Handheld Gaming Devices Worth Buying This Year. Every now and then, new video game consoles surprise us by showing us something we’ve never seen before or changing shape in a way we didn’t expect. The market has grown a lot, though. The way Sony and Microsoft’s PlayStations and Xboxes work is basically the same as how the initial home consoles worked. Nintendo’s third-party systems, on the other hand, trade power for novel features like motion detection on the Wii and a home/portable hybrid on the Switch. The old-school consoles also take us back to the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
It’s hard to tell which handheld console will be the best in 2025. There are now a lot more choices than there used to be, including Nintendo, Valve, Asus, or even Lenovo. This list shows you the top models on the market right now so you can make the best choice. People that play games have always desired to be able to play them wherever. Thanks to the best portable consoles on the market, they can now. There are enough games for every player on the go to play on a PC or Nintendo right now.
What Are The Best Portable Consoles for Gaming in July 2025?
This article will help you get the finest equipment for your needs and budget. The Steam Deck OLED surprises us by making gaming even more exciting and staying true to the original’s open and free spirit in ways we wanted it to. It makes a terrific gaming buddy because its battery lasts a long time, it can play a lot of games, including some AAA titles, and it has a stunning OLED screen. SteamOS has the easiest-to-use interface these days. This is especially true when you look at some of the more expensive performance systems that are easier to use and understand.
The whole thing is being sold for a modest price of 569 euros. Of course, things don’t always go as planned. The battery life has become better, but when you play the hardest games, it can still melt like a snowball. The design hasn’t changed much, and the fan is still louder than it used to be. The Steam Deck OLED has the worst performance. But when you think about it, these trade-offs don’t seem that substantial. This OLED version is the best one to recommend if you haven’t bought a Steam Deck yet. It makes people who already have the first version think about getting a large update.
Steam Deck OLED: Still a Benchmark
The Nintendo Switch 2 is smaller, but it has more power, better finishes, more comfort, and social capabilities that you’ll desire, like GameChat or GameShare. The LCD panel has a Full HD resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate, which makes it simple to see, even if it doesn’t have OLED screen technology. Nintendo’s decision not to cut back on the accessories that come with the console helps to make up for the fact that the base price is a touch high. You may also connect the system to a TV and two controllers using the dock that comes with it.
Even if it doesn’t compete with home consoles like the PS5, the Switch 2 doesn’t have to feel like it’s not as excellent as its competitors in the portable console market. We do wish that the battery lasted longer than three hours when playing intense games, that the calibration was a little too cold, and that the sound was a little off. Some folks who are particularly impatient might not appreciate the collection because it doesn’t have enough releases yet. The Nintendo Switch 2, on the other hand, preserves the first Switch’s unique attributes of comfort, ease of use, and continuity.
Nintendo Switch 2: Nintendo’s Best Portable Console
They are given workers’ ground, which is something they are used to. We forgive it for its minor weaknesses because of that. You can buy the ROG Ally X, which is one of the most powerful portable consoles. The battery life is also great (80 Wh), which is great given this is a portable device that can play AAA games. It also has better ergonomics because the LCD screen is well-calibrated and the chassis has been upgraded, making it much easier to hold. But we also prefer small things, like having one or two USB-C ports or a well-designed overlay panel that allows you change settings on the fly without affecting gameplay. Unfortunately, Windows isn’t good enough on its own to operate as a console.
It would have been even more high-end if it had an OLED panel instead. Some people might not like the price because it works so well. But when you look at everything, the Asus ROG Ally X is one of the best portable laptops for playing all PC games, not only Steam games. The Lenovo Legion Go is trying to be different by being huge and having controllers that look a lot like the Switch’s. This notion makes sense because the device has an 8.8-inch screen, works with all Windows apps, and has all the features needed to appeal to people who want to do everything with their portable console. The performance in-game is equivalent to that of the ROG Ally and much better than that of the Steam Deck.
Balancing Performance, Portability, and Play in 2025’s Handheld Console Market
We clearly like using it more, even though it has certain issues. But the experience comes with some trade-offs. The manufacturer’s technical choices make the battery life worse, and a 120 Hz QHD+ looks to use up power as quickly as possible. The panel’s biggest problem is that it doesn’t show colors correctly, which is especially annoying considering the device is so pricey. Even if you have a console and need to make some modifications, Windows is still hard to master. The Lenovo Legion Go is a fun, cool, and enticing laptop, even though it should have been better balanced.
It’s hard to tell which handheld console will be the best in 2025. There are now a lot more choices than there used to be, including Nintendo, Valve, Asus, or even Lenovo. This list shows you the top models on the market right now so you can make the best choice. People that play games have always desired to be able to play them wherever. Thanks to the best portable consoles on the market, they can now. There are enough games for every player on the go to play on a PC or Nintendo right now.