comfortable Android handheld with a vibrant 7-inch screen, easier to purchase than the Retroid Pocket 3+ or AYN Odin. However, it’s not a great choice at $300.

The G Cloud’s 7-inch, 1080p screen is bright, vibrant, and generally easier to view than the screens of the Retroid Pocket 3+, AYN Odin, and even the Steam Deck. Despite having the same screen size as the Deck, it’s lighter, and the contoured grips are easy to hold for hours.

Its haptics work as expected, and it has a good battery life of 10 to 12 hours. The large screen makes it a solution for game streaming and emulation, comfortably handling games within the Dreamcast/PSP range.

5. Analogue Pocket

The Analogue Pocket is the ultimate Game Boy. As noted in our review, its vertical design is built like a modernized version of Nintendo’s classic handheld. The general layout is the same, and it can even work with classic accessories like the Game Boy Camera. However, it features four face buttons instead of two, a few shoulder buttons on the back, a microSD slot, USB-C, and a rechargeable battery rated for 6 to 10 hours of play.

Most notably, its 3.5-inch backlit screen is stunningly sharp (615 ppi) but can look like old Game Boy screens through various filter modes. This elegant handheld has a premium feel and can also output to a TV via an optional dock.

6. Razer Edge

The Razer Edge handheld gaming device has hardware comparable to a high-end phone from 2022. It can play nearly all Android games at max settings and emulate GameCube, PS2, and Wii games well. Its 144Hz OLED screen is impressive, and both the speakers and battery life are solid.

The Razer Edge has a unique design. Essentially, it’s a standalone tablet attached to a Razer Kishi V2, so it doesn’t feel as stable as the AYN Odin or Logitech G Cloud. Its screen also has a 20:9 ultra-wide aspect ratio that doesn’t fit most classic games well, so the effective screen space for emulation isn’t much more than what you get from a smaller device.

I've summarized for you the top 6 most popular handheld gaming consoles today. I hope these insights will be useful for you!